The Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2024, and it’s set to be a spectacular event. The festival begins on Friday, 6 December 2024, and will run until 12 January 2025, offering 38 days packed with exceptional shopping, bargains, entertainment, and the chance to win incredible prizes.
What To Expect At DSF
Opening Week
The festival’s opening week will feature a variety of events across Dubai. One of the main highlights will be the DSF Drone Show at Bluewaters and The Beach, JBR, as well as the return of Dubai Lights at four iconic venues: Al Seef, Bluewaters Island, Dubai Design District (D3), and Al Marmoom. Each location will be illuminated with stunning light displays based on the themes of earth (at Al Seef), water (at Bluewaters Island), air (at D3), and fire (at Al Marmoon).
As well as on the opening night, the drone show will run throughout the festival, with two performances daily at 8pm and 10pm, featuring an impressive 1,000 drones lighting up the skies. Be sure to have your phones fully charged to capture this jaw-dropping spectacle!
On 13 December, a brand-new Pyro-Drones Show will take place at The Beach, JBR at 8pm, offering a thrilling combination of pyrotechnics and skydive stunts set against the backdrop of Ain Dubai..
And there are fireworks, with daily displays at Dubai Festival City Mall, taking place twice each day. Visitors can also enjoy the IMAGINE show, a breath-taking combination of light, water, and music. Fireworks will light up the skies every Friday and Saturday in Hatta, throughout the festival, where you can also enjoy live music, family-friendly activities, and excellent dining options in this scenic mountain setting.
Shopping Deals
No shopping festival would be complete without unbeatable bargains. During DSF, shoppers can enjoy a vast array of discounts across fashion, jewellery, beauty, health, electronics, homeware, and much more. Plus, you’ll have the chance to win some truly amazing prizes, including luxury cars and cash prizes of up to AED 100,000.
Outdoor Markets
DSF will also feature some fantastic outdoor markets, including Market Outside the Box (MOTB) at D3 and CanteenX at Mushrif Park. MOTB will run from 3 to 12 January 2025, showcasing global brand activations, live performances, interactive entertainment, and delicious food and drink options
Returning for its second year, CanteenX will offer a fresh new theme and even more homegrown vendors to explore. You can wander through four different zones, enjoy live entertainment, and sample delicious food and drinks.
For an outdoor experience away from the city, head to Al Marmoom from 20 December 2024 to 12 January 2025 for The Uncommon. This lakeside event will feature a cosy setup, an outdoor cinema, and a specially curated menu, all in a relaxed, natural environment.
Concerts and Live Events
DSF would not be complete without star-studded performances, and this editions is no exception, with Ricky Martin, Lionel Richie, and 30 Seconds to Mars, all heading to Dubai, and Singing In The Rain, The Nutcracker, The Kingdom Choir and the China National Symphony Orchestra all performing at Dubai Opera. Make sure to check out SOLE DXB, one of the city's most unique cultural and music festivals.
DSF Auto Season
For motor enthusiasts, this years sees the introduction of DSF Auto Season, a celebration of all things cars and bikes. The event will include the Michelin 24h Dubai race at Dubai Autodrome, a supercar parade, auctions, and a grand motor show.
There is more to come, so keep checking back for updates and exciting announcements about DSF as they happen.