In a city where shopping and spending is a favourite pastime, Dubai’s malls will open round-the-clock for three consecutive weekends, starting from last Thursday, as part of the upcoming Muslim holiday.

The extended hours will apply to all shops and most food and entertainment outlets in the city’s malls, and will cater for an expected influx of tourists over the Eid al-Adha festivities, which started yesterday, officials said.

Twenty-four-hour shopping and other events planned by the tourism, retail and hospitality sectors in the city will “reinforce Dubai as the leading destination”, the Dubai government said in a statement.

The United Arab Emirates, and more specifically Dubai, is the region’s shopping and entertainment capital, attracting millions of tourists and conference-goers every year.

Maltese travellers to Dubai are served by a daily Emirates flight via Cyprus.

With other popular destinations in the Middle East, like Syria, Egypt and Lebanon, still reeling from violence and political turmoil, Arabs are increasingly favouring Dubai as their destination for the annual Muslim holiday.

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