Mall of the Emirates to host DSS opening ceremony in 'June 11 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 Dhs19bn. This is indeed a magnificent achievement given our short history",

Suhail said.

Dhs2m 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.

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 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 cash prize. 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% 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.