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Dubai, United Arab Emirates, September 27, 2014 The seventh edition of Eid in Dubaicelebrationskicked off Thursday the 25thof Septemberwith a series of events and activities organized for residents and visitors in Dubai, and will run until 11th October this Eid Al Adha season.

The city wide celebrations, organisedby the Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment(DFRE), an agency of the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, invites families from all cultures to join the festivity and enjoy what Dubai has to offer during Eid under the slogan United in Celebration. The social event offers a variety of engaging activities and shopping experienceswhich includes; concerts, outdoor events, fireworks, and extended operating hours at some of the key malls Dubai Mall, City Centre Deira, City Centre Mirdiff, Mall of Emirates, Mercato and Dubai Festival City.
The Dubai Mall announced that Eid timings for the retails shops will be from 23rd Sep to11th Oct 10am 1am on weekdays, and 10am 2am on weekends. Food and Beverage outlets at the highly visited mall will be 10am 2am on week days, and 10am 3am on weekends.

Eid timings in City Centre Diera, City Centre Mirdiff, Mall of Emirates and Dubai Festival City, will be from 10:00 am to 1:00 am for retail shops, and 10:00 am to 2:00 am for cafs and restaurants on week days, while weekends will see retailers open till 2:00 am and restaurants till 3:00 am.
On the same note, Meracto Mall announced that it will extend its shopping hours only from 2nd October to 11th October 2014. Retailers will open from 10:00am to 12:00 midnight on weekdays and till 1:00 am on weekends, while restaurants in the Italian themed Mall will receive customers from 10:00am to 1:00am on week days, and till 2:00 am on weekends.

Availing of the new facility of these extended hours, some of the visitors spoke about their experience first-hand at the mall.
GhidaKleibo, born and raised in the heart of Dubai said: I love this city and I prefer shopping in the late hours of the evening because this is when I have no plans afterwards so I can take my time trying on clothes. For this reason, I find the extended hours very convenient. She added: I would love malls to have extended hours all year long so I can buy more!

Having been living in this city for 7 years, college student TasneemMohamad enjoys spending her time at the malls with her friends and family. She explained: I enjoy meeting my friends at the mall as we shop and eat together. I am glad malls have extended hours during Eidso I can spend more time shopping for shoes and clothes. I can fit in more things in a trip to the mall with the extended hours.

Another resident of Dubai, MichengelGandafrom the Philippines is a family man and is overjoyed to have malls extend their opening hours: I am a working man as well as my wife. We have a baby to spend time with after get back from work. Having malls extend their opening hours allows me to rest after work, put my baby to sleep and go to the mall to shop and watch a late night movie with my wife. We like going to malls in Dubai because they offer all what we are looking for - shopping for electronics, clothes, dinning and also meeting with friends.

Salmeen Ali, a 25 years old Emirati man is glad to have extended opening hours in malls during Eid as it allows him to shop for what he needs in such a busy time: The nature of my job limits me to go to the mall during the day, therefore, I am happy that I can shop for Eid - clothes and gifts during the night. Now I will not be rushing during shopping as I will have time to shop and also watch a movie and dine with my friends, especially during this time of the year where all activities are indoors to avoid the hot and humid weather.

Omar Mohamad, born and raised in Dubai is happy he can spend more time in the mall shopping during Eid, especially when he has to shop for other members of his family: I shop for Eid clothes for myself and toys for my nephews. I prefer having extended mall opening hours because I am a busy man during the day. He added: I also like spending time at the mall for entertainment like watching a movie or dinning with friends which is why having extended mall opening hours is more time for me to hang out in a place I want to be in.

Sameer Sharif, a friend of Omarand who is visiting from Pakistan also said: I have been here many times and I love this city! I come for entertainment, shopping, work and all. I am glad I am now here when malls have extended opening hours so I can shop more for what I need, particularly electronics shopping as it takes a longer time than anything else.

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