Your guide to Dubai Shopping Festival 2024/25
Dubai has another reason for excitement over the end of the year – it’s our very own Dubai Shopping Festival 2024-2025! This year’s edition of the spectacular shopping and entertainment extravaganza promises to be bigger and better than ever before. Let’s look at everything this celebration of retail has to offer.
ABOUT THE DUBAI SHOPPING FESTIVAL
Popularly known as DSF, the Dubai Shopping Festival runs for six epic weeks and features exclusive discounts from the region’s biggest shops, malls, stores, brands and retailers. You can find exclusive Dubai Shopping Festival offers on electronics, apparel, perfumes, jewellery and more, making it one of Dubai’s highly anticipated annual events.
The festival’s first edition was held in 1996 when His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum conceived it. And 2024-25 will be its 30th edition.
Over the years, multiple world records have been set at DSF, such as records for the world’s longest chain, the world’s most extended sofa, the largest bowl of biryani and the largest shopping bag. In 2013, the first-ever moving train fashion show was held inside the Dubai Metro!
Retailers often begin preparing several months ahead of the festival’s schedule to welcome millions of delighted shoppers. Apart from the bargains, there are fireworks, concerts, fashion shows and promotional billboards all over the city as part of DSF events.
DUBAI SHOPPING FESTIVAL 2024-25 DATES
The Dubai Shopping Festival 2024 will be held from December 6th 2024, to January 12th 2025. This means you don’t have to wait any longer to enjoy the amazing discounts, deals and everything else the mega event offers.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE DUBAI SHOPPING FESTIVAL
DRONES LIGHT SHOW
Dubai Shopping Festival is well known for its spectacular fireworks displays and light shows. This year, the immensely popular DSF Drones Light Show will take place at Bluewaters and The Beach JBR from December 6th 2024 to January 12th 2025.
The region’s longest-running drone light show will feature new choreography and inspiring soundtracks. These shows depict stories from Emirati artists. For 36 consecutive days, this awe-inspiring spectacle will lighten up the Dubai skies, with twice-nightly performances at 07:00 pm and 10:00 pm.
The shows are free, but we recommend getting there early to secure a prime viewing spot.
- Dates: 6th December 2024 to 12th January 2025
- Timings: 07:00 pm and 10:00 pm every day
- Tickets: Free entry
- Venue: Bluewaters Island and The Beach JBR
DUBAI LIGHTS
Inspired by the five elements (earth, air, fire, water and spirit), five light-art installations will be set in five destinations in Dubai. These are the Dubai Lights, returning for its fourth season at Al Seef, Al Marmoom, Bluewaters Island and Dubai Design District. It’s great if you’re looking for photos or want to feel hypnotised by staring at the lights.
- Dates: 6th December 2024 to 12th January 2025
- Locations: Al Seef, Al Marmoom, Bluewaters Island and Dubai Design District
FIREWORKS
Watch the skies light up during DSF 2024! Here’s the schedule for the amazing Dubai Shopping Festival fireworks.
Dubai Festival City Mall
- Date: Daily, Dec 6 – Jan 12
- Timings: 09:00 pm
Hatta Sign
- Date: December 6-7, 13-14, 20-21, 27-28 & Jan 3-4
- Timings: 08:00 pm
Al Seef, Hatta, Bluewaters, & The Beach, JBR
- Date: New Year’s Eve
- Timings: 11:59 pm
DUBAI SHOPPING FESTIVAL DEALS
It’s going to be a memorable winter! The DSF Sale Season will feature 25% to 75% discounts on numerous brands across 3,500 outlets.
This Dubai Shopping Festival also offers fantastic bargains at the city’s world-class hotels and resorts.
ETISALAT MOTB (Market Outside The Box)
The Market Outside The Box (OTB) is one of the fun events of the Dubai Shopping Festival at the Dubai Design District. It is an open market where you can find clothing from local and international brands, jewellery, accessories, and delicious food, with a host of food trucks around offering a variety of things worth trying.
If you enjoy outdoor retail experiences, you can also head to Al Seef Market to shop, eat and enjoy live entertainment.
- Date: 3rd Jan – 12th January 2025
- Timings: Monday – Thursday – 04:00 pm to 10:00 pm | Friday – 04:00 pm to 12:00 am | Saturday and Sunday – 12:00 pm to 12:00 am
- Location: Near the Block, Dubai Design District.
