Dubai Shopping Festival

Lonely Planet review

Every year from mid-January to mid-February, the month-long Dubai Shopping Festival (www.mydsf.com) draws hoards of bargain-hunting tourists from around the world. This is the best time to visit Dubai: aside from the huge discounts in the souqs and malls, the weather is gorgeous and the city abuzz.

Outdoor souqs, amusement rides and food stalls set up in many neighbourhoods, with the best on the Bur Dubai waterfront across from the British Embassy. There are traditional performances and displays at the Heritage and Diving Villages, family entertainment across the city, concerts and events in the parks, and nightly fireworks, best viewed from Creekside Park. Dubai Summer Surprises, a related event, is held during the unbearably hot months of July and August; it mainly attracts visitors from other Gulf countries. NB: For the best bargains at either festival, come during the last week, when retailers slash prices even further to clear out their inventory.