Dubai Retail Lines Up Calendar Of ’Beat The Heat’ Events At The Walk @ JBR To Mark Dubai Summer Surprises

The Walk, a pioneering beachfront shopping avenue managed and developed by Dubai Retail, a subsidiary of Dubai Properties Group (DPG), today announced it has lined up a calendar of family-oriented activities and events at the Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR) to mark Dubai Summer Surprise (DSS), the annual retail and entertainment extravaganza that attracts visitors from around the world to the emirate.

Scheduled to be held until 14 August, the ‘Beat the Heat’ events will bring Dubai Summer Surprises to the beaches of Dubai for the first time.

The beachfront retail avenue stretching over 1.7km at Jumeirah Beach Residence will host a multitude of entertaining events including water sports, football, volleyball fields, a floating island, inflatable slides, inflatable games and spa area. The area between the Hilton and Sheraton Hotel, opposite the main JBR parking lot at the heart of the beachside development will serve as the venue for the activities during the DSS extravaganza.

Haiyan Mujarkech, CEO of Dubai Retail said: “The Walk at JBR is an ideal venue to host family-oriented beachfront activities to mark DSS following the significant turnout earlier for Dubai Shopping Festival, the spectacular annual retail extravaganza. Offering attractive views of the Arabian Gulf, a great selection of shopping and dining options, The Walk will deliver an enhancing leisure experience.

“As a key industry player, Dubai Retail is keen to bring popular events such as Covent Garden Dubai, DSF, DSS, to The Walk, complementing its role as a destination that serves tourists and residents with its multitude of options.”

In addition to the entertainment, The Walk will also offer onsite refreshments, restaurants, and a relaxation zone with beach recliners, sun beds, beach tents, umbrellas, and other amenities for beach lovers.

Launched in August 2008, The Walk, boasts a total of 200 fashion, furniture and lifestyle stores, serving JBR residents as well as the entire marina district. It is set to unveil a series of spas and beach clubs, accentuating the development’s round the year beach resort offering, making Jumeirah Beach Residence one of the most luxurious developments in the region.

In its profound commitment to delivering innovative and pioneering concepts in the retail sector, Dubai Retail continues to bring renowned brands to its properties within the emirate. With over five million square feet currently under development, Dubai Retail is set to become one of the largest and the most prominent retail solutions provider in the Middle East in the near future.

Dubai Fashion Fiesta 2009 Gets Ready For A Glamorous Opening On June 19

Reinforcing Dubai’s well documented reputation as a global fashion capital and a destination for global talent, Dubai Fashion Fiesta 2009 (DFF2009) – an official event and a highlight of Dubai Summer Surprises 2009 (DSS 2009) will open on a glamorous note on Friday, June 19, at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre (DICEC).

The event which will run for four exciting days will unveil collections of 34 fashion designers – established and emerging – representatives of the global fashion industry. In its third edition, the event is strategically planned and aligned with a strong trade exposition segment, furthering the ‘business of fashion.’

Dubai Fashion Fiesta will see 40 international celebrities and models that will come and infuse their international charm to 3,000 high profile attendees.

Rania Al Mughraby, Director of Events Strategy at Dubai Shopping Festival Office said, “Dubai Fashion Fiesta is a prominent fixture in the list of fashion events that have contributed to reinforcing Dubai’s status as the fashion hub in the region. As a highlight of DSS this year, the DSF Office is endeavouring to organize, host, and support similar events that add to Dubai’s unchallenged position in the region’s fashion industry.”

Showcasing forthcoming season’s trends – both on the ramps and through the exhibition halls – US, European and Asian designers will share their expertise through the event.

Offering contemporary and classical designs, the designers are set to enthrall the style aficionados with elegant, exclusive ensembles. Supported by DFF’s philosophy of designer programmes, the event seeks to be one of the region’s most exclusive trade shows in the women’s market, bringing together leading retailers, high profile audiences and international media.

