1. Witness the barely believable at Global Village
The brainchild of globetrotting cartoonist LeRoy Robert Ripley, one of the world’s most brilliantly bizarre attractions has arrived in the UAE for the very first time. Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! is housed, as ever, in an ‘Odditorium’ (we see what he did there) and provides Global Village visitors with the chance of feasting their eyes upon a crazy collection of natural, scientific, artistic and human oddities, artefacts and exhibits spanning six stupefying galleries. If you’ve never visited one before (they’ve popped up all over the planet in such exotic places as Shanghai, Guadalajara and Great Yarmouth), make sure you don’t miss the ‘Marvellous Mirror Maze’ where you have two options: find your way out or lose yourself entirely in this loony labyrinth.
From Dhs40 (plus Global Village entry fee). Until April 18. Open Sat-Wed 4pm-midnight, Thu-Fri and public holidays 4pm-1am, Monday (except public holidays) is family and ladies’ day. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road, globalvillage.ae/en/ripleys-believe-it-or-not
2. Grab yourself your share of a cool million
The season of giving might technically be over but that doesn’t seemed to have deterred Dubai Shopping Malls Group from continuing its generosity. Its ‘Shop, Spin and Win’ promotion is still pulling in the punters at each of its 18 venues. 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 and walk away with up to Dhs20,000 in cold, hard cash. 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, don’t forget the people who told you about it first (we’ll give our share to charity, obviously).
Until Jan 30. At all 18 DSMG venues. dubaimallsgroup.com
3. Laugh at others’ misfortune
No matter how genuinely lovely a person you are, there are times in life when even you might indulge in a little schadenfreude. Should that ring true, the Dubai Opera might well have the perfect play to bring that cheeky ‘inner you’ out to its full. Beit Bu Sanad tells the tale of a thoroughly average middle-class man, Bousanad, who has completely lost his memory. Starring acclaimed Kuwaiti comedian Tareq Al Ali in the title role, this highly humorous piece depicts ‘the bittersweet reality of our society in his own hilarious style’. For non-Arabic speakers, the humour will be a little hard to keep up with. But more fool you for having spent years over here and not having bothered to learn the lingo.
Tickets from Dhs200. Jan 14 and 15, 8pm. Dubai Opera, Downtown Dubai, dubaiopera.com/events/tareq-al-ali/
4. Embrace chart-topping royalty
Pakistani pop prince Atif Aslam needs no introduction to his hordes of followers, whom he affectionately calls his ‘Aadeez’, or ‘Habituals’. But even if you’re a creature of musical habit, surely we everyone loves a pop singer who can belt out tune after tune in a charismatic, almost breathless way. Aslam’s special, one-off gig for DSF promises the full repertoire of hits that have topped the charts in both his native land and neighbouring India. Watch him work the crowd as his smooth vocals make even the most cold hearted of you swoon.
Tickets from Dhs175. Jan 15, 9pm (doors open at 7pm). Sheikh Rashid Hall, Dubai World Trade Centre, visitdubai.com/en/whats-on/dubai-events-calendar/atif-aslam
5. Dance deliriously to a delightful diva
Much-loved Lebanese songstress Najwa Karam is returning to Dubai once more to headline a double bill of top Arabic music stars. The Arabs Got Talent judge is well-versed in what it takes to make the big time thanks to her stellar career spanning four decades. One of the Middle East’s biggest-selling artists ever, Karam has been a prolific hit-maker, with some 20 studio albums under her belt, a string of massive hits to her name and an enduring allure to fans of all ages. Support on this special night will be provided by the much-vaunted Majid Al Mohandis, an Iraqi singer/composer who has had not little success himself on the Arabic music scene, with some hailing him as having a ‘Voice of Diamond’. This promises to be a real jewel of a night at DWTC.
From Dhs390. Jan 15, 9.30pm. Dubai World Trade Centre, visitdubai.com/en/whats-on/dubai-events-calendar/najwa-karam-majed-al-mohandis
6. Look into mankind’s mirror at Carbon 12
London-trained, New York-based artist Sara Rahbar has brought her exhibition The Space Between Us to Alserkal Avenue. It’s an uncanny mirror of mankind’s past and present, and likely future. According to the curators at the brilliant art space Carbon 12, ‘through the establishment of direct parallels between the world of then and now, Rahbar encircles the larger context of sociopolitical conflicts that are deeply embedded within both the crux of her art, and in integral history’. A prominent part of this compelling exhibition, Rahbar’s new collage series Animals is borne out of her superb sculptural pieces and portrays ‘raw, unembellished themes of military strife and warfare… touching contradictory concepts of patriotism and belonging’. The exhibition sadly ends this week so we implore you to give it a look…
Free. Until January 14. Open Sat-Thu 11.30am-7pm. Carbon 12, Alserkal Avenue, Al Quoz, visitdubai.com/en/whats-on/dubai-events-calendar/the-space-between-us
7. Discover Debenhams discounts this DSF
For the Brits among you, the sad demise of Debenhams in its homeland came as no surprise given the dire climate the high street finds itself in. However, its Dubai Mall incarnation is still very much alive and kicking, doing what this delightful department store always did best – offering you all manner of top fashion brands and ingenious ideas for the home. This DSF, the Dubai Debenhams has gone delirious for discounts with buy one, get one free offers all over the store and items on sale for as little as Dhs10 apiece. Get down there while the deals are still hot as this place beats its rivals in almost every department.
