Dubai Summer Surprises to return with 9 weeks of sales and entertainment
There are just a few days left before Dubai kicks off its most-awaited summer shopping event — Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS) 2025 — promising huge sales and special discounts across the city.
The 28th edition will run from June 27 to August 31, turning Dubai into a bargain hunter's paradise for 66 days straight.
With the DSS Sales Season, shoppers can expect deals from over 800 brands spread across more than 3,000 stores in different malls and shopping destinations.
Huge price cuts, citywide promotions, raffle draws, food offers, indoor family fun, and concerts are all lined up to make this summer extra special for shoppers.
Ahmed Al Khaja, CEO of Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), said this will be the 'most dynamic and value-packed edition to date' with 'thousands of unbeatable offers, compelling retail promotions, and endless experiences.'
He added that DSS 2025 is designed to match all preferences and budgets, showing Dubai's commitment to delivering world-class experiences.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
UAE Moments
4 hours ago
- UAE Moments
Daily Love Tarot Reading for June 19th, 2025
Daily Love Tarot Reading - 6.19.25 Card of the Day: Temperance A card of balance and healing, you bring the energy of Temperance to your love life. Your relationships are built on mutual respect and trust, which creates harmony between you and your partner. You know how to balance your relationship with other aspects of your life, such as work and family. For singles: Patience is your superpower—trust that the right person will come along when the timing feels perfectly aligned. For couples: Your relationship thrives on mutual understanding and balance; you're creating a love that feels calm and steady. Pro Tip for the Day: Stay mindful of maintaining harmony—whether single or partnered, balance in all areas of life will enhance your romantic connections.
Khaleej Times
11 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
Smart tips, must-buy deals: How to shop at Dubai Summer Surprises like a pro
Sales shopping is absolutely on trend this season. Not only does the Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS) mascot Modesh dress exclusively in this season's hottest hue, yellow, but years of price increases at luxury brands have started to result in consumers laying down their credit cards and refusing to kowtow to escalating price tags. Last month, Chanel announced a 4.3 per cent fall in sales, its first decline since 2020, a period that also the saw the price of its iconic Classic Flap Bag almost double in price. A Medium Chanel Classic Flap Bag now costs approximately Dh42,720, up from around Dhs18,000 in 2016. Similar revenue declines have been seen across legacy luxury brands, with Louis Vuitton and Dior owner LVMH reporting a five per cent drop in sales of fashion and leather goods in the first quarter of 2025. Admittedly, Dubai and the wider GCC are bucking this trend. Chalhoub Group reported luxury fashion sales across the region have increased 11 per cent in the first three months of 2025, far outpacing global performance. But in a region where shopping is a national sport, particularly in the summer months when airconditioned malls offer welcome respite from the heat, we are wired to hunt down the best bargains, not at any cost, but at the chicest cost. However, with discounts of up to 90 per cent promised across DSS, which kicks off next weekend on June 27, it can be tempting to snap up ill-considered styles, just because the price drop is so steep. So, because girl math can quickly spiral when faced with a slashed-to-the-navel price tag, here are my rules for a successful DSS shopping spree. PREP YOUR WISH LIST If you wouldn't pay full price, it's not a bargain. Create wish lists in your favourite stores' websites throughout the season, adding only pieces you would pay full price for (were it not for school fees, rent, kids' activities etc devouring your budget). Then, when discounts are applied, you can easily identify the styles that deserve a share of your wallet. You'll also be alerted if a sold-out piece in your size comes back into stock. It might be 80 per cent off. Likewise, become WhatsApp friends with shop floor sales associates. Dubai's high-end stores offer exemplary customer service and staff will often be happy to send you a message when items you love go on sale. BUY BETTER… Buy less, buy better is a mantra often repeated, yet hard to stick to in the proliferation of disposable fast fashion, tempting social media ads, and price polarisation as the cheap gets cheaper — even in the face of tariffs — and the expensive gets even more out of reach (to wit, the Chanel Flap Bag mentioned above). Don't use sale periods as your chance to stock up on arm loads of already cheap clothes that won't bring you lasting joy. Instead, one or two incredible, well-made, thoughtful pieces that you'll wear, love and feel special in, from brands you wouldn't normally