Dubai: Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS) is back for 67 days of summer fun, and ready to take the strain when it comes to keeping kids entertained during the long school holidays. Running right the way through until September 3, this year’s DSS sees some of the city’s top attractions, restaurants, hotels and shopping malls going all in with special offers, live shows, and free tickets for families. Here’s a taste of what’s in store. 

ENTERTAINMENT 

Not only do the city’s shopping malls offer savings of up to 75 per cent during DSS, they can also be relied on for providing top family entertainment too. Mercato Mall is welcoming a whole host of spectacular circus performers this summer, with shows from 4pm daily until 22 August, plus family-friendly activities. Or head to Nakheel Mall any day until 28 July from 2pm to meet Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and The Flash, with gaming activities and workshops galore. 

Gotham City’s Caped Crusader never rests, and is also appearing over at Ibn Battuta Mall, in India Court and Egypt Court, daily from 2pm until 28 July, as part of the Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight experience. Here kids - and grown ups too - can enjoy interactive and virtual reality games, workshops, meet-and-greets, and more. 

Until 29 July, Nakheel Mall welcomes visitors to immerse themselves in the Justice League activation - an interactive and enjoyable experience offering various activities such as tournaments, workshops, and a virtual reality (VR) adventure. Lucky fans even have the opportunity to meet iconic superheroes like Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and Flash, or also get the chance to win collectible figurines of their beloved DC characters. 

Everyone’s favourite Dubai characters Modesh and Dana will also be appearing in shopping malls on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays throughout Dubai Summer Surprises, so keep an eye out and be sure to say hello if you see them while shopping. Or head over to Modesh World - the indoor education and entertainment theme park at Dubai World Trade Centre - which this year is themed around the seasons, and is bigger and better than ever before with new rides and attractions.  

Any movie buffs in the family will be sure to love Movie Magic at Reel Cinemas, which runs until 2 August. This month-long calendar of activities brings you the latest summer blockbusters, including Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One and Mr Ex, as well as meet-and-greets,  family classics, and much more.  

Indulge in the Ultimate Summer at Dubai Festival City Mall, where families can delight in thrilling performances and engaging events that will continue until 3 September. This summer, Dubai Festival City Mall offers an abundance of enjoyable experiences, such as Baby Shark shows, running until 23 July. In addition to that, shoppers can partake in workshops conducted by SXILL LAB, such as The Cheese Platter Workshop on 19 July. To add to the excitement, there will be entertaining acts and performances scattered throughout the mall. 

FOOD 

Make a note in your diary for Summer Restaurant Week, which runs from 18-27 August, and discover the pick of Dubai’s restaurants offering special lunch and dinner menus at unbeatable value fixed prices. Whether you’re a gastronome looking to grab a bite at a Michelin listed venue, or wanting to treat the family at a favourite eatery, there is a whole world of flavours to explore across the city.  

And there are unmissable offers at kid-friendly restaurants, cafes and more all summer long including Pinkberry, Shake Shack, P.F. Chang’s, Starbucks and Le Pain Quotidien. Expect buy-two-get-one-free deals, or double and triple Aura points for even better value.   

HOTELS 

Now is the time to book a family stay close to the beach, or your favourite mall or attraction for less. Pretty much every hotel in the city, whether a three-, four- or five-star like the Atlantis, The Palm or Park Hyatt Dubai, is letting Kids Go Free this summer, with up to two children sleeping in an adult room at no extra charge, eating free on the same meal plan as mum and dad, and getting free access to the kids’ club, if the hotel has one. Just check which ages the offer applies to, with up to 11, 12 or 13 year olds included, depending on the destination. Some food deals may differ. See the full list at visitdubai.com. 

On top of this, certain hotels are offering money off on their best room rates, or adding in free gifts. Stay at the Jumeirah Creekside Hotel, Jumeirah Dar Al Masyaf, or Jumeirah Beach Hotel, for example, and you might find room deals of 15-20 per cent off, F&B credit, and either free tickets to Wild Wadi or preferential rates. There are also major deals to be had to the JA Lake View Hotel, The Manor by JA, JA Palm Tree Court, JA Resort, JA Ocean View Hotel, and The Hatta Fort Hotel, with up to 40 per cent off, plus daily F&B credit up to AED 200. 

ATTRACTIONS 

And Kids Go Free at a large number of Dubai attractions this summer. Head to Dubai Parks and Resorts before 31 July, and for every adult purchasing a ticket, one child aged 13 and under goes free, with Legoland Dubai, Legoland Water Park and Motiongate Dubai all opening their doors and ready to explore. 

Inspired by the lagoons where Modesh and Dana stay, visitors can enjoy this is a free-entry, family-friendly experience where kids and parents can interact with everyone’s favourite Dubai characters. Beside thrilling entertainment and games, visitors can wander into MELT, the all new ice cream museum, and create unique, instagrammable moments. All Esaad and Alsaada cards holders can enjoy 15% discount on wide range of games and culinary delights, 

After all of that, everyone can treat their taste buds to a delicious range of dishes and cuisines if there is still surplus energy to burn off, try AYA, the immersive entertainment park at Wafi City, where kids aged 12 and below get in free with a paying adult. Or head to Xstrike in Al Quoz, which mixes elements of paintball and laser tag, and where kids aged up to 13 enter free with a paying grown-up. 

Those with a head for heights can enjoy the views from At the Top on the 124th and 125th floors of Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, or the Sky Views Observatory, 219.5m up in the Address Sky View hotel. At both, two kids under 12 enter free with two paying adults before 2pm. The View on level 52 of the Palm Tower on the Palm Jumeirah is offering a similar deal, with one child aged 13 and under getting in free with a paying adult.  

There are also free movie tickets for kids at Reel Cinemas, every Monday-Friday, until 2pm. Children under 11 go free with a paying adult (one child per adult, up to a maximum of two children). Or if you prefer seeing movie stars in the real-ish world, try Madame Tussauds Dubai, where kids under 13 get in free when mum or dad pays. 

For an educational experience, try Expo City Dubai, where kids 12 and under and People of Determination get free entry, and can visit the falcon-shaped UAE Pavilion, among other destinations.  

At Woo-Hoo, the interactive children’s museum in Al Quoz, kids get in free at the 2pm slot on Monday-Thursday, accompanied by a paying adult, or at Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Centre for Cultural Understanding, entry is free for children 12 and under with a paying adult, offering a chance to learn about authentic UAE culture. 

Enjoy the ultimate summer extravaganza filled with incredible surprises, unmissable retail offers, diverse culinary delights and endless entertainment this Dubai Summer Surprises, running until 3 September. For more information, visit @CelebrateDubai and @StyledByDubai on social media channels, and mydss.ae.  

Dubai Summer Surprises is supported by key sponsor RAKBANK MasterCard and Strategic partners which include: Al Futtaim Malls (Dubai Festival City Mall & Festival Plaza), Al Seef, Al Zarooni Group (Mercato Shopping Mall), AW Rostamani Group, Bluewaters, Citywalk, Emirates Airline, Enoc, Etisalat, Majid Al Futtaim (Mall of the Emirates, City Centre Mirdif, City Centre Deira), Nakheel Malls (Ibn Battuta Mall, Nakheel Mall, Dragon Mart 2, Palm West Beach and The View), The Beach and The Outlet Village.