The Cocoon is a makeover experience presented by DSF with Paris Gallery. Participants will have the opportunity to transform their looks, thanks to a team of professional hair, make-up and nail stylists dedicated to making each participant feel and look more beautiful. A before and after picture will be taken by a professional photographer to complete the makeover experience.

Dubai is a true representative of global oneness and cultural understanding. True to the DSF theme, 'One World, One Family, One Festival', the Global Village is the melting pot of cultures, flavours, colours, rhythms and the joy that humanity celebrates in its existence. It brings together people from several countries as they showcase their uniqueness, intermingling with one another as citizens of the world. The Global Village is a true discovery of nations with pavilions from countries around the world featuring native cuisines, dance forms, costumes, handicrafts, and much more.

The rich Emirati heritage will take pride of place during DSF 2014. A wide spread of heritage and cultural activities will be held in Heritage and Diving Village, traditional folklore groups, traditional weddings diving shows, traditional games and bands, a traditional souk, traditional food, marine-related handicrafts, a falconry show and a camel caravan.

Bring your family and friends to Arabian Center for an unforgettable cultural journey to AMAZING THAILAND from 2nd to 18th January.

A vast array of traditional Thai handicrafts, foodstuff, apparel, cosmetics etc. will be available at beautifully decorated kiosks at various locations around the mall.

A series of scintillating entertainment is on the cards daily from 6pm until 9pm; some of which include Thai Cultural Dances, Martial Arts Displays, Thai Fruit Carving, Thai Umbrella Painting and Drumming.

These digital (IT) closets have been set up in Dubai Mall and Deira City Centre to make finding the IT look easy and accessible for all. Inside this virtual closet, a wide range of this season’s hottest trends in fashion clothing and accessories can be discovered. Shoppers can then be redirected to retailers to complete their new look for the season.

Carpets have long been appreciated for their beauty. That beauty is achieved through the choice of colours and designs, as well as by the manipulation of designs and colours to form pleasing patterns. The Carpet & Art Oasis is an exhibition and sale of some of the rarest, largest, and most unique carpets and rugs from around the world. Apart from carpets and rugs from the well known carpet producing countries, works of art and handicrafts are also on display.

The 19th edition of DSF takes the concept of fireworks as a festival attraction to a new high. During the weekends, there will be special fireworks shows at various locations long the Dubai Creek at 8pm in addition to the daily fireworks at 9pm at Al Seef Street. A big hit with visitors, firework displays have become synonymous with the Festival since its inception. The drama of each display allows everyone to escape their daily lives for a few minutes and become transfixed by the dazzling array of patterns and colours which fill the sky above Dubai every night, in a reflection of the city’s vibrancy and joy throughout the 32 days.

The Fashion Squad, made up of four of the trendiest fashion bloggers, will be on the lookout for Dubai’s most fashionable and stylish people. Using #spottedDSF, they will give homage to Dubai’s street style by rewarding fashionistas with discount vouchers to some of the city’s most exciting retail outlets.

Part of the Festival Promenade at Dubai Festival City will be transformed into a colourful Bedouin encampment for a month starting January 2, as the Dubai Shopping Festival 2014 brings the traditional life of the desert nomadic groups alive for city folks with the Bedouin Lifestyle Camp. The Bedouin Lifestyle Camp, which will be held until February 2 as part of the cultural events lined up for DSF 2014, seeks to bring to modern Dubai a bit of the hoary past of the region’s hardy and ingenious desert dwellers through their food, costumes, music, dances, handicrafts, folklore and heritage.

SGI Dubai is a highly anticipated event in the region for exhibitors and visitors in the Signage, Digital Signage, Retail Signage Solutions, Outdoor media, Screen and Digital printing industries. This event brings together both exhibitors and visitors from across the UAE, Egypt, Lebanon, Iran, Iraq, India, Pakistan, East Africa, and other countries from the MEASA region. This is the event of the year to showcase products and services, or buy them, and interact with the leading players in the signage, graphic imaging, screen and digital printing industries.

The International Table Tennis Federation and the UAE Table Tennis Association bring the sport to Dubai with a bang. The top 16 men and women in the tournament compete in singles and doubles while the top eight boys and girls under 21 compete in singles. All this for a shot at the $ 1,000,000 prize! Be sure not to miss the fast-paced and lightning quick sport at the Al Nasr Sports Club

A battle between the world's best horses, jockeys and trainers, Dubai World Cup Carnival will feature a series of 11 highly-competitive race meetings.Since its inauguration the Dubai World Cup Carnival has served as an avant-garde festival and has grandly attracted the most famous stars of the international racing scene.

From Globe of Death, Wheel of Death, the Cyclone, funny clowns and amazing jugglers – the Mexican Circus will have all the members in the audience on the edges of their seats throughout the show. Daring acts carefully selected from various countries of the world will take the spotlight at the Mexican Circus – filling the atmosphere with excitement galore. Families and children are sure to savor the enticing flavors of the circus with its line-up of action-packed performances, featuring numerous thrilling stunts and risky maneuvers.

This sports competition, now in its 25th year, has become an event basketball enthusiasts in the UAE don't want to miss. Eight teams are set to participate in the tournament, which is organised by the UAE Basketball Association under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

This is the fifth edition of the Weight Loss Show, a show dedicated to exhibiting health, well-being and fitness goods and services to consumers. The show is aimed at those who are interested in weight loss, improving dietary practices and nutritional intake, receiving medical advice and consultation, witness live healthy cooking demonstrations with free samples and more. The weight Loss Show can help visitors achieve their health goals in life while improving their lifestyle choices.