Until Jan 30. Open Sun-Wed 10am-11pm, Thu-Sat 10am-midnight. Dubai Mall, debenhams.ae
8. Make your skydiving dream a (virtual) reality
Some of us just aren’t made for leaping out of a plane at several thousand feet. There’s a little thing called vertigo (and perhaps, sanity) standing in our way. However, iFLY Dubai has come up with the ultimate plan to provide those without a head for heights the next best thing – indoor skydiving in a ‘flying tunnel’. And as if such an experience couldn’t become any more exhilarating (or safe, or sane) then you can also try out a VR version that will let you dive with your friends over some of the world’s most awe-inspiring virtual views. During DSF you can take three of your friends along for the ride at a bargain price as the VR Flight Package is half price. Cheap thrills indeed.
Dhs780 for four. Until Jan 30. Open Sun-Wed 10am-11pm, Thu-Sat 10am-midnight. IFLY Dubai, City Centre Mirdif, iflyme.com
9. Roll up, roll up – then rev up, rev up
Until we get a hyperloop between our two great cities, the trip up to Dubai from our great capital can sometimes seem like a bit of a slog. That’s especially true if your old banger is on its last legs. However, thanks to the DSF Supercar Raffle you could soon be heading up 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. Although if you can’t drive or can’t wait the 12 months for it to be lovingly constructed for you, an instant cash prize of Dhs2million is what you can swap it for (before getting your head checked).
Dhs1,500 for the mini model and raffle ticket. Until March 30. www.idealz.com/CR-00041.html
10. See pop superstars from a whole new perspective
Having made its Dubai debut last DSF, the Hologram Concert is making a triumphant return to the city, with pop superstars taking centre stage. Michael Jackson is undoubtedly the headline act and for those who never got to witness the former child star in the flesh, this will be the closest you’ll ever get. Support is being ably provided by both Lady Gaga and Christina Aguilera. A trio of look-alikes are belting out this tremendous triple acts’ greatest hits in what is proving to be a real Thriller for DSF shoppers at City Centre Deira.
Free. Until Jan 16. Open Sun-Wed 10am-10pm, Thu-Sat 10am-midnight. City Centre Deira, visitdubai.com/en/whats-on/dubai-events-calendar/hologram-concert
11. All hail Al Hai
Whenever we head up to Dubai, we love little more than a meander along Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard as we do some window shopping before grabbing a cuppa or a bite to eat. But during DSF, this decadent district is even more pleasing on the eye. Especially so this festival as seven Emirati and locally based artists have been given carte blanche to project their own unique visions of the old parts of this gold-paved city on to this salubrious shopping street. According to the creative forces behind this alfresco exhibition, Al Hai, or ‘the neighbourhood’, is ‘implied through the spatial play of light lines forming boundaries that outline both visually and metaphorically the essence of domestic and architectural events’. If that’s all Greek to you then never fear, this creative showcase really speaks for itself.
Free. Until Jan 30. Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard, mydsf.ae
12. Stay at a Hilton worthy of its name
Conrad Dubai gets its moniker from the founder of the globally famous hotel group, the one and only Conrad Hilton. And the great man would surely have been proud to have offered you an array of DSF savings at this fabulous five-star venue. First of all, 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. 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. Here’s to some elegant slumbering. Thanks, Mr Hilton.
Until Feb 28. Conrad Dubai, DWTC, hilton.com/en/hotels/dxbcdci-conrad-dubai
13. Take a Walk on the weird side
As our most pessimistic of Facebook ‘friends’ will almost daily remind us, all good things must come to an end. Sadly, they certainly have a point when it comes to the DSF Market at Al Khawaneej Walk’s incarnation of Last Exit. The Alice in Wonderland-themed extravaganza here is reaching its final chapter this week so if you haven’t ventured down the rabbit hole yet, you’d be as mad as a Hatter not to do so now. There are workshops aplenty (including how to make your own Queen of Hearts crown, presumably so you can usurp her), a live theatre show, outdoor cinema and more superb stalls and fine food than you can shake a flamingo-shaped croquet mallet at.
Until Jan 16. Open Sun-Wed 6pm-midnight, Thu-Sat 4pm-2am. DSF Market @ Last Exit at Al Khawaneej Walk, alkhawaneejwalk.ae
14. Ride home in style thanks to 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.
15. Jack it all in for a night of guffawing gold
Robert Pattinson fans look away because his arch nemesis (even though he probably didn’t realise he had one, off-camera at least) is bringing his latest stand-up show, Stood Up, to Dubai this week as part of DSF. Jack Whitehall has carved quite the career for himself since playing second fiddle to Robert Pattinson at acting school. And while Fresh Meat and Bad Education remain, for many, his true highlights, Whitehall’s live comedy turns are so seamlessly self-deprecating that you can barely help but to feel a little pity for him, despite his privileged upbringing. Hopefully his travels here have included his father, who’s never shy of putting Jack in his place.
Tickets from Dhs295. Jan 13, 8pm (Jan 14 is sold out). Dubai World Trade Centre, visitdubai.com/en/whats-on/dubai-events-calendar/jack-whitehall