The brand ambassadors and spokesperson for DFF 2009 is US based Sabrina Barnett, celebrity, model, singer and designer. Larisa Katz, the well known designer from Holland represents the event in Europe. Adding Bollywood glamour, DFF will be graced by internationally acclaimed actress, Miss World, Miss Universe and Top Model of the World, Sushmita Sen and award-winning actress, Manisha Koirala. Supported by a full cast of top international models and celebrities from Paris, Milan, London, New York and India the event will resonate with luxury and avant-garde fashion.

Celebrated designers and labels for this year’s Fashion Fiesta include Lida O’ Reilly, Marco Marcu, Anita Dongre, Shaahid Amir, Verica Rakocevic, Dragica Gudeljevic, and JJ Valaya. The event also features designers of the likes of Reka Orosz, Raman Vij, Miss Magou, Nataliya Dolenko London, Rocky Gathercole, and Larisa Katz.

Launched to bring together designers, buyers, and fashion enthusiasts, Dubai Fashion Fiesta or DFF is slated to attract wide media attention due to the inclusion of high profile participants. The larger aim of the fashion extravaganza is to contribute in promoting Dubai as the fashion hub in the region.

DFF is also introducing a new segment, with the aim of gestating talent. The Emerging Designer Awards aims to foster young talented designers, providing them a unique opportunity to showcase their creations to international fashion enthusiasts. Twenty four young designers from across the world will participate in a talent contest and carve a niche out for themselves- as they put their best feat forward.

Dubai Shopping Festival Office Gears Up For 4th Edition Of The Award-Winning Apprenticeship Programme 2009

The Dubai Shopping Festival Office, organizers of Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS) is gearing up for the 4th edition of its award-winning Apprenticeship Programme. This year, the highly successful Business Administration & Marketing internship includes universities from the UAE for the first time as well as universities in KSA, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Jordan, Qatar, Lebanon and Egypt.

The DSS Apprenticeship Programme was one of the major factors cited by the jury that awarded The Dubai Shopping Festival Office the Travel & Tourism Award at the 2008 IPRA Golden World Awards in London last year.

UAE Universities that have confirmed participation in the programme include: Zayed University, University of Sharjah College of Business Administration and the Higher Colleges of Technology, while fellow participating universities across the MENA region include: Dar Al-Hekma Private College and Effat University from KSA; American University in Cairo, The British University in Egypt and October 6 University from Egypt; Lebanese American University from Lebanon; Al Zaytoonah University from Jordan; Muscat College and Sultan Qaboos University from Oman; Qatar University from Qatar; American University in Kuwait and finally, University of Bahrain and Al Ahlia University from Bahrain.

The DSS Apprenticeship aims at promoting local talent and enhancing the education of participating students within the fields of Marketing, Business administration and Events Management. The programme brings together the best and brightest students from across the region providing them with excellent opportunities for training and exposure in these disciplines through an internship at the Dubai Summer Surprises, one of the biggest tourism success stories of the region, now celebrating its 12th year, which takes place from June 11th to August 14th, 2009.

From four universities in two countries in 2006, the DSS Apprenticeship Programme now targets more than 40 higher education institutions in nine markets across the Middle East & North Africa. As in past editions, the selected college students experience intensive hands-on training on the planning and execution of Dubai Summer Surprises, the region’s biggest summer tourism spectacle.

“In the 4th year of the DSS Apprenticeship Programme, we are extremely happy to be providing students from across the Middle East and North Africa with the opportunity to experience valuable mentorship from the team of experienced industry professionals, who continually strive to make DSS the most anticipated summer event in the region for the whole family. This initiative also demonstrates our enduring commitment to investing in the local and regional community and is an extension of Dubai’s warm, cosmopolitan hospitality”, said Laila Suhail, CEO of the Dubai Shopping Festival Office.

Named the World Travel Awards’ Leading Hotel Brand in Africa, Southern Sun will welcome students from across the region to its deluxe Qamardeen Hotel, situated in Downtown Burj Dubai, where students will stay for the entire two-week internship for the third consecutive year.

