Shopping sale...

On the last weekend before the start of Ramadan, Dubai launched a new citywide retail initiative - the 3-Day Super Sale.

The sale involved 1,000+ retail outlets across the Emirate and offered discounts of anywhere from 30-90%.

Recognizing that Dubai is a slightly later-in-the-day starting culture, we usually run our ends first thing in the morning and beat the crowds. We also head to bed far earlier than the masses...

So we executed the same strategy for the shopping sale, arriving right as the stores opened in hopes of finishing up before things got too busy.

Apparently, shopping deals is one major exception to this later-starting norm.

By 10:15am, the mall was bustling with activity and anxious shoppers were rushing from store to store looking for the best deals.
And by 11am, the stores were packed.

Manolo Blahnik, pictured to the right, felt like a Payless, packed with people and shoes all over the floor as people tried on all the different options.  There were so many eager shoppers that they had a wait-line outside...with security!

We lasted about two hours before retreating for a relaxing and rejuvenating lunch.   It sure seems like Dubai's initiative worked!

The gorgeous Dubai Mall...without the sale crowds...