One of the best reasons to stay back in Dubai over the summer? The Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS)! The annual summer festival is back for its 28th edition and has a line-up of fabulous events scheduled for the next two months. Until August 31, you have plenty of time to check out some spectacular family experiences, free concerts, dining deals, and fun shows. We’ve created this convenient guide of all the highlights and unmissable activities that are part of DSS.
1. Beat the Heat concerts
DSS and music streaming platform Anghami’s popular indoor concert series, Beat the Heat, is returning for season 3. Every Friday and Saturday, from July 4 to July 13 you can attend gigs by some of the coolest bands and musicians in the region. This year, Dubai World Trade Centre is the venue that’ll host these concerts. Here’s what’s in store for your ears:
July 4: Egyptian artist TUL8TE will break out the beats with UAE singer-songwriter Almas, who will keep you hooked with her fusion of English and Arabic lyrics.
July 5: Egyptian band Sharmoofers, Jordanian composer and singer Aziz Maraka take to the stage. Expect Jordanian star Maraka’s biggest hits like Ma Fi Mennik and Konna Sghar and Sharmoofers’ upbeat tunes will have audiences kick up their heels. They will be joined by Syrian artist Ghaliaa to complete a terrific triad of musical magic.
July 11: Sudanese music gets repped big time with rappers Soulja (Deja vu) and Montiyago (Ducati). A performance by Mo Ali‘s reggae-flavoured tunes will round off the evening
July 12: Feast on a fusion of Arab pop when Saudi sensation Bader Al Shuaibi, singers Nasser Al Abbas and Abdulaziz Louis from Kuwait turn up the volume on the GCC’s pitch-perfect talent.
July 13: A thrilling closing show will bring the roof down. Palestinian rapper BIGSam and Palestinian American artist Lana Lubany. Dubai-based musician Akhras joins them and will have you on your feet, as will BIGSam’s stirring wordplay in singles such as Last Seen, Law Mara Bas.
🎟️: Tickets for all concerts start from AED 105, get them here
2. Modhesh Splash Park
Is it even DSS unless Modhesh’s sunny smiles are plastered across the city? The gleeful jack-in-the-box mascot of Dubai Summer Surprises has been entertaining a generation of kids. He’s back to do it in tow with Dana, his female counterpart, at Modhesh Splash Park. The family-friendly pop-up waterpark is back at the Dubai Festival, transforming into a colourful world of slides, lagoons, rides, sprinkler zones, skill-based games and activities and an array of delicious food stalls.
Free entry; 4pm-12. More details here
3. Summer Restaurant Week
Enjoy delicious food for discounted prices thanks to this 10-day food festival that dishes out two-course and three-course set menus at 61 restaurants. Find more info here.
4. The Great Dubai Summer Sale
Shop incredible deals every day until July 17, with hundreds of brands offering 75% discounts. You can also earn points through participating apps like Aura or Tickit at participating stores. Also up for grabs are 1 million SHARE points each by four lucky winners, which adds up to AED100,000 each. Winners can use these points at Majid Al Futtaim outlets. Another intense summer sale will also kick off from July 18 to August 10.