Students from participating universities are currently undergoing the selection process with the most important component being an essay writing exercise. This year’s essay topic has current relevance as students will be required to provide insight on how they would market this major summer event in light of the current economic situation. A special jury comprised of key DSS staff and other marketing professionals will evaluate the applications and select one winner from each country to represent his/her country in the programme.

Winners are chosen based on the quality of their essays and completion of documents as well as their character, ambition, energy, and potential to make valuable contributions to the continual enhancement of DSS.

World Of Stories Officially Opens At Mercato

World of Stories, the first Signature Event of Dubai Summer Surprises, officially opened at Mercato on Monday, June 15, with a special function involving members of Dubai Cares, the education partner of the event for this year, and members of Modhesh Friends Club. The event was attended by Laila Suhail, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Shopping Festival Office, and Yousif Mubarak, Chief Operations Officer of DSF Office, in addition to Dubai Cares representatives and a host of other officials.

The evening began with a Dubai Cares youth representative delivering a speech on behalf of the organization. She welcomed the guests citing that Dubai Cares is the official education partner for Dubai Summer Surprises and that Dubai Cares was launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum to help improve children’s access to primary education around the world. In less than 2 years, Dubai Cares is reaching 4 million children and helping them break free from poverty.

She added Dubai Cares offers residents of the UAE a chance to help by getting involved in various fundraising and volunteer initiatives that support children’s primary education worldwide, including Dubai Summer Surprises given its focus on showing children the power of education in a fun learning environment.

The Dubai Cares youth representative concluded her speech by noting that Dubai Cares believes in the children of the UAE and recognizes their contribution to helping make a difference for children around the world. Since Dubai Cares was launched, children throughout the UAE played an important role in support of Dubai Cares. In 2008, as part of the Million Book Challenge, students throughout the UAE came together to read over 1.3 million books. For its part, Dubai Cares is distributing an equal amount of books to children in need.

Running until June 23, World of Stories focuses on the adventures of Alice, the main character from Alice in Wonderland, to take audiences on a magical journey. Staged in three shows at 5pm, 6:35pm, and 8pm, Alice Adventures follows a magical journey where Alice slips into a dream where she meets several characters from various other stories such as the Fairy Godmother, Mary Poppins, Cheshire Cat, Aladdin, Robin Hood, Little Red Riding Hood and Snow White. All shows will be staged in English and Arabic.

An exclusive meet and greet opportunity followed the show with each Modhesh Friends Club member receiving a book as a gift. The club members were then taken on a tour of all the corners of World of Stories which includes activities to keep children, families, and shoppers entertained throughout. Large 3D talking cutouts of characters will greet visitors as they enter the mall. These characters will inform visitors of the event and create a fun interactive experience all day long.

For children who like to read, the Enchanted Forest Library comes filled with fairytale books that will hang from artificial trees and be sometimes hidden to encourage children to search for them. For three hours every evening, a professional host will thrill the children by reading a selection of stories.

An arts and crafts zone themed on the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party is another highlight of the event. Children can sit amidst the colourful tea party with Mad Hatter cutouts around them and engage in an array of arts and crafts activities. A Mirror Maze is also being put up where visitors can see themselves shrink and enlarge in the mirrors.

An addition to this year’s World of Stories is a Quran Exhibition that aims to provide a true insight into the Quran, its revelation, its preservation and its message to humanity. Extracts from the Quran will also be recited in three readings a day.

Additionally, the mascot of the White Rabbit will be in the mall to meet children and pose for photographs. Gilded frames containing iconic characters from children’s literature and well known quotes will also be displayed around the mall.

DSF Office And Dubai Cares Announce Education Tie-Up During Dubai Summer Surprises 2009

The Dubai Shopping Festival and Dubai Cares announced the launch of several education initiatives for children during Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS) 2009, the region’s most awaited summer extravaganza. Providing children with a fun learning environment, DSS will feature child-friendly, education events supported by Dubai Cares, considered the largest charitable establishment dedicated to primary education globally.