ENTERTAINMENT
If you love live music, you can expect plenty of entertainment accompanying the citywide festivities.
Let’s look at the unmissable shows that will be held across the city.
DSF NIGHTS
DSF Nights is a series of 38 nights of entertainment at Festival Bay, Dubai Festival City Mall. Each day offers a lot to look forward to, including music, food and games.
Here are some fun things you can jot on your calendar:
- Musical performances every Saturday.
- X-Factor Live performances every Sunday from 6th December to 12th January 2025
- DSF Fireworks shows every weekend
- DSF Mega Raffle draws Monday to Friday at 08.30 pm
- Helipad by Frozen Cherry, with music and live entertainment
- Sayf Dubai, an outdoor pop-up venue for international cuisine, will remain open till April 30th, 2025.
COCOMELON LIVE
If your toddlers are fans of Cocomelon, the hit YouTube show, then Cocomelon Live is the concert for you. They will perform fun nursery songs such as ‘The Wheels on the Bus’ and ‘Baa Baa Black Sheep’ at Coca-Cola Arena on 20th and 21st December.
- Date: 20th and 21st December 2024
- Locations: Coca-Cola Arena
- Timings: 09:00 am, 01:00 pm and 05:00 pm
- Tickets: Starting from AED 125
RICKY MARTIN
Latin superstar Ricky Martin will bring his sizzling smile and dance-able hits to Dubai. Prepare to sing along to popular tunes like Livin’ La Vida Loca and Vente Pa’ Ca on the 14th of December at the Coca-Cola Arena.
- Date: 14th December 2024
- Timings: 08:00 pm
- Tickets: From AED 299
- Venue: Coca-Cola Arena
BLUE AND ETERNAL
Blue, a boyband and Eternal, an R&B band, are coming together to perform at Dubai Duty-Free Tennis Stadium on the 14th of December. They are Britain’s favourite bands, coming for an evening of fun and singing along.
- Date: 14th December 2024
- Timings: from 07:00 pm
- Tickets: From AED 199
- Venue: Dubai Duty-Free Tennis Stadium
CHINA NATIONAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA LIVE
Chinese orchestra has a simplistic beauty that touches the soul, an art form like no other. If you’re keen on attending a Chinese orchestra for the first time or are a fan of this magical experience, head to the Dubai Opera on the 15th of December. Conductor Jing Huan, featuring violinist Ning Feng, will bring the best of Chinese compositions to Dubai.
- Date: 15th December 2024
- Timings: 08:00 pm
- Tickets: From AED 240
- Venue: Dubai Opera
GEORGES WASSOUF AND KADIM AL SAHIR LIVE
Two of the most popular Arab musicians, Georges Wassouf and Kadim Al Sahir, are coming together for a night of foot-tapping music and dancing. Both singers are known for their soul-stirring vocals and excellent stage presence, guaranteeing a great show on the 6th of December at Coca-Cola Arena.
- Date: 6th December 2024
- Timings: 08:00 pm
- Tickets: from AED 195
- Location: Coca-Cola Area
COKE STUDIO LIVE
Renowned music show Coke Studio is coming to Dubai to create magic with music at Coca Cola Arena. The lineup of South Asian artists includes Kaifi Khalil, Umair Butt, Lost Stories and more. Discover your favourite hits as well as underrated songs.
- Date: 8th December 2024
- Timings: 07:00 pm
- Tickets: from AED 199
- Location: Coca-Cola Arena
DA-BANGG RELOADED WITH SALMAN KHAN
Fans of the Indian actor Salman Khan and the movie series Dabangg are in for a treat this DSF 2024. With him and a lineup of Bollywood beauties, including Tamannaah Bhatia, Jacqueline Fernandez, Disha Patani, Sonakshi Sinha, as well as actors Prabhu Deva and Sunil Grover, this will be a four-hour live show to remember. There’ll be dancing, performances and Salman’s signature comedy for a fun-filled Bollywood night.
- Date: December 7th, 2024
- Timings: 06:00 pm
- Tickets: From AED 150
- Venue: Dubai Harbour
SOLE DXB
If you’re a Dubai resident, you’re probably very familiar with this name. SOLE DXB has become associated with Dubai’s hip crowd – a festival celebrating street culture and contemporary lifestyles.
It will be held in the Dubai Design District from 13th to 15th December. You can expect DJ sets, music, street tournaments, food trucks, workshops, talks, and more. Anticipated artists include Latto, Tems, Sid Sriram, Hanumankind, James Blake and more.
