Your essential guide to Eid celebrations: Bumper sales, mega concerts and Dh2m in prizes

It’s celebration time across Dubai, as residents gear up for the Eid Al Fitr festivities in the coming days, with mega concerts, bumper prizes and shopping bargains up for grabs.

The ‘Eid in Dubai’ calendar reads like a year’s agenda of entertainment extravaganzas packed in a few short weeks, with hotels already reporting 100 per cent occupancy rates, as tourists continue to flock to the emirate.

Organised by the Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), an agency of the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), the icing on the cake during this sixth edition of ‘Eid in Dubai’are the Dh2 million in prizes that are up for grabs.

Mega concerts

Popular Arab artistes will dominate the Eid in Dubai celebrations, with Arab Idol winner Mohammed Assaf from Palestine, rounding off the concert week in a mega event alongside Lebanese superstar Ragheb Alama.

The concert week kicks off with the Layali Dubai series of Arab concerts, with top entertainers from Lebanon, Morocco, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and the UAE from August 9 at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

Sounding off on day one will be performances by Mona Amarcha from Morocco, who has catapulted to fame across the Gulf region and Emirati heartthrob Hussein Al Jasmi, who rose to fame with Bassbour Al Fourgakom, which is also one of the synchronised tunes that play alongside performances of The Dubai Fountain.

On August 10, Emirati crooner Ahlam, a member of the judges’ panel on Arab Idol, and Walid Al Shami, a promising young artiste from Iraq, will take centre-stage.

Meanwhile, on August 11, Saudi singer Rabeh Saqer, who has been in the music industry for over 25 years, and Lebanese superstar and Unicef goodwill ambassador Nancy Ajram will entertain audiences.

Layali Dubai will culminate with a grand performance by the Gulf’s favourite Mohammed Abdo, a veteran entertainer from Saudi Arabia.

The Eid in Dubai concerts will conclude with one of the most awaited events of the year, the Arab Idol Live Tour 2013, with champion Mohammed Assaf from Palestine, Syrian Farah Yusuf and Egyptian Ahmed Jamal all showing fans why they made it to the top of one of the most popular reality music shows in the region.

The trip will be accompanied by Lebanese superstar and Arab Idol judge and mentor Ragheb Alama at this live entertainment event at the Dubai World Trade Centre on August 15.

Tickets for the concerts are priced from Dh150 to Dh1,500 and can be purchased at the venue.

Dh2 million in  prizes

With Eid celebrations underway, the Dubai Shopping Malls Group (DSMG) is offering shoppers an opportunity to win prizes worth Dh2 million across 18 participating malls.

Shoppers who spend Dh200 at any of the participating malls are entitled to a raffle coupon which will be entered into the draw.

The promotion will offer 12 lucky winners a chance to win gold and diamond jewellery gift vouchers worth Dh50,000 each over three days of Eid.

Additionally, four winners will have an opportunity to win gold and diamond jewellery gift vouchers worth Dh100,000 each at a mega draw on August 14.

Moreover, as part of the Eid in Dubai promotion, DSMG has incorporated a ‘Scratch and Win’ component where shoppers can winprizes totalling up to Dh1 million.

Commenting on the promotion, Majid Al Ghurair, Chairman, DSMG, said in a statement: “Eid is a festival of sharing and giving and we are extremely delighted to be part of this fantastic initiative….

“…Our buoyant promotions have always been strategic, carefully designed and have had tremendous success in boosting tourism to the city.”

Dubai Arabic Comedy Nights

A broad spectrum of live stand up comedy shows featuring some of the top Gulf comedians will be staged at VOX Cinemas Theatre at the Mall of the Emirates on 9, 16, 23 and 30 August.

This event, which will be held for the first time in the UAE, will focus exclusively on the fast emerging Arab and Gulf talents with the comedians conveying the important message that laughter is the best medicine and the spice of life.

The Mermaid Show

This breathtaking show will take place at The Dubai Mall Aquarium from August 15 to September 7.

This show, which will take place thrice daily, will astonish viewers with underwater acrobatics and performances.

Audiences will be treated to an underwater show featuring live mermaids swimming with sharks and other sea creatures in an exotic marine environment. The talented performers, some of whom are Olympic synchronised swimming medalists, will swim to a choreographed show directed by former US Olympic head coach for the country’s synchronised swimming team, Stephan Miermont, who was the main character in the world famous ‘O’ show from Cirque du Soleil for five years.