Dubai Cares is supporting Modhesh World with its “Story Telling” zone, which encourages children to read by bringing stories to life through a storyteller’s live narration. Children will have the opportunity to take part in individual reading sessions, where they will have access to a wide array of books.

Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy, Chairperson of Dubai Cares, said, “Dubai Cares is delighted to be the Education Partner of Dubai Summer Surprises, now in its 12th year. We welcome the occasion to work with DSS, with which we share a commitment of providing children throughout the UAE opportunities to acquire knowledge in an exciting and entertaining environment.”

Dubai Cares will also participate in World of Stories – a DSS Signature Event that goes on till June 23 at Mercato. The event is a magical journey through the “Alice in Wonderland” universe, bringing to life fairytale characters including Mad Hatter and the White Rabbit.

Lasting 35 minutes, the show will be presented three times daily including at 5:00 p.m., 6:35 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.. There will also be other activities for children to participate in at including the Arts and Crafts Corner, the Quranic Exhibition and the enchanted forest library.

Laila Suhail, CEO of DSF Office, said, “The DSF Office works in cooperation with government departments to support initiatives that benefit communities. The presence of Dubai Cares as Education Partner will certainly enrich the events of DSS and deliver the message to a wider audience of residents and visitors from around the world. This partnership will definitely bring the objectives of DSS and Dubai Cares to the forefront and reveal what our aims are.”

Dubai Cares works with globally recognized aid and development agencies and private corporations to implement primary education programs in beneficiary developing countries that help improve a child’s access to quality primary education. With its development programs that address the full value chain of primary education, Dubai Cares is helping children and their communities escape the trap of poverty and to become active contributors to sustainable development. The UAE-based establishment also mobilizes local communities in the UAE through fundraising and volunteer initiatives that support children’s primary education worldwide.

Major Private Sector Entities Come Together In Support Of Modhesh World

Dubai Shopping Festival Office has unveiled a bigger and better Modhesh World, with the support of the some of the biggest names in the private sector that have actively supported the initiative since its inception.

The 37,000 square venue is the largest indoor theme park in the Middle East and boasts exciting new rides and edutainment activities guaranteed to give children and their families a fun and learning experience during the summer.

Magic Planet – Majid Al Futtaim Group, UAE Exchange, Emirates airline , Coca-Cola Middle East – Fanta, Union Co-Op, Dubai World Trade Center, Osus (Stargate), and HP Leisure have joined hands in creating an unrivalled theme park experience in Modhesh World making the venue the premiere destination for families during Dubai Summer Surprises.

“The transition of Modhesh Fun City into what is now known as Modhesh World meant a massive shift in concept. What was earlier seen as a simple collage of rides, games and entertainment programmes has evolved into a more cohesive theme park experience, where Modhesh takes an even more active role in promoting positive values, clean fun, and exciting learning experiences for children and their families,” said Laila Suhail, Chief Executive Officer, Dubai Festival Shopping Office. “Even the manner in which the various elements in Modhesh World have been put together reflects a greater attention to detail, and were geared towards a more customer-friendly experience for all those visiting Modhesh World.”

Ms Suhail likewise thanked the sponsors of Modhesh World for their invaluable support. “Our partners share our vision for the new Modhesh World, and have put forward the best concepts and ideas that will further strengthen the its reputation as the premiere destination for fun, learning and excitement during the Dubai Summer Surprises. We are thankful for their support,” she added.

According to Suhail, this year’s roster of sponsors are a combination of long-time supporters and new partners. “The past 12 years have been a period of unprecedented growth for us, and we are confident that we can sustain this momentum despite the current economic situation. Having retained our partners some of whom have been with us for over a decade, and having signed on new ones is a very strong indication of the optimism shared by our sponsors in the viability and business sense of this iniative.”