be able to afford, is the goal. No Labubu required. … AND BUTTER (YELLOW) One trend I will be buying into on sale is a fashion secret long known by the face of DSS. Yellow. Modesh has been wearing it since 1997. Notoriously tricky to get right, leave acid brights to cartoon characters such as Modesh, his sidekick Dana, SpongeBob et al. A soft, creamy butter shade that recalls dappled sunlight offers a contemporary take on summer pastels. If you are drawn to a bright yellow, I like it for an unexpected twist on formalwear, such as the Roksanda taffeta dress shown here. Like a magpie, I am without fail drawn to the glamorous allure of evening wear, and because of its higher starting price tag, DSS discounts appear even more tempting. Ironically, I also resent leaving the house after 7pm. A dichotomy that leaves me with a wardrobe full of (heavily discounted) gowns and little opportunity to wear them. If you too are tempted by evening wear, look for timeless silhouettes with a contemporary twist and a classic palette that will be relevant five, 10 years from now. Try Turkish brand The New Arrivals by İlkyaz Özel, and Lebanese brand Monot. And if you'd rather spend your evenings with Netflix and Deliveroo, invest in a pair of luxe Eberjey PJs instead. GOOD JEANS Denim is the trend that never dies. Pre-sale, identify your dream denim brand, fit and finish and strike when the price gets reduced. Department stores such as Harvey Nichols, Bloomingdale's and That Concept Store offer a broad range of brands under one roof to compare and contrast. Area's party jeans — with crystal-trimmed cut-outs — are brilliant, but expensive. For everyday denim, I rate Agolde and L'Agence for classic straight-leg fits, and Citizens of Humanity for a more directional horseshoe leg. A touch of stretch and a lightweight fabric is far more suited to a UAE summer than rigid, heavyweight denim. Finally, the reason celebs look so good in their jeans? Tailoring. A department store will do this for you or you can visit your local tailor. Most of my purchases are finessed by Hazel and her team at Thread Up on Wasl Road. WHAT WOULD J-LO DO? As a woman in my mid-40s I see a big divide among women my age as we approach middle age. Like our mums before us, we inexorably revert to high street heavyweights, such as Marks and Spencer and Next, with their elastic waistbands, crease-free fabrics and stain-concealing prints. I have nothing against M&S and Next, per se (the sheets and underwear are really good), but we have so much more choice than our mothers. My yardstick is 55-year-old Jennifer Lopez; if I can't imagine her wearing it, I'll pass. In the UK, disruptor brands such as Me + Em and Holland Cooper have quietly moved the dial around how women over 40 'should' dress, combining the practicality of an M&S staple with sleek styling that feels elegant and expensive. I also rate Next-owned Reiss's Atelier line, which launched two years ago and bridges high street and designer. The fabrics are unparalleled, and come with a price-tag to match. I'll be stocking up when they go on sale this summer. Race you to the 'Alex' utility jacket.
Khaleej Times
14 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
Movie Review: Aamir Khan's 'Sitare Zameen Par' is heartfelt but too simplistic
The year was 2007. Amid the glut of masala, action oriented and romantic films that dominated the scene, Bollywood produced an unconventional gem — a story of a child suffering from dyslexia, misunderstood by everyone until a kind-hearted teacher (Ram, played by Aamir Khan) helps him bloom. Taare Zameen Par (TZP) was an unlikely movie to come out of cliche-ridden Bollywood but went on to become a huge hit, sparking conversations and triggering emotions. What worked? Its straight-from-the-heart story, beautiful music and incredible performances. Cut to 2025. Amid a glut of OTT action and fantasy disasters, foolish horror comedies and bad historicals, comes another unconventional film — focusing on people of determination, their joys, lives and laughter. Given the all-pervading doom and gloom in our world today, a piece of cinematic art that spotlights kindness, humanity and simplicity should be a refreshing change. And considering the utter lack of creativity from mainstream Hindi cinema, a wholesome, positive film should be the perfect antidote to our numbed-by-mediocrity sensibilities. But does Sitare Zameen Par (SZP) serve that purpose? The answer: Sometimes yes, but mostly no. There is no doubt that SZP is TZP' s spiritual sister with Aamir and the sensitive storyline being the common factors. The biggest plus point: the theme and choice of cast. In a film starring one of Hindi cinema's biggest stars and other veterans, the spotlight rightly shines on a group of sassy, neurodivergent actors who win your heart with their charm and spunk. The industry is notorious for its utter lack of inclusivity but SZP is that rare film that walks the talk. So kudos to the bold step! However, is that enough? What made TZP special was its organic approach to the subject that