She also choreographed the water event for Cirque du Soleil and the water video and visual for pop star Kylie Minogue’s Aphrodite tour in 2011.

The Illusionists

The Illusionists are a group of talented magicians and entertainers who travel the world, fascinating people and bending their beliefs in what is real and what is not.

With the likes of an escape artist and a mind-reader, two illusionists and even an inventor, there is something to amaze everyone.

This show features nine people, each of them possessing special skills distinct from the others. They will perform at the Dubai World Trade Centre from August 28 to September 7.

Fireworks

The hallmark of festivals in Dubai, Eid celebrations this year will continue with the tradition as the night sky comes alive with a daily display of fireworks.

Thousands of residents and visitors will be dazzled by the spectacular fireworks above Dubai Creek at Al Seef Street, commencing at 9.30pm while a similar fireworks show will be held at Dubai Festival City daily during the Eid festivities at 10pm.

Ramadan night market

Don’t let the name confuse you, as the Ramadan Night Market runs until August 10, well into the Eid festivities.

This consumer fair at the Dubai World Trade Centre includes an Arabian Souq, Fashion Pavilion, Food Pavilion, Health and Beauty Bay and Special kids Zone.

Organised by Sumansa Exhibitions, the night market will bring together around 400  outlets offering residents and tourists an opportunity to shop for all their festival needs under one roof.

Modhesh World

The region’s largest indoor family entertainment destination will be open until 28 August at the Dubai World Trade Centre. Launched in 2000, Modhesh World has welcomed over five million visitors since its inception, and continues to draw huge crowds this year. Spread across six halls, Modhesh World covers separate sections of fun, entertainment and learning, in addition to international cartoon and stage shows, all housed in a fully air-conditioned, child-safe environment. Kids stepping into Modhesh World will instantly feel welcome and excited at the ensemble of games, contests, activities, fun skills workshops and more that at Modhesh World. During the Eid celebrations Modhesh World will stay open from 10am to midnight, and thereafter until August 28, the timings will be from 10am to 10pm Saturday to Wednesday, 10am to midnight on Thursdays and 3pm to midnight on Fridays.

Cirque Éloize's iD

This internationally renowned show from Cirque Éloize is heading to Dubai for the first time, and will be held at the Dubai World Trade Centre from 15- 24 August.

Cirque Éloize’s iD will keep audiences enthralled with a repertoire of circus acts coupled with urban dance.

Founded in 1993, Cirque Éloize is one of the world leaders in contemporary circus. The company recently partnered with Cirque du Soleil, based on a common creative vision and international entertainment appeal. With ten original productions to its credit, Cirque Éloize has presented almost 4,000 performances in over 440 cities and 40 countries.

iD is debuting for the first time in the Middle East and features 15 artists, 12 circus disciplines and urban dance acts including breakdance, hip-hop and acrobatics.

Cartoon shows

Beloved children’s character Thomas the Train is back with his friends this summer to delight children with yet another fascinating series of shows at Modhesh World at Hall No 1, Dubai World Trade Centre.

The special show titled “Thomas and the Hidden Treasure” will be held twice a day at 4.30pm and 8pm from August 9 until 21.

Kids can also meet Dora the Explorer and her best friend Boots the monkey at Dubai Festival City Mall from August 15-21.

Accompanied by her popular talking purple backpack, Dora will show off her quest for adventure packed with games and puzzles that she and Boots must solve before reaching their final destination.

Three shows will be held every day at 5pm, 7pm and 8.30pm.

Meanwhile, children’s favourite action hero Ben 10 will be celebrating ‘Summer is Dubai’ with his crew Gwen, Kevin Levin, Grandpa Maz plus two awesome aliens at Mirdif City Centre from August 22-28, thrice daily at 4.15pm, 5.30pm and 7.30pm.

Children are certain to be enthralled by this Cartoon Network hit which showcases the prowess of 10-year old Benjamin Tennyson who acquires a watch-like alien device called the Omnitrix that allows him to turn into alien creatures.

Younger children can scream Hello Kitty when they visit BurJuman to meet the famous cat.

Hello Kitty can be seen live at BurJuman from August 29 to September 4 three times every evening at 6pm, 7.15pm and 8.30pm.
 

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