1. Give DSF a deserved send-off
Alas, this is the last week of yet another hugely successful Dubai Shopping Festival. As we wipe the tears from our eyes, we can take great consolation in the fact we’ve picked up some mammoth bargains, all while having a whale of a time. But just when you thought this retail extravaganza might peter out, along comes the DSF Final Sale this weekend. Some 500 brands spanning 1,500 stores across the city will be slashing their prices yet further, with dizzying discounts of up to 90 per cent. If ever there was an added incentive to drive to Dubai for a socially distanced shopping splurge then surely this is it.
Jan 28-30. At stores across the city, mydsf.ae
2. Supersize your commute with the DSF Supercar Raffle
Make the trip up to Dubai even more alluring thanks to the DSF Supercar Raffle, which could mean you’ll be cruising the E11 in almost incomparable style. Just by buying a miniature model of a Fenyr SuperSport you could also be the proud owner of the real thing, built just for you by W Motors, the UAE’s only homegrown car manufacturer. This Norse mythology inspired beast does nought to 100kph in just 2.8secs thanks to a six twin-turbo RUF engine that delivers 800HP. If you’re scratching your head right now, don’t worry. Just know that this top-of-the-range top prize is worth Dhs6million. We’re not sure the addition of a baby seat or extra boot space for your DSF purchases can be added to the blueprint, however. An instant win of Dhs2million in cash is also available, along with the cries of ‘Are you mad?’
Dhs1,500 for the mini model and raffle ticket. Until March 30. www.idealz.com/CR-00041.html
3. Witness driving of an entirely different variety
Golf is massive here in the UAE. You only have to look at the range of reputable resort-style clubs across our great nation to realise nothing we do here is below par (apart from our latest rounds, hopefully). The European Tour has been running its ‘Race To Dubai’ since 2009, bringing some of the planet’s finest talent to these shores both for the season-ending spectacular, the Dubai World Championship, and other tremendous tournaments such as this weekend’s OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic. Having one said ‘Race’ last year, English ace Lee Westwood will be hoping to finally break his OMEGA duck this year after finishing runner-up in 1999, 2010 and 2012 at the Emirates Golf Club. The Majlis course will also welcome fellow golfing superstars Sergio Garcia, Justin Rose, Ian Poulter, Paul Casey, Tyrell Hatton and Tommy Fleetwood. Defending champion Lucas Herbert will be in the field too, hoping to show the form that saw him snatch a play-off victory here last time out. The 2020 USA PGA champion Collin Morikawa will be making his debut at the OMEGA, hoping to snatch the US$3.25million top prize from his illustrious list of rivals. OK, so attendance to the sporting spectacle is invite-only, but you can catch all the action on mainstream broadcast sports networks, with the tournament’s website and social media channels bringing you highlights and exclusive interviews.
Jan 28-31. Emirates Golf Club, omegadubaidesertclassic.com
4. Play the wheel of fortune
There’s little not to love about a DSF day out at one of the Dubai Shopping Malls Group’s 18 venues. Along with the obvious allure of some serious savings on top brands, the Dhs1million ‘Shop, Spin and Win’ promotion means you can take home up to Dhs20,000 just for doing what you do best – bargain hunting. The premise is pretty simple: make a purchase of Dhs150, Dhs200 or Dhs300 and you’ll be handed a raffle ticket and your chance to spin the wheel. The bigger you spend, the greater your chances of winning one of the top prizes. Should you be one of the lucky 54 to have a turn at said wheel of fortune, the very least you’ll walk away with is Dhs5,000. Not bad for a day’s ‘work’, eh?
Until Jan 29. At all 18 DSMG venues. Visit dubaimallsgroup.com/dsf-20-21-terms-conditions for all the details.
5. Have an all-inclusive stay with sport at its heart
This DSF, Mercure Dubai Barsha Heights is being equally as generous as the shops dropping their prices for the festival (if not more so). The all-inclusive DSF Weekend Getaway means you can stay in one of its brand-new suites, have three meals a day and be served unlimited selected beverages from noon to 10pm. If you feel like you’ve out-shopped yourself at the nearby Mall of the Emirates, let the other half continue the spree as you make The Exit Sports Bar your base for this stay, catching up on all the action you might have missed while being the bag carrier. A game of billiards, darts or even squash certainly wouldn’t go amiss. Or you could just chill on Kite Beach, with Mercure offering transport there and back.
From Dhs650 per night (two sharing). Until Jan 31. Mercure Dubai Barsha Heights, mercuredubaihotel.com/offers/all-inclusive-package/
6. Immerse yourselves in art
Ever wondered what would happen if the future is dictated by the unintended consequences of who you are? Well, that is what immersive exhibition Age of You is all set to explore. Curated by Shumon Basar, Douglas Coupland and Hans Ulrich Obrist, with graphic design by Daly & Lyon, it includes more than 70 visual contributors from the worlds of art, design, filmmaking, photography, performance and electronic music. The exhibition serves as a prelude to a forthcoming book by Basar, Coupland and Obrist, The Extreme Self, and is set across two of Jameel Art Centre’s gallery floors. It includes major works in film, fashion, sculpture and installation, while 13 immersive chapters ‘chart the remaking of your interior world as the external world becomes more uncertain’. Discover how the world’s most valuable resource right now is you…
Free. Open Sat-Wed 10am-6pm, Thu-Fri noon-8pm (closed on Tuesdays). Jameel Arts Centre, Jaddaf Waterfront, jameelartscentre.org/whats-on/age-of-you-an-exhibition-curated-by-shumon-basar-douglas-coupland-and-hans-ulrich-obrist/
7. Save on your DSF staycation with Conrad
If you’re looking for the perfect place as your base for your jaunt up the road for the DSF finale then the fabulous five-star Conrad Dubai ticks all the boxes. To kick things off you’ll be given a free upgrade to the next available room type (first come, first served). Breakfast for you and your other half will also be on the house giving you both the chance to refuel before you hit the shops. Should your day of retail therapy have not proved soothing enough, you can also enjoy 50 per cent off Conrad Spa treatments once you’ve stored your purchases safely. And there’s also the not-so-small matter of a Dhs275 F&B credit with each deluxe room booking, or Dhs550 if you reserve a suite, as well as a late check-out until 6pm. Quite brilliant.
Until Feb 28. Conrad Dubai, DWTC, hilton.com/en/hotels/dxbcdci-conrad-dubai
8. Travel in style with Nissan
Whether you’re bored of your clapped-out motor barely getting you from A to B or you just fancy a huge upgrade on your perfectly passable ride, the Nissan Grand Raffle has you covered either way. No need to barter at the showroom here as the world-famous manufacturer is handing out keys to its marvellous models the Patrol, Pathfinder, X-TRAIL, Kicks, Micra or Sentra practically for free. All you have to do is spend as little as Dhs25 on non-fuel items at ENOC and EPPCO petrol stations citywide, Zoom outlets, Dubai Metro stations, Global Village, the Gold Souk, selected shopping malls and main streets and you’ll be given a ticket to ride.
Until Jan 30. See visitdubai.com/en/whats-on/dsf/raffle for more information.
