Dubai City Guide - events

Dubai Shopping Festival
The Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) was started in 1996 by the government to promote retail trade in the city, and has since grown into the foremost shopping event in the world, an annual extravaganza of shopping and entertainment that promotes tourism and attracts millions of people from around the world to Dubai every year. The city is already known as a shopping paradise, but for a whole month thousands of retail outlets offer further specials, with hotels, travel companies and airlines also extending special discounts to visitors during this period. Besides the shopping malls and souks, one of the most popular shopping spots is the Carpet Oasis, showcasing thousands of exclusive carpets from around the world. Other events include nightly fireworks, laser/light shows, international fashion shows, street performances, music concerts and many cultural events. Daily raffle draws offer very attractive prizes of money, gold, cars and 4x4s. The festival also coincides with the richest horse race in the world, the Dubai World Cup (US$15,250,000 in prize money).
Venue: Throughout the city, but the main focal point of the festival is the Global Village, Emirates Road
Date: 24 January to 24 February 2008
Website: www.mydsf.com

Dubai Desert Classic
Part of the European PGA tour, the Dubai Desert Classic takes place at what was the first grass golf course in the Middle East, which was entitled The Desert Miracle in 1988. The tournament attracts prestigious international players to compete for the trophy and US$2.2 million in prize money.
Venue: Majlis Course of the Emirates Golf Club
Date: 26 January to 1 February 2009
Website: www.dubaidesertclassic.com

Dubai Rugby Sevens
The Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens heralds the opening of the IRB Sevens World Series, and features 16 of the best international rugby sevens teams each year. The event has grown rapidly over the last few years and attracts over 70, 000 fans from around the world, drawn by its carnival-like atmosphere, making it one of the most popular events in the Middle East.
Venue: Dubai Exiles Rugby Ground
Date: November/December 2008, TBC
Website: www.dubairugby7s.com

Skywards Dubai International Jazz Festival
Ten of thousands of jazz lovers flock to see some of the finest international acts in the world performing in a variety of genres including rocket-fuelled funk and bluegrass, pop, blues, rock, reggae, and afro-centric music. The increasing number of fans has helped secure it an award for the Best Festival in the UAE.
Venue: Dubai Media City and at Madinat Jumeirah Outdoor Amphitheater
Date: 28 February to 1 March 2008
Website: www.dubaijazzfest.com

Dubai World Cup
The Dubai World Cup is the richest horse race in the world, offering a purse of US$6 million, with US$3.6 million going to the winner of the mile-and-a-quarter race. The event attracts the best horses and jockeys from around the world every year. A visit to the state-of-the-art racecourse is an event in itself with its floodlit sand and dirt track and television monitors in all areas. The competition is almost as fierce off the track among the style conscious who compete for title of the best dressed.
Venue: Nad Al Sheba Racecourse
Date: 29 March 2008
Website: dubairacingclub.com/dubaiworldcup