Modhesh World Sponsors
Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC)
Helal Saeed Al Marri, CEO of the Dubai World Trade Centre, said: “Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) sponsors Dubai Summer Surprises every year because the organisation recognises the important role played by the festival in the development of the tourism sector in Dubai. Its outstanding line up of events, performances and fun-filled activities contributes in making the city of Dubai the number one summer destination for many tourists from the region and beyond. Our support for the summer festival is consistent with the vision and objectives of DWTC to make Dubai the world’s leading destination for all major exhibitions, conferences and events.”

Almarri added that the Dubai World Trade Centre will provide the highest level of services as the Airport Expo Dubai hosts Modhesh World – the biggest indoor fun destination in Dubai – which has seen more than 4 million visitors over 9 years making it the premier destination for families travelling abroad.

Emirates
Ahmed Khoory, Senior Vice President Commercial, Gulf, Middle East and Iran Emirates said: “As a major and long serving sponsor of Dubai Summer Surprises Emirates is delighted to be able to support Modhesh World. Bringing families together has always been a major part of Emirates’ ethos and Modesh World compliments this vision perfectly. We believe that Modesh World will create a fun, family friendly environment for both local and regional visitors and will further help stimulate international travel to Dubai.”

Coca-Cola Middle East – Fanta
Antoine Tayyar, Public Affairs and Communications Manager, Coca-Cola Middle East, said: “Modhesh World is an inspired idea: the creation of a fun, safe and family-friendly space where visitors can take time out and just enjoy themselves during the summer months. We chose to support the initiative because it falls in step with our new Open Happiness platform, which embodies the Coca-Cola values of positivity, fun and taking time out during our hectic day to appreciate life’s small, refreshing moments.”

UAE Exchange
Y. Sudhir Kumar Shetty, COO – Global Operations, UAE Exchange said: “We scripted a noteworthy move last year as a zonal partner of Dubai Summer Surprises and this association proved really significant for us with respect to the kind of extensive exposure we received. We figured alongside the top five international brands in the UAE. Our pavilion was visited by a host of domestic and international visitors to whom we were glad to offer our world-class services including global money transfers, foreign exchange and bill payments. We are extremely delighted to participate in the festival again and hope that these unique alliances play a pivotal role in accelerating Dubai’s economy during the summer and facilitating its promotion as a leading tourist destination.”

HB Leisure
Anthony Silver from HB Lesiure said, “The HBL team both in Dubai and the UK are delighted to be working with the DSFO again, particularly in sponsoring Modesh World for this year’s Dubai Summer Surprises. We are delighted to have the opportunity to provide an exciting range of games, rides and leisure activities for the many visitors that will be attending this prestigious event, which we are sure will be another huge success for the DSFO.

Magic Planet
Silvio Liedtke, General Manager, Magic Planet said, “The association of Modhesh World and Magic Planet is ideal as they both represent great fun and excitement. We are absolutely delighted to be a part of Modhesh World this year as it is now bigger and better and will offer fantastic entertainment. The destination has a huge amount to offer to all ages and Magic Planet fits perfectly as it is a place for children and for those who are just young at heart.”

“With this evolution of Modhesh World, we expect a lot more visitors visiting the place this year and we look forward to a successful festival,” he added.

Osus – Stargate
“We are very proud to play a part in maintaining and solidifying Dubai’s position as a leading hub for leisure and business through Stargate’s sponsorship of Modhesh World. As well as giving back to the community a token of our appreciation for all the facilities provided to us by the Dubai Government to turn a dream into a reality through Stargate edutainment offerings to the families,” stated Abdullah Al Ghobain, CEO OSUS LLC.

Union Co-operative Society
Khalid Al Falasi, General Manager, Union Co-operative Society said, “Modhesh is a very unique brand and it has attached itself to families in the UAE and visitors from outside the country. The brand, has, undoubtedly, had a positive effect on children and DSS as a whole that has inturn promoted inbound tourism and propagated family values. Modhesh is a brand that is extremely popular among all and our sponsorship for Modhesh World comes in line with our commitment to support such pioneering initiatives.”

