Dubai Shopping Festival 2013 continues to surprise, say revelers on Al Riqqa Street

The action starts early on Al Riqqa Street in Dubai’s bustling Deira district during the Dubai Shopping Festival. With the entire road decked up as one of the central areas of focus for the numerous activities and family entertainment options at DSF 2013, the plethora of rides, games and other fun fair options start attracting revelers right from the late afternoon.

The highlight of the street this year is the huge Fun Fair area at the street’s west end, which comprises the especially popular Sports Zone and the Skill Games sections. Merry-go-rounds, slippery slides, trampolines, toy train rides, dodgem cars, and a variety of games designed around sporting skill all continue to pull in the crowds through the evenings. Situated in the middle of an area of the city that is a focal point for residences, commercial activity as well as tourism, Al Riqqa Street has been seeing a lot of families flocking to its various DSF attractions.

Children and toddlers are usually the first to arrive, along with their parents. In the mellow fading afternoon sun, the tiny tots can be seen excitedly rushing about the area, overwhelmed by the colourful decorations and having a tough time to decide which ride to try first, as parents and guardians are kept on their toes rushing behind them.

Tariq Mohammed Al Harthy, an Omani tourist had come to the area with his two little children, Haitham and Amal. The two toddlers were babbling excitedly and finally settled on riding a merry-go-round. While watching his kids taking a spin on the ride, Al Harthy said: “I have come to the DSF many times from Oman. I usually bring my family as there is so much for the children to do and enjoy. I can say that every time there is something new and better. Dubai keeps pushing the bar higher every year and I feel this year is no exception. While the shopping deals are fabulous as ever, there is a lot more focus on children this year than I have ever seen before, with more games activities and general fun directed at them. It’s only 4pm now, but my children were insistent that I bring them here for the rides. They had great fun here yesterday as well and wanted to come back early today. They are full of energy and all smiles, and I can see we will be here for a long time until the late evening.”

Omar Omar, a trader from Ghana, had brought his three children to the Al Riqqa Street fun fair area. While Basma and Wun-Nam chattered excitedly, pointing to the dodgem cars, little Nasara took in the sights and sounds in wonder seated in her walker which her dad pushed along. But no sooner had Omar put his brood on the dodgem car seats than she starting shrieking with joy. The family enjoyed a good ride, bumping and blocking each other, as dad and daughters let out whoops of delight and laughter.

Once the ride was over and the excited kids had cooled down somewhat, Omar said: “I have been attending the DSF every year for seven years now. This is the best time for trade and I buy in bulk at the DSF, taking advantage of the promotions, to then sell back home in Ghana. Over the years I have seen the DSF grow into so much more than a shopping event and have started to bring my family along every time. This year, my children are really enjoying themselves here. There is so much to do here on Al Riqqa Street that they dragged me here again today at 4pm. Their goal is to try each ride or game at least once if not more, and going by the number of options available, it will take a few more evenings to accomplish that.”

An Indian family was watching their two girls whirl around on a ride. They were the Dogras and their relatives, the Singhs. Rakesh Dogra said he has been a resident of Dubai for 15 years now and has seen how the DSF has progressed, improved and expanded down the years. “DSF is truly the best of Dubai, as the slogan this year says,” he said. Accompanied by his ten-year-old daughter Rhea, wife Vandana and relatives Arti Singh and 4-year-old Nikkita Kumar, Rakesh spoke while the two girls took the ride, their faces beaming.

“The newspapers have promoted the festival better this time and it’s also a welcome step to keep the malls open until late throughout the festival,” Dogra added. “There are also more events and family activities this year outside of the malls and I believe the festival has been truly brought out of the malls and onto the streets this year.”
 

Emirate:  Dubai

Date: Jan 10, 2013

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