Dubai's Annual Month-Long Shopping Festival Begins!

Even though it's mired in financial woes, Dubai refuses to scale down the excess. The city's hosting its 15th annual Dubai Shopping Festival, which is best described as a non-stop 32-day party.

Despite its name, the Dubai Shopping Festival is all about entertainment. It features mini festivals, including an international jazz fest, a bike festival, a pet show, a weight-loss conference and a food festival�hopefully the latter two aren't near one another. On each day of the fest, the DSF is raffling off a Lexus LS 460 and an AED 100,000 cash prize ($27,225) , and on the weekends, you can win a custom-edition LX 570.

After the jump, even Bob the Builder gets some action

To give it that festive feel, the DSF has 120 jugglers, stilt walkers, unicyclists, acrobats and other carnival performers roaming the streets and malls and putting on shows. Kiddies aren't left out, either, as there are stage shows featuring Barney and Bob the Builder as well as a play based on Ben 10.

If you want to go shopping, you'll find plenty of that, too. More than 6,000 retailers are selling their wares, mostly jewelry. As home to the famous Gold Souk, Dubai is the place to get your karats. Rugs are another item to check out. DSF's Carpet Oasis will showcase rare and unusual rugs from Turkey, India, Pakistan and more. Of course, jewelry will be a lot easier to get on the plane back home.

But no need to decide which souvenirs to pick up right now. The DSF party runs for the whole month, through February 28.

Related Stories:
· Dubai shopping festival 2010 starts from January 28 [Merinews]
· Bad Economy Gives Dubai a Good Kick in the Shins [Jaunted]
· Shopping Travel Coverage [Jaunted]
· Festival Travel Coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Dubai Shopping Festival]

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