Dubai Shopping Festival. Photo: Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism Dubai Prepares for 38-Day Shopping Festival Event.
Dubai is set to officially kick off the 2025-26 edition of its annual Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF), which will run for 38 days from December 5, 2025, to January 11, 2026.
The festival, now in its 31st year, is considered one of the city's main winter events and combines cultural activities, performances, and outdoor events alongside extensive discounts in the retail industry.
During the festival, night drone shows will take place at two central locations, Bluewaters and The Beach JBR, with two shows each evening. Alongside this, there will be regular fireworks displays at several sites, particularly in areas that serve as major gathering points.
Drone show at the Dubai Shopping Festival. Photo: Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism
As part of the city events, Festival Bay in Dubai Festival City will host live performances and evening activities as part of the DSF Nights initiative, which includes family shows and outdoor productions.
One of the festival's highlights is the e&MOTB open design market in Dubai Design District (D3), which combines young brands, food stalls, and cultural events. Alongside it, the DSF Auto Season events are also expected to take place, with car shows and enthusiast gatherings.
DSF Auto Season events. Photo: Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism
For families, the festival will feature The Big Bounce Dubai, a large inflatable park for all ages. In addition, the Hatta area will host DSF × Hatta, a combination of concerts, open-air film screenings, and outdoor activities.
Drone show at the Dubai Shopping Festival. Photo: Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism
Alongside the events, businesses and malls across Dubai are offering extensive, sometimes significant, discounts. Some stores are expected to offer discounts of tens of percent on a wide range of products.
The festival also features daily raffles with prizes, including vehicles and cash prizes. Raffle tickets are available at various locations throughout the city.
This year, the festival emphasizes combining urban and multidisciplinary experiences, aiming to attract both local and tourist audiences throughout the winter.