by Dubai Shopping Festival is one of the most anticipated events in the city, not just by the locals and residents but also from people around the world. Millions of people arrive in Dubai during the month-long Dubai Shopping Festival. Starting somewhere at the end of December and running till late January and sometimes even early February, the Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) is a momentous event that offers lot of excitement and fun. It brings the city of lights to life, and as Christmas and New Year fall during the time of the shopping festival, the celebrations are four-fold. If you are not sure whether you should visit Dubai during DSF, here are 5 things to know about Dubai Shopping Festival that would make the decision for you.
Venue of Dubai Shopping Festival
People arriving in Dubai for DSF would want to know where they have to head to start shopping. In short, where exactly is the Dubai Shopping Festival? You would be happy to know that the DSF cannot be pinned to a particular place. In fact, the entire city participates in this shopping festival. Right from the traditional markets or souks to the mighty malls of the city, everything is a part of the Dubai Shopping Festival. Some of the prime locations to shop during DSF are Promenade at the Dubai Festival City, Global Village, Dubai Mall, Mall of the Emirates, Ibn Battuta Mall, Dragon Mart, Lulu Village, Mercato Shopping Mall, Festival Waterfront Centre, Al Seef Street, Night Souk, etc. Moreover, almost all brands participate in the festival.
Deals and Discounts in Abundance
The reason why Dubai Shopping Festival is so popular is because of the discounts and deals it offers. You would be surprised to see 25-75% off on a variety of products. Where you do not find a discount, you would find some unbelievable deals. Apart from all this, shopping in Dubai is tax-free. Malls and stores extend their opening hours during DSF so that visitors can make the most of the sales. As the discounts and deals are huge, so are the crowd. The best way to beat the crowd is to reach the mall as early as possible. Aside the regular discounts, DSF sometimes begins with a 12 hours or one day super sale, where you may get up to 90% discounts on select items. So, keep your eyes and ears open and you may get lucky!
What You Can Buy?
When it comes to shopping at the DSF, the first thing that comes to mind would be clothes. Yes, there are abundant of clothing stores in Dubai, and most of them are popular brands from all over the world. During DSF, clothing brands like H&M, Forever 21, Armani, Jack & Jones, Prada, Christian Louboutin, Burberry, Bebe, Rodeo Drive, Verri, etc. offer huge discounts. As their apparel is extremely expensive, it would be good idea to shop for their products during DSF to save money and update your wardrobe with the latest fashion. Nevertheless, this is not the only thing you can buy at the DSF at impressive rates. Get ready to get huge discounts and deals on watches, electronic items, gold jewellery, perfumes and cosmetics, must-have shoes, leather bags and jackets, home decor, dry fruits and exotic spices as well as unique Arabic items like carpets, handicrafts, etc. In short, there is something for all kinds of shoppers here.
Raffles and Prizes
While you can shop at your heart’s content at DSF, another thing you can do here is test your luck. You get to participate in mega Raffle contests, where you can buy anything from luxury cars to big cash prizes. One of the most popular contests is the Infiniti Mega Raffle, where five lucky winners can win Dh. 20,000 on a weekly basis. Moreover, the mega draw at the end of the festival is Dh.500,000. Nissan Raffle is another popular lucky draw where 7 participants can win luxury cars sponsored by Nissan. Raffle tickets can be bought from Zoom Stores, Global Village, Gold Souk, Dubai Metro stations, ENOC/EPPCO outlets. The cost of the raffle tickets would depend on the type of raffle you are participating in.
Activities, Entertainment and Fireworks
While shopping is the main attraction of the DSF, it is not the only thing you can do here. On the other hand, the entire city comes to life with live entertainment shows, music concerts, unique activities and marvellous fireworks. The Dubai Sky is lit with colourful fireworks on the opening day and closing day as well as even on the weekends during the duration of the festival. Some of the best places where you can enjoy splendid fireworks include Dubai Creek, JBR Beach, Global Village, etc.
You can also be a spectator of live concerts, cultural and art shows, street acts, performances by celebrities and juggler acts. Dubai Shopping Festival is also the time when you can enjoy sporting events, children’s shows, food festivals, etc. The ‘Market Outside The Box’ or Market OTB is where you would see stalls by local and emerging international brands. Also, the place is filled with unique performances, outdoor movies and array of gourmet food trucks and eateries.
Dubai Shopping Festival is the perfect time to visit Dubai if you want to see the city in all its glory. With so many events and activities happening all over the city, you get to do lot of things in Dubai apart from sightseeing during this time of the year.
