If you’re someone who loves all things travel, shopping and luxury, then there’s no way you can miss out on the Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF)! The 27th edition of the annual festival is back with a bang and is live until the 30th of January 2022. If you haven’t planned your trip to Dubai yet, what are you waiting for? A phenomenal festival of mind-blowing shopping deals, fun entertainment options, and exquisite culinary delights await you! Not sure about what to expect? We’re breaking it down for you. Read on!
Witness The Fireworks
Who doesn’t love a dazzling display of firecrackers? At DSF, you’ll get to witness fireworks every day after dark! Pyrotechnics will be lighting up the entire Dubai Creek during the opening celebrations starting at 8.30 pm. Want more? Shows will be held each week at Dubai Festival City Mall, La Mer, Al Seef, The Pointe, and The Beach, opposite JBR and Bluewaters. If you’re travelling to DSF during New Year’s Eve, then block your calendars for a spectacular display at one of these locations—Al Seef, La Mer, or The Beach.
Marvel At The Drone Light Show
The spectacle in the sky doesn’t end with just the fireworks! Just like the previous season, the Dubai Shopping Festival Drone Light Show will be returning this year at Bluewaters and ‘The Beach’, opposite JBR. The high-tech production will take place for 45 days with three themed shows. The first show represents a day in the life of the Emiratis from the past to the present, featuring the song ‘Ya Salam Ya Dubai’ by Rashed Al Majed and RedOne. The second show, The Future of Dubai, will present the next step of technological advances from robotics and AI to the future of the universe. Tech nerds, take note! Coming to the third show, it will showcase the DSF drones at their maximum capacity.
Immerse Yourself in Culture at Al Seef
Situated along the creek, Al Seef is a gem from Old Dubai that used to welcome travellers and merchants from across the globe during ancient times. This historic neighbourhood used to be a hub for trade, where people would shop for spices, fabrics and much more from the traditional souqs! This year, the district of Al Seef will once again turn into a Dubai Shopping Festival hub for heritage, culture, workshops, and lots of fun-filled events. With a host of delightful retail and dining experiences of its own, Al Seef is a living reminder of how the city used to be. As you walk around the open-air market of hand-crafted artefacts, textiles, accessories, and many more small treasures, it’s quiet, laidback ambience will take you back in time.
Visit Etisalat Market OTB
The iconic Etisalat Market OTB will return this season for it’s 9th edition at Burj Park, Downtown Dubai. And to make it extra-special, this year’s theme is going to be Asian Pop Culture! What does that mean? Lots of live performances by the finest K-Pop acts (yes, that includes BTS too!), Squid Games inspired activities and a chance to shop from Japan and Korea’s finest fashion brands!
Shop Trendy Styles At SHEIN YOU-TOPIA
If you love fashion, then we can bet you’ve shopped at Shein online at some point! Now’s your chance to check out their trendy and stylish clothes inside a pop-up at DSF. Besides its amazing fashion apparel and accessories, you can expect AR try-ons, instagrammable photo backgrounds, and creative arts and crafts workshops!
Experience The Dubai Lights
DSF is more than just shopping for exquisite things—it’s an experience in itself! Case in point: the Dubai Lights, which have six interactive installations by international artists on show at several locations. Some unmissable installations include the City Gazing Dubai sculpture, by Justus Bruns and Mingus Vogel, Illusion Hole by UxU Studio and Talking Heads, by Viktor Vicsek. If you’re a cyclist, then you’re in for a delightful treat! Head to Lightbattle X at the beach in La Mer where the faster you bicycle, the more colours you’ll see!
Try Your Luck With Raffles
What’s a grand shopping festival without some exciting prizes to win? Well, DFC 2021 does not disappoint on that front! If you’re feeling lucky, there are plenty of raffles you can enter to win exciting prizes. Enter the INFINITI Mega Raffle if you want a chance to win an INFINITI QX80 and AED100,000 in cash every day. The Nissan Grand Raffle at Zoom gives you a chance to win one of four Nissan models. The more you shop, the more prizes you’ll get—shop at selected community malls for a chance to receive a coupon and win cash prizes every week. Oh, and you can also win gold if you spend AED500 on gold jewelry, diamond, pearls or watches. Feeling lucky yet?
So pack your bags, book a flight and shop your heart out at the Dubai Shopping Festival!
*This is a sponsored article for Dubai Tourism