Mall Of The Emirates To Host DSS Opening Ceremony In ’June 11 Surprises’

In a unique kind of beginning to the region’s most-awaited summer event, Mall of the Emirates will host a twelve-hour long celebration featuring shopping discounts, raffle draws, and spectacular giveaways to mark the opening of Dubai Summer Surprises.

Details of the exciting series of events were revealed on Tuesday, June 9, 2009, at the Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates as Dubai gears for 65 days of summer festivities with the theme ‘Surprising Dubai’. The press conference was attended by Laila Suhail, CEO of the Dubai Shopping Festival Office; Fuad Sharaf, Vice President, Mall of the Emirates, and a host of other officials.

Addressing the gathering, Ms. Suhail began by saying that the opening, titled ‘June 11 Surprises’, would usher in a summer of excitement for resident families and those coming in from across the region.

“In a span of eleven years, DSS has managed to position Dubai as one of the leading global summer holiday destinations. Tourists from all over the region jot down Dubai as a must-visit every summer and come back year after year. Visiting Dubai for them is an enjoyable experience characterized by a classy, safe, and comfortable holiday that caters to all their needs and tastes. Every time they leave, they have a smile on theirs and their children’s faces and this is our true success, apart from the fact that DSS has, since 1998, attracted a mammoth 15 million visitors and a consumer spending of AED 19 billion. This is indeed a magnificent achievement given our short history”, Suhail said

AED 2 million surprise from Mall of the Emirates and Deira City Centre this DSS
Fuad Sharaf, Vice President, Mall of the Emirates, revealed a surprise organised by Mall of the Emirates and its sister concern Deira City Centre as members of the Majid Al Futtaim Group, a key sponsor of DSS 2009. “This year, Mall of the Emirates and Deira City Centre are coming together for the first time ever in a joint promotion to give visitors the chance to win prizes worth AED 2 million this summer. The massive campaign will see both malls give two winners AED 100,000 each every week with the amount doubling up in the last draw by the end of DSS. The joint initiative means shoppers can now spend the AED 300 needed to enter the draw at any of the 800 stores in the two malls,” he said.

He also added that it was a great honour for Mall of the Emirates to host the opening ceremony of DSS for the second time in its four year history. “We hosted our first DSS opening ceremony in 2006, the Mall of the Emirates’ very first year of operation and this year’s opening on June 11 will be on an even larger scale. It will be an entire day dedicated to fun, festivities and surprises and we would like to invite the residents and tourists of Dubai to come and experience this special occasion.”

‘June 11 Surprises’ will stretch a whole day at from 10am to 10pm with shopping surprises and giveaways worth thousands of dirhams every hour. The mall will transform into a festive area of shows, prizes, entertainment and simply put, shopping at its very best. Here’s what await visitors to the mall on June 11.

The Dubai Luxury Package Raffle:
Four winners will be chosen every three hours for a package including a weekend stay of two nights at the Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates. Dining and shopping vouchers worth AED 10,000 and an exotic spa treatment package are part of the prize. Mall goers simply need to head to one of the many counters at Mall of the Emirates, fill a form with contact details and wait to be called as the lucky winner.

Surprising Raffle:
If shopping discounts weren’t enough, DSS is giving away one lucky shopper a whopping AED 10,000 for a minimum purchase of AED 200 every hour. 12 winners will be chosen through the day.

60 Minutes Surprises:
The most fascinating of the surprises for the day, one or more retail stores at Mall of the Emirates will announce an all out offer of discounts over 90 per cent every hour. This is the best opportunity to get your hands on the most desirable brands at throwaway prices.

Dining Surprises:
Shoppers can also expect to be surprised by getting their dining bills paid by DSS, every hour. Four lucky tables will be chosen every hour of the day. Around 70 restaurants and coffee shops will participate in the promotion.

