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Dubai Summer Surprises begins: Up to 75 per cent discounts; win 30 gold bars in raffles

Dubai Summer Surprises begins: Up to 75 per cent discounts; win 30 gold bars in raffles

Khaleej Times11 hours ago

Summer in Dubai just got more exciting for shopaholics, families looking for leisure activities and visitors seeking fun experiences. The 28th edition of Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS) kicked off today, packing in exciting bargains, free activities, live entertainment and world-class gastronomy offers to make this season more enjoyable for everyone.
This edition runs for 66 days, from June 27 to August 31, with pocket-friendly prices and great value for everyone. Whether planning a staycation, shopping spree, or weekend outing, DSS is packed with ways for residents and visitors to enjoy more of the city for less.
Epic bargains and mall promotions
An epic 9 weeks of unbeatable promotions and exclusive in-store offers kicks off today as part of the summer-long DSS Sales Season, starting with the Summer Holiday Offers until July 17. Shoppers can enjoy discounts of up to 75 per cent at more than 800 brands and over 3,000 stores, along with chances to win incredible prizes through a line-up of exciting mall and retailer campaigns.
30 gold bars, 9 new cars
Shoppers can also win the season's biggest-ever prizes in citywide raffles, including the Dubai Shopping Malls Group DSS Raffle from June 27 to August 31, which is giving away the keys to nine brand-new cars; the Dubai Gold & Jewellery Group Raffles from June 27 to August 30, offering 30 gold bars to 30 winners; and the Visa Jewellery Programme from June 27 to August 30, with 50 winners receiving a share of Dh175,000 in jewellery vouchers. Several more chances to win will be announced in the coming weeks.
Dine out for less
Summer Restaurant Week invites diners to experience some of Dubai's best-loved restaurants at exceptional value from to July 4 to 13. Exclusive set menus will be available at more than 55 casual dining destinations, with two-course lunches priced at Dh95 and three-course dinners at Dh150. Bookings are open now, exclusively through OpenTable.
For the first time ever, DSS is introducing 10 Dirham Dish from August 1 to 31, celebrating the richness of the local dining scene by offering dishes at an accessible price point of just Dh10.
The DSS Entertainer returns for 2025 with over 7,500 Buy One Get One Free offers across premium and casual dining, brunches, delivery, attractions, leisure, spas, salons, fitness, and more.
Free things to do
On Friday, June 27, Dubai Festival City Mall hosted Japanese dance crew Sabrina and Palestinian-Jordanian pop artist Reina Khoury, while Abri & the Band and singer-songwriter Noel Kharman takes to the stage on Saturday, 28 June.
At City Centre Mirdif, Syrian vocalist Al Shami and Jordanian indie rock band Jadal will perform live on Saturday, June 28, with roaming entertainers and energetic live acts.

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'It's not just a big selfie': Inside the unexpected revival of old-school painted portraits
'It's not just a big selfie': Inside the unexpected revival of old-school painted portraits

The National

time29 minutes ago

  • The National

'It's not just a big selfie': Inside the unexpected revival of old-school painted portraits

