Dubai Shopping Festival turns 20

Would you believe it is 20 years since the Dubai Shopping Festival had us all sitting up and taking notice? The longest running festival of its kind in the Middle East, nay, the world, just keeps turning even the most reluctant shoppers into avid hunters of bargains! The 2015 edition arrives with an avalanche of brands, promotions and contests (with prize winnings in luxury cars, gold and cash), and citywide special offers, discounts and deals. Parks and districts turn into outdoor theatres, and the Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid boulevard, Zabeel park, Kite beach and the massive Global Village are key venues. Expect gymnasts, ballet troupes, unicyclists, stilt walkers, jugglers, fireworks, fashion shows, pop-up restaurants, falconry, shooting and pearl diving, and concerts by renowned Arab singers, Bollywood stars and international bands (January 1–February 1; www.mydsf.ae).