Shows, Exhibition, and Meet and Greet with Modhesh:
Around 150 performers are expected to stage exciting shows and parades for shoppers on the opening day. Modhesh, the ever- smiling summer mascot, and over 15 of the most well-known children’s cartoon characters will meet and greet children throughout the day. Additionally, Dubai’s past and present will be on display through an exhibition of photographs.

1 Minute Free Shopping Up For Grabs

Following the recent visit of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, at the Aswaaq Community Centre in Al Mizhar, Aswaaq launched a new campaign aimed at strengthening its relationship with its clients and customers.

The new campaign “Spin & Win” will give every shopper who spends over AED 50.00 at any of Aswaaq’s supermarkets and community centres in Al Mizhar, Nad al Hamar and Al Sufouh, the opportunity to spin the Aswaaq wheel and win a prize. Prizes range from WAFA card points, shopping coupons to the grand prize of 1 minute free shopping.

Commenting on Aswaaq’s latest promotional campaign, Mr. Affan Khouri, Aswaaq’s Director- Merchandise & buying, said:
“At aswaaq we value each and every customer who walks through our doors and we are always looking for ways to thank our customers for their loyalty. We are extremely excited about ‘Spin and Win’ and hope that campaigns such as this will continue to boost our relationship with our customers.”
The latest ‘Spin and Win’ campaign is a variation of the previous ‘Spin and Win’ campaign that was held in January during the Dubai Shopping Festival.

“Spin and Win’ was a huge success in January and a lot of fun for everyone involved. This summer we wanted to incorporate the same idea but with a grand prize which makes it a little more exciting,’’ concluded Mr. Affan Khouri.
‘Spin and Win’ will go on till June 10th at all of the Aswaaq community centres and is sponsored by Bin Sina Pharmacy, Emirates driving institute, Al Jaber optics, MediSpa Health Centre, Damas Jewelry, Bridgestone-Nasser Bin Abdullatef Al Serkal, DU telecom, H.S. Sajwani Electronics, Super Vision, and Dakakeen.

Dubai Shopping Malls Group Unveils ’Surprising Millions’ Summer Promotion With A Total Prize Of AED 5 Million

Dubai Shopping Malls Group (DSMG) has unveiled ‘Surprising Millions’, a massive summer campaign offering total prizes of AED 5 million during the upcoming Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS).

Continuing its twelve years of association with DSS, the Group has lined up an array of shopping and entertainment extravaganzas including surprise winnings, nine weekly raffle draws and competitions from June 11 – August 14, 2009 as part of ‘Surprising Millions’. All through the campaign, participating malls will double as venues of entertainment with exciting in-mall fun programmes organised by DSS for families and children. To receive the raffle coupons and enter any of the nine weekly draws, shoppers only need to spend a minimum amount of AED 200 at participating malls in Dubai.

Majid Al Ghurair, Chairman of the Dubai Shopping Malls Group, said: “DSS has served as a strong catalyst for the shopping mall sector during summer. This year, we have the maximum support to date from member shopping malls with 22 of them taking part in ‘Surprising Millions.’ The promotion offers millions of dirhams worth of prizes to lucky shoppers through raffle draws, competitions on broadcast media and instant surprise winnings. The prizes are aimed at further promoting retail sales which are expected to peak during this DSS.”

Speaking of the Group’s support to DSS, Laila Suhail, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Shopping Festival Office, said: “The Dubai Shopping Malls Group’s unwavering support to DSS in the past has helped the retail industry to maximise sales. This year is no exception, with the most number of DSMG members taking part offering shoppers great bargains. We will work with the Group to ensure that the shopping experience is complemented by winning opportunities and entertainment for the whole family. “

DSMG’s mainstream raffle promotions include weekly raffle prizes and instant winnings. The weekly prizes offer winning opportunity to a maximum of 10 winners with each shopper standing to win prizes worth AED 50,000/- in cash and gift vouchers every week. There will be 90 lucky winners in total during the nine weeks of DSS promotion. The weekly draws will be held every Thursday in different participating malls.

