You're probably thinking of Dubai Summer Surprises.

Dates for 2008 are June 23 -> Aug 31. We also have the Dubai Shopping Festival, but that's at a different time of year. http://www.mydsf.com/dss-home.htm

We sometimes feel that the statement that goods will be 25% -> 75% cheaper needs to be taken with a pinch of salt.

Yes, some things are quite a bit cheaper, but it is by no mean across the board. For instance electronics, cameras and the like are a bit cheaper but I wouldn't say that the reductions would mean that they fall into that magic band.

Coming from where you do, you might even find some of the sale prices a but heavy!

My first ever trip to Dubai was during the time of the DSF when they had it in the month of March.

A taxi driver originally from Singapore told me this tale. Its no big deal, they just hike up the prices in February by 30% and then knock them back down in March and call it a sale!!

OK, here's my take on Dubai Summer Surprises. This will be my fourth summer here (this is Mrs HDXB). First summer managed to get some really good value Italian leather handbags - reduced from GBP100 to GBP10. Clothng wise, since then haven't been able to find a single bargain unless I was over size 16 UK size. And believe me I've looked - much to the dismay of Mr DXB.

The summer sales are nothing as good as they used to be - yes you can get 50% - 75% discounts but on clothing, fashion items they've probably been brought in especially for the sales or are unsold stock.

You may be able to get a good deal on some electrical items but they'll probably be discontinued items, ie cameras - the one we bought about 6 months ago will probably be discounted for that very reason. But, even when we bought it it was more expensive than it could have been bought in the UK.

As we ALWAYS say:

Check the following ...

You must check the warranty on electrical goods to make sure you're covered when you go home. Some manufacturers use lettering in the warranties and the ones that we have come across here are:

EMEA (Europe, Middle East & Africa) and MENA (Middle East & North Africa). You must check to see you are covered, obviously a worldwide warranty is the ideal.

Nearly 100% of all electrical goods here come at 240V, except for those imported from the US, but most retailers will give you the transformer.

Some also come with two-pin plugs.

By all means enjoy yourself in the malls - your're coming from Singapore where you can probably get as good as or better deals - but for visitors coming from, say, Europe, just make sure that you've checked out prices before you come here.

And don't get carried away by what seems a great bargain on something like a camera, dvd player, or anything of that ilk. CHECK THE WARRANTY/GUARANTEE!

Can we find Asian sizes for clothing in Dubai shopping malls? Or majority cater for European sizes?

Because we are generally smaller in size...so afraid that when go there shop, cannot find out sizes...haha!! Should have all sizes right?

Seems like Dubai is an expensive place in every way even after sales...