- Date: 13th to 15th December 2024
- Timings: from 03:00 pm
- Tickets: From AED 295
- Venue: Dubai Design District
DUBAI SHOPPING FESTIVAL OFFERS ON RESTAURANTS
Apart from shopping, you can enjoy dining at your favourite restaurants with these fantastic deals.
Visitors can also explore the food trucks with inventive and homegrown favourites, unique retail booths, and open-air entertainment at particular DSF markets.
DUBAI SHOPPING FESTIVAL RAFFLES
If you want to try your luck, you can buy a raffle ticket and win big, from cash prizes to a supercar!
There are many different types of DSF 2024-25 raffles that you can enter:
DSF Mega Raffle
From 6th December 2024 to 12th January 2025, you can enter the DSF Mega Raffle and stand a chance to win a Nissan Patrol V6 or AED 100,000 in cash.
You can enter the raffle this year by buying an AED 100 raffle ticket at any ENOC station, kiosk or Global Village. Raffle drawings take place daily. Winners are to be announced during the Dubai Shopping Festival at Global Village.
ENOC RAFFLE
Spend AED 25 at Zoom, AED 50 at AutoPro or purchase selected services at Tasjeel to get a raffle voucher. The more money you put in, the better your chances of winning.
Prizes are offered at the Dubai Shopping Festival from 6th December 2024 to 12th January 2025, with the daily winner pocketing AED 100,000. Terms apply. These raffle vouchers are remarkable as they also come with handy vouchers you can use at your favourite F&B vouchers, so why not take the plunge?
PURCHASE GOLD AND PARTICIPATE IN RAFFLES
Buy gold for more than AED 1,500 at participating jewellers in Dubai between 6th December 2024 and 12th January 2025 and stand a chance to win AED 1.5M in gold vouchers.
Three shoppers will each take away AED 100,000 as Dubai Jewellery Group shopping vouchers every week. Draws will be held on 15th, 22nd and 29th December 2024, with two raffle prize winners announced on 5th and 12th January 2024.
SHOP TILL YOUR DROP
The fantastic malls in Dubai participating in the festival offer enticing deals, including up to 90% off, cash coupons and many presents. Let’s see which malls are part of the mega festival.
DUBAI FESTIVAL CITY MALL
Dubai Festival City Mall, which runs parallel to Dubai Creek, is home to over 400 fashion and furnishing shops and stores (including IKEA). Sitting along Dubai Creek, the mall offers an excellent culinary experience. Enjoy quick bites at the food courts or indulge your craving for exquisite cuisines at fine dining restaurants.
MERCATO MALL
Shop at the shops of popular international brands, such as Lava, Toy R Us and H&M, at Mercato Mall. You can also find family entertainment centres and gourmet restaurants.
WAFI MALL
Wafi Mall, inspired by ancient architecture, provides guests with the ultimate Arabian shopping experience, complete with Egyptian letters and carved figures at every turn.
DUBAI MALL
The Dubai Mall is simply unmissable during DSF. Find everything from branded stores like Zara and Prada to gourmet eateries and family attractions like Kidzania, Aquarium and Ice Rink.
MALL OF THE EMIRATES
Mall of the Emirates brings together the world’s largest indoor ski resort and stores like Harvey Nichols, Debenhams and Marks & Spencer to provide customers with a fun shopping experience.
CITY WALK
City Walk offers spectacular views of the Burj Khalifa and a variety of shopping experiences. The beautiful venue in Dubai allows potential shoppers to find anything from fashionable streetwear to unique fashion boutiques.
IBN BATTUTA MALL
Ibn Battuta Mall is known for its excellent tilework, a massive gold elephant and incredible architecture. The mall has outlets for notable brands from across the world.
DUBAI OUTLET MALL
Aside from fantastic savings on designer labels like Burberry and Marc Jacobs and electronics and perfumes, the Dubai Outlet Mall will also give visitors 50% off at select retailers.
DUBAI MARINA MALL
Dubai Marina Mall, which houses a variety of international retailers, provides affordable high-street fashion and beauty services. Visitors can also go next door to Pier 7, which has seven exciting food concepts.
BURJUMAN CITY CENTRE
BurJuman Centre allows tourists to shop at a selection of top merchants, including high-end designer labels like Burberry.
