
Dubai Summer Surprises to return with 9 weeks of sales and entertainment
There are just a few days left before Dubai kicks off its most-awaited summer shopping event — Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS) 2025 — promising huge sales and special discounts across the city.
The 28th edition will run from June 27 to August 31, turning Dubai into a bargain hunter's paradise for 66 days straight.
With the DSS Sales Season, shoppers can expect deals from over 800 brands spread across more than 3,000 stores in different malls and shopping destinations.
Huge price cuts, citywide promotions, raffle draws, food offers, indoor family fun, and concerts are all lined up to make this summer extra special for shoppers.
Ahmed Al Khaja, CEO of Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), said this will be the 'most dynamic and value-packed edition to date' with 'thousands of unbeatable offers, compelling retail promotions, and endless experiences.'
He added that DSS 2025 is designed to match all preferences and budgets, showing Dubai's commitment to delivering world-class experiences.
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Khaleej Times
2 hours ago
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Movie Review: Aamir Khan's 'Sitare Zameen Par' is heartfelt but too simplistic
The year was 2007. Amid the glut of masala, action oriented and romantic films that dominated the scene, Bollywood produced an unconventional gem — a story of a child suffering from dyslexia, misunderstood by everyone until a kind-hearted teacher (Ram, played by Aamir Khan) helps him bloom. Taare Zameen Par (TZP) was an unlikely movie to come out of cliche-ridden Bollywood but went on to become a huge hit, sparking conversations and triggering emotions. What worked? Its straight-from-the-heart story, beautiful music and incredible performances. Cut to 2025. Amid a glut of OTT action and fantasy disasters, foolish horror comedies and bad historicals, comes another unconventional film — focusing on people of determination, their joys, lives and laughter. Given the all-pervading doom and gloom in our world today, a piece of cinematic art that spotlights kindness, humanity and simplicity should be a refreshing change. And considering the utter lack of creativity from mainstream Hindi cinema, a wholesome, positive film should be the perfect antidote to our numbed-by-mediocrity sensibilities. But does Sitare Zameen Par (SZP) serve that purpose? The answer: Sometimes yes, but mostly no. There is no doubt that SZP is TZP' s spiritual sister with Aamir and the sensitive storyline being the common factors. The biggest plus point: the theme and choice of cast. In a film starring one of Hindi cinema's biggest stars and other veterans, the spotlight rightly shines on a group of sassy, neurodivergent actors who win your heart with their charm and spunk. The industry is notorious for its utter lack of inclusivity but SZP is that rare film that walks the talk. So kudos to the bold step! However, is that enough? What made TZP special was its organic approach to the subject that made us empathise and be part of Ishan Awasthy — the dyslexia-afflicted child's — frustrations and triumphs. SZP unfortunately fails to do the same. You applaud it, you sympathise with the characters, you understand where they come from but you end up doing so from the periphery. It's like attending a TEDx Talk on how to view and interact with neurodivergent individuals albeit with a bit of humour and a sprinkling of drama. Aamir plays Gulshan, an arrogant basketball junior coach who rubs his seniors the wrong way, has an extended tiff with his wife (Genelia) and is caught drunk driving all on the same night. As punishment, he is recommended community service which includes training a group of basketball players on the spectrum for a national level competition. Predictably, he is out of sorts and meets them with a bunch of prejudices, but even more predictably, they end up transforming his attitudes, he gets his concepts of mental health sorted, makes up with his wife and emerges a new person. Another point that deserves special mention: while it has a do-or-die basketball final match in the climax, the result is far from what you expect. And perhaps this is the film's most important message — that empathy, kindness and understanding need not be defined by success or failure in a race or contest, nor should people be judged on the basis of the results they achieve. Just showing up is sometimes enough. However, despite all these green flags, if SZP falls short in satisfying the cinephile in you, it's due to its treatment. The empathy feels overly manufactured, the messaging too on-the-nose, the life lessons sound like they're lifted from Instagram captions and the lead character's self-realisation is spelled out a little too clearly. What if we were allowed to f-e-e-l and absorb instead? While it's commendable that the screenplay avoids emotional manipulation through sob stories or dramatising the team's and their families' struggles, it also fails to let the emotions emerge naturally. In one instance, a character explains to Gulshan the symptoms of those on the spectrum, the role of chromosomes and how everyone has their own version of 'normal". Though well-meaning, the scene feels too explanatory and obvious. When he finally realises where he went wrong, he says aloud, 'I used to be so selfish, I never looked at others' perspectives…these children changed me…' Yes, we saw that! Director R.S. Prasanna, working off a script by Divi Nidhi Sharma and adapted from the Spanish drama Campeones, takes a super-linear route though he is determined to keep it sunny and funny which doesn't always work. Perhaps, it's because most sequences are designed to preach. When a character calls someone 'Parsi', he is immediately corrected by another - 'he has a name'. 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Filipino Times
5 hours ago
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Dubai Summer Surprises to return with 9 weeks of sales and entertainment
There are just a few days left before Dubai kicks off its most-awaited summer shopping event — Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS) 2025 — promising huge sales and special discounts across the city. The 28th edition will run from June 27 to August 31, turning Dubai into a bargain hunter's paradise for 66 days straight. With the DSS Sales Season, shoppers can expect deals from over 800 brands spread across more than 3,000 stores in different malls and shopping destinations. Huge price cuts, citywide promotions, raffle draws, food offers, indoor family fun, and concerts are all lined up to make this summer extra special for shoppers. Ahmed Al Khaja, CEO of Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), said this will be the 'most dynamic and value-packed edition to date' with 'thousands of unbeatable offers, compelling retail promotions, and endless experiences.' He added that DSS 2025 is designed to match all preferences and budgets, showing Dubai's commitment to delivering world-class experiences.


Hi Dubai
9 hours ago
- Hi Dubai
Dubai Summer Surprises 2025 Launches with Citywide Offers and Entertainment
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