made us empathise and be part of Ishan Awasthy — the dyslexia-afflicted child's — frustrations and triumphs. SZP unfortunately fails to do the same. You applaud it, you sympathise with the characters, you understand where they come from but you end up doing so from the periphery. It's like attending a TEDx Talk on how to view and interact with neurodivergent individuals albeit with a bit of humour and a sprinkling of drama. Aamir plays Gulshan, an arrogant basketball junior coach who rubs his seniors the wrong way, has an extended tiff with his wife (Genelia) and is caught drunk driving all on the same night. As punishment, he is recommended community service which includes training a group of basketball players on the spectrum for a national level competition. Predictably, he is out of sorts and meets them with a bunch of prejudices, but even more predictably, they end up transforming his attitudes, he gets his concepts of mental health sorted, makes up with his wife and emerges a new person. Another point that deserves special mention: while it has a do-or-die basketball final match in the climax, the result is far from what you expect. And perhaps this is the film's most important message — that empathy, kindness and understanding need not be defined by success or failure in a race or contest, nor should people be judged on the basis of the results they achieve. Just showing up is sometimes enough. However, despite all these green flags, if SZP falls short in satisfying the cinephile in you, it's due to its treatment. The empathy feels overly manufactured, the messaging too on-the-nose, the life lessons sound like they're lifted from Instagram captions and the lead character's self-realisation is spelled out a little too clearly. What if we were allowed to f-e-e-l and absorb instead? While it's commendable that the screenplay avoids emotional manipulation through sob stories or dramatising the team's and their families' struggles, it also fails to let the emotions emerge naturally. In one instance, a character explains to Gulshan the symptoms of those on the spectrum, the role of chromosomes and how everyone has their own version of 'normal". Though well-meaning, the scene feels too explanatory and obvious. When he finally realises where he went wrong, he says aloud, 'I used to be so selfish, I never looked at others' perspectives…these children changed me…' Yes, we saw that! Director R.S. Prasanna, working off a script by Divi Nidhi Sharma and adapted from the Spanish drama Campeones, takes a super-linear route though he is determined to keep it sunny and funny which doesn't always work. Perhaps, it's because most sequences are designed to preach. When a character calls someone 'Parsi', he is immediately corrected by another - 'he has a name'. A truly funny scene involving a close friendship between Dolly Singh Ahluwalia (playing Gulshan's mother) and Brijendra Kala comes with a message of accepting senior citizen relationships. It's like everyone is bent on reforming Gulshan and teaching him lessons on acceptance! Of course, the 'beaten down coach finding meaning to his life training a bunch of apparent no-hopers' is the oldest trope in motivational films but they could make engaging cinema if handled adeptly. SZP gets the ingredients right but the end recipe is bland. Blame it on the simplistic lens with which it presents every problem and solution. Just the right intentions do not make for entertaining cinema so while you may pat its objectives on the back it may not enthuse you watch it again. Surprisingly, part of the problem lies with Aamir Khan himself. Several scenes feel like affectionate nods to his iconic past — a chase sequence set to Delhi Belly 's ' DK Bose", a lyrical reference to his famous Papa Kehte Hain, and a Hum Jeet Gaye roar at the end of a match, reminiscent of Lagaan. But these callbacks don't translate into a compelling performance. The otherwise brilliant actor appears stuck in a familiar loop — head-scratching, wide-eyed, mouth-agape expressions that echo his over-the-top portrayal in Laal Singh Chaddha. His Gulshan feels like a blend of Ram (Taare Zameen Par), Rancho (3 Idiots) and Laal (Laal Singh Chaddha), with little evolution or variation. While his sincerity and belief in the film's message deserve all the plaudits, the performance itself feels overly rehearsed and self-conscious — ironically, the very opposite of what Gulshan is meant to be. Comparatively, his co-stars — Genelia (Bollywood deserves more of her!) and Dolly Singh Ahluwalia (remember her in Vicky Donor and Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani?) are natural and fit in the milieu well. But all said and done, let's give Aamir Khan credit where it's due — making a truly inclusive film and introducing a new bunch of actors. Remember the names of the 'sitaaras' — Ayush Bhansali, Simran Mangeshkar, Ashish Pendse, Rishabh Jain, Rishi Shahani, Aroush Dutta, Vedant Sharma, Samvit Desai and Naman Sharma. They restore your faith in humanity even if the cinematic world they perform in falls short.