DUBAI FESTIVAL PLAZA
The Dubai Festival Plaza is a one-stop shopping destination for all visitors, with mouth-watering food options, a calendar of events and exciting offers.
THE OUTLET VILLAGE
Outlet Village is another fantastic mall with 1.5 million sq. ft. of retail space, three department stores, over 125 brands and premium food outlets.
Make the most of your day by visiting the neighbouring theme park attraction Dubai Parks and Resorts. You can also get great bargains on pieces by prominent designers like Michael Kors and Carolina Herrera.
CITY CENTRE MIRDIF
City Centre Mirdif has over 430 retail options and innovative entertainment concepts like iFly, an indoor skydiving hotspot, a 12-lane bowling alley and more.
THINGS TO BUY IN DUBAI SHOPPING FESTIVAL 2024-2025
Although Dubai is an epicentre for the most entertaining festivals, this one is the finest. If you’re wondering what to buy at the Dubai shopping festival, we are here to help!
GOLD JEWELRY
DSF is a fantastic place to buy gold jewellery for various reasons, including intricate designs, purity, and low costs. Some excellent items to buy in Dubai include diamonds, stones and precious metals.
DESIGNER CLOTHES
From your favourite denim labels to sultry party clothing — Jack & Jones, BOGGI, Christian Louboutin, Verri, Rodeo Drive, Armani, Billionaire, Bebe, Burberry, Prada – the festival has it all! If you’re looking for designer clothing, you’ll be spoilt for choice and discounts this time of the year.
PERFUMES AND COSMETICS
Discover an exquisite selection of luxury brands like Bvlgari, De Beers, Chanel, and Burberry, all offered duty-free! Don’t miss the exciting discounts during the Dubai Shopping Festival for fantastic deals on your favourite fragrances!
WATCHES
Diamond-encrusted timepieces are a pipe dream, but you can pick one from your favourite collection at the Dubai Shopping Festival. You may get Cartier, Rado, ICW, Michael Kors and Burberry at excellent prices through the Dubai Shopping Festival sale.
LEATHER ITEMS
The UAE is known for producing high-quality leather. Stock on unique and stylish leather goods from Sharief, Jashanmal, Condotti, Burberry and Prada.
HOME DECOR
Go straight to Carpet Oasis, where a plethora of brightly coloured carpets fills every available square foot. Some of them have discounts ranging from 50% to 75%! This is one of the top items to purchase during the Dubai Festival 2024.
GADGETS
The good news is that the best brands and latest devices are available at dirt-cheap costs, including Apple, Sony, Bose, Cross Gold, Acer and Fujitsu. If you’re a gadget lover, these Dubai shopping festival deals will drive you insane.
SPICES AND DRY FRUITS
At Dubai’s shopping fair, pick up pricey exotic dried fruits and aromatic spices like saffron or black cardamom for great deals.
FAQS
WHAT ARE THE FREE THINGS TO DO DURING DUBAI SHOPPING FESTIVAL?
Find the best activities in the city that don’t even cost a dirham. These include:
- Madinat Jumeirah Festive Market – December 6th, 2024 to January 12th, 2025
- Winter District at Dubai Media City Amphitheatre – 14th December to 22nd December 2024
- Winter Garden at Habtoor Palace – November 1st 2024 – January 31st 2025
- Winter City at Expo City Dubai – 6th December 2024 – 31st Dec 2024
WHERE IS THE DUBAI SHOPPING FESTIVAL HELD IN DUBAI?
The Dubai Shopping Festival isn’t held at one location – it is spread across the city as discounts and deals are offered throughout the entire emirate. Individual events are held in specific areas, such as Dubai Design District.
HOW CAN I FIND OUT ABOUT THE DEALS AND DISCOUNTS AT DSF?
To stay in the loop about all the deals and discounts at the Dubai Shopping Festival 2024-25, you can download the DSF app. It will keep you updated on all the available offers and discounts.
This is just the tip of the iceberg. The 38-day event is an all-out extravaganza. Download the Dubai Shopping Festival app or follow @celebratedubai and @styledbydubai on Instagram to stay updated on the hottest bargains and discounts.
If you want to update your wardrobe, buy Christmas gifts or get other products at a bargain, now is the time to take advantage of the best sales offers in Dubai.
Which one of these DSF events are you most excited about? Let us know in the comments below, and stay tuned to MyBayut for all the news on more fun events around Dubai.
The featured image is courtesy of Visit Dubai’s official website.
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