DSMG also has instant prizes lined up to surprise customers who have obtained raffle coupons. Everyday, one lucky shopper from any one of the participating malls will receive a refund equal to the value of his purchase. The total value of instant prizes lined up is AED 500,000 to be distributed during the duration of the campaign.

Besides the opportunity to win amazing prizes through raffle coupons, customers also stand to win thousands of dirhams by taking part in interactive competitions that will be aired by broadcast media during the Dubai Summer Surprises. DSMG has lined up prizes worth more than AED 100,000/- in total to be won through such competitions.

All customers using their Master Card to shop will receive an additional coupon each time they use their card.

The Group will also launch an information guide providing customers details of the retail offers in various participating malls which include Al Bustan Centre, Al Ghurair City, Al Manal Centre , Al Mulla Plaza , Arabian Center , BurJuman ,Century Mall ,Dubai Festival City ,Dubai Marina Mall, Dubai Marina Walk, Dubai Outlet Mall , Gold & Diamond Park , Lamcy Plaza , Mazaya Center, Mercato Mall, Oasis Centre, Reef Mall , Souk Al Bahar and Downtown Burj , The Dubai Mall ,Town Centre , Time Square Centre and WAFI mall.

“Dubai Summer Surprises is a true example of a collective effort by private and public sector to boost the economy, “Al Ghurair concluded.

The Dubai Shopping Malls Group currently has a total membership of over 30 malls in Dubai. DSMG is governed by a Board of Directors including Mr. Majid Al Ghurair, CEO, Al Ghurair Group & Chairman of DSMG; Ms. Laila Suhail, Chief Executive Officer, Dubai Shopping Festival Office; Mr. Tom Miles, Senior General Manager – Retail, Dubai Festival City LLC; Mr. David Thurling, Managing Director, Nakheel Shopping Malls LLC; Mr. Fareed Abdelrahman, VP – Division Asset Management MAF Shopping Malls;Mr. Eisa Adam, General Manager, Burjuman; Mr. Nasser Rafi, Chief Executive Officer, Emaar Malls Group; Shahjahan Unneen, General Manager, WAFI – MKM Commercial Holdings.

Dubai Shopping Malls Group’s DSS promotional activities are managed by BUZ Management and Marketing Consultancy, a leading events and management firm based in Dubai.

Modhesh The Ambassador of Smiles Embarks on 4th Goodwill Tour Across The GCC

Modhesh, the sunny goodwill icon, has begun his fourth GCC tour –spreading his special brand of cheer to those unable to attend the exciting summer fiesta in Dubai. Modhesh is touring the region bearing gifts and goodie bags to children bringing his enduring cheery disposition, positive outlook and the amusing antics that make him so popular.“Modhesh is loved wherever he goes and children all across the GCC will be immensely excited to have him visit them. It is important to us at the Dubai Shopping Festival Office (DSFO) to contribute to the community and we take immense pleasure in Modhesh helping children as a universal ‘Ambassador of Smiles’ and we are sure he will brighten the lives of all the children he meets and warm their hearts with hope and happiness,” said Khulood Al Thani, Marketing Director of DSF Office.  The tour, now in its fourth year, is evidence of the importance that the Dubai Shopping Festival Office places on investing in the regional community according to their Corporate Social Responsibility strategy.So far, Modhesh’s whirlwind tour has included stops at the NBK Hospital in Kuwait and the Hope Institute for Special Education in Bahrain.  Next up is the Hamad Medical Corporation in Qatar as well as the Child Care Home in Oman, after which Modhesh will round off his GCC tour at the Help Center in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Al Thani added, “When Modhesh visits these hospitals and orphanages laden with gifts and his sunny persona, it is our hope that his cheery disposition will be reflected in the smiles on the faces of all the children he meets.”Once Modhesh wraps up his GCC tour, he will return to Dubai to spread his special brand of cheer to all Dubai residents and to welcome all visitors converging on the city for this year’s highly anticipated edition of Dubai Summer Surprises, celebrating its 12th edition this year.