It was, concedes Claudia Fisher, a lot of money to spend. 'I'd never spent that kind of money on something before,' says the American creative director of women's tailoring brand Belle Brummell. 'But I have something unique that gives me a lot of joy, and I have supported the art form and that's important.' Indeed, Fisher's Dh98,000 outlay went to having her portrait painted by celebrated portraitist Paul Brason, who counts leading industrialists, academics and the British royal family's late Prince Philip among his subjects. 'I just loved the way he could render fabric so exquisitely, giving his paintings an old master quality, even if the painting now just hangs in my house,' says Fisher. 'It's fun to say 'hi' to it once in a while.' Fisher is not alone. Both the Portrait Society of America and the UK's Royal Society of Portrait Painters – the two most august institutions of portrait painting, which not only promote portraiture, but also operate commissioning services that connect artists and subjects – report healthy demand. If one might worry that the smartphone age – which has made the constant taking of pictures almost compulsive – would kill off portrait painting, it seems the reverse is the case. 'Portraiture is quite a big business within the art world, really, even if it is often portrayed as being rather traditional, in the sense of being concerned with old ideas of beauty in art,' says Anthony Connolly, president of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters. 'And while a lot of institutions still commission portraits – the church, military, academia, corporations, heads of state and so on – portraiture is changing dramatically from the idea that it's an elitist thing to do. Now, it's more just a culture of people painting people.' Connolly argues that while a portrait is definitely a luxury item, for a one-off work by a highly skilled individual, and for something that will last generations, it can nonetheless represent very good value, 'especially if you put it in the context of another bespoke item, the likes of a Savile Row suit '. Besides, portrait painters run the gamut as much in their price – from as little as Dh2,000 to much, much more – as they do in their style. Dubai artist Suzi Nassif, for example, creates portraits in surrealistic, sometimes cubist styles, with her subjects expressed more through unexpected colours and symbolism than an accurate likeness. 'They're imaginative portraits, more as I see them and not necessarily as the subjects might see themselves,' says Nassif, who, once she has got to know her subject, prefers to then work from memory. 'The power of the portrait is to examine the psyche behind the mask, and to do that I think it makes sense to use all the creative tools available to the painter.' Certainly, while for an artist who prefers to work in person, a portrait might require the sitter to give perhaps two to three hours of their time, maybe four or five times over several months, it's also increasingly commonplace for artists to work in part or entirely from photographs. For example, artist Columbus Onuoha, who also lives in Dubai, is recognised for his photorealistic portraits in oil paint. Digital photography actually helps him zoom in on the precise details that make his portraits so arresting. It also allows him to tackle the work as inspiration strikes rather than be beholden to the sitter's schedule. Far from being put off by having their image rendered in exquisitely unforgiving detail, 'clients love the honesty of the results, the transparency', reckons Onuoha. 'Though, occasionally, people of a certain age want to be represented as a little younger than they are. But a portrait should be a record of a time of life. I tell my subjects to be proud of the age they are, though I sometimes do a self-portrait to remind myself how it feels.' And how does being intimately examined, and then represented in paint, feel? Connolly, who is currently having his own portrait painted, suggests that far from being a discomforting experience 'it's very convivial, intimate without being salacious and almost like a kind of meditation. You feel like you're part of the painting process even though, of course, you're not painting the portrait.' Yet surely just having a photograph taken – even one by a professional – is faster and simpler? Yes, Onuoha agrees, but that is to miss the point of why people want to be painted. He argues that, while social media has certainly helped him to build a career, it's the very ubiquity of digital images – and the way they have democratised portraiture – that encourages many of his clients to want 'something that's handmade, tangible, and that puts them at the centre of an artistic process', he says. 'These people also tend to love art. They want to be involved.' But others go further, arguing that a painted portrait simply catches what a photograph never can. As Christine Egnoski, chief executive of the Portrait Society of America, suggests, it reveals the qualities of a person unseen by a snap, 'offering the viewer a more real sense of the person's presence, as well as the artist's own expression. An artist adds the feeling of the person.' It explains why, she argues, 10 million people queue to look at the Mona Lisa each year, and the enduring appeal of the portrait in art, both before and since the advent of photography. Frances Bell, portrait painter and recent winner of the Portrait Society of America's prestigious Draper Grand Prize, puts it another way. 'A painted portrait has something of the thrum of life about it, something transcendent – there's so much life on the canvas that it can feel like a window on another, sometimes historic world,' she says. 'The artist is trying to work out who that person is – their mannerisms, how they hold themselves and so on – so the result understands something deeper than a photo can. It's not just a big selfie, but is very personal, which is why it's very important that a sitter pick the right painter for them.' It's also why, she suggests, people so often turn to this special means of representing someone not out of vanity, but to mark a special moment in their life – an important anniversary, for example, or, as more than one of Bell's clients have done, to celebrate getting over a major illness. And why, so often, it's not the sitter who commissions the portrait for themselves, but a partner or family member. Sure, the result may never be hung in a gallery or a museum, but what better way to celebrate and immortalise an individual life than in paint?

Today's Moon Mood: Saturday, June 28, 2025
Today's Moon Mood: Saturday, June 28, 2025

UAE Moments

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  • UAE Moments

Today's Moon Mood: Saturday, June 28, 2025

Feeling a little rebellious today? Blame it on the Moon chilling in Aquarius — the ultimate free spirit of the zodiac. Under this energy, the usual rules It's all about originality, big ideas, and fighting for what you believe in (even if it's just arguing for pineapple on pizza). You might find yourself craving more space than usual — emotionally, mentally, physically. If someone's texting you five times in a row, you might just toss your phone across the room (no judgment). It's not personal, it's the Moon. Creativity is sky-high, too, so don't waste today doing boring things! Start a wild project, reach out to an unexpected new friend, or brainstorm some out-of-the-box goals. Aquarius energy reminds us: life's too short to be basic. Moon Mood tip: Say yes to your quirks. Wear something weird. Speak your truth. Break a routine just because you can. Join our FREE WhatsApp channel to dive into a world of real-time engagement! This article was previously published on omanmoments. To see the original article, click here

♐ Sagittarius Daily Horoscope for June 28, 2025
♐ Sagittarius Daily Horoscope for June 28, 2025

UAE Moments

time3 hours ago

  • UAE Moments

♐ Sagittarius Daily Horoscope for June 28, 2025

Today brings a burst of inspiration, Sagittarius, but staying grounded might feel like trying to catch smoke. Your need for expansion—whether mental, physical, or emotional—is pulling strong. Just make sure you're not chasing distractions at the cost of your actual goals. Career: You're overflowing with ideas, and your visionary thinking could spark something big. But be mindful of deadlines and details—don't let daydreaming delay deliverables. Love: Romance feels adventurous today. If you're single, someone with a shared love of freedom could catch your eye. For couples, shake things up—spontaneity is your love language right now. Body: Your body's craving movement and variety. A hike, new fitness class, or even a stretch session outdoors could work wonders. Bonus if it's something you've never tried before. Mental Health: Your mind wants to run wild, but a little structure could bring big clarity. Try jotting your thoughts in a voice note or journaling for five minutes—it'll help clear internal static. Pro Tip: A spark is only useful if it starts a fire. Turn your excitement into action today. Join our FREE WhatsApp channel to dive into a world of real-time engagement! This article was previously published on qatarmoments. To see the original article, click here

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