23 things to do during the 23rd Dubai Shopping Festival

To celebrate the 23^rd edition of the annual Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF), Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE) has highlighted 23 things you can do.

Packed with incredible shopping experiences and family entertainment, there’s something for everyone during this shopping festival.

1. Bag a bargain with the DSF Pass

Tourists and residents can visit top attractions and eat at the best restaurants across Dubai with up to 65% off with the DSF pass. From riding the slides at Aquaventure Waterpark at Atlantis The Palm to taking a spin at being a pizza-maker at Kidzania, experiencing the incredible La Perle to dining at the new Sean Connolly at Dubai Opera restaurant, there is so much to choose from.

2. Shop till you drop or win a lucky draw

Starting at 12pm on 26^th December and running until midnight, bargain hunters can take advantage of discounts of up to 90% off at some of Dubai’s biggest malls. The spectacular 12-hour sale will take place at Mall of the Emirates, City Centre Mirdif, City Centre Deira, City Centre Me‘aisem, City Centre Barsha and City Centre Al Shindagha. Additionally, for every AED 300 spent, customers will enter a draw to win an amazing prize worth AED 50,000 that will allow the winner to go on a shopping spree during DSF. The raffle draw will take place at 12 am on 27^th December.

3. Purchase an exclusive DSF product

Natural skin and haircare brand Kiehl’s will launch a ‘Love Dubai’ product at Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates on the first day of DSF.

4. Watch the fireworks

Every Thursday and Friday at 8pm throughout the duration of the festival, as well as on the opening day on 26^th December 2017 and closing day on 27^th January 2018, stunning firework shows will take place at Al Seef, La Mer and The Beach opposite Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR).

 

5. Win a new car

In partnership with AW Rostamani and Global Village, each day one lucky shopper will stand a chance of winning an Infiniti QX60 plus AED 150,000 in cash as well as a weekly prize draw of AED 50,000 each for four winners. Raffle tickets can be purchased for AED 200 from EPPCO and ENOC petrol stations, Global Village, selected malls, ZOOM outlets and metro stations across the city until 3^rd February 2018.

6. Seize the best deals

Every Friday throughout DSF, there will be a ‘Friday Surprise’ with an exclusive retail product/product range sold at a great price at a specified shopping location.

7. DSF Dream Room

Each week shoppers are in for a chance to win a dream room worth up to AED 10,000.  Shoppers who spend AED 1,000 or more at participating stores (Ikea, ID Design, Home Centre, Home Box and Cottage Chic) will be entered into a draw to win a specially curated DSF Room Concept complete with top-of-the-range furniture on a weekly basis.

8. Go to an outdoor cinema

Riverland™ Dubai will have an outdoor cinema screening the season’s favourite movies on a daily basis until 6^th January 2018.

9. Visit an alfresco market

Market Outside The Box is returning, with a host of shopping pop-ups showcasing emerging designers, as well as a programme packed full of activities including onstage performances from live bands and DJ’s, evening yoga classes, and the chance to catch the latest documentaries at the outside cinema. There will also be dedicated activities for little ones, including some very special bedtime story-reading sessions. The market will take place between 11^th to 20^th January 2018 at Burj Park in Downtown.

10. Buy jewellery and strike gold

Gold and jewellery buyers who make a purchase above AED 500 from the Dubai Gold and Jewellery Group (DGJG) will be in with the chance to win fabulous gold prizes. Each day, one lucky winner will receive ½ kilo of gold, while two others will each win ¼ kilo of gold. On the final day of DSF 2018, one shopper stands to win big with a dazzling one kilo of gold to be given away.

11. Enjoy a musical extravaganza

In-mall entertainment will take over Dubai Mall; from drummers, harpists and even musical waiters, the mall will be full of the sound of music throughout the festival.

12. Win big with your loyalty cards

Members of the Shukran, Club Apparel, Air Miles or Jashanmal Home Store loyalty programmes who shop during the festival will get exclusive benefits and the chance to enter a raffle draw to win huge prizes. To be eligible to enter the mega prize draw, customers must use their loyalty card to earn or redeem points during the period of DSF and enter their details on the dsfloyalty.com website.

13. Go to a concert

Arabic music legends Mohammed Mounir and Magda El Roumi will perform at Dubai Media City Amphitheatre this DSF on 19 and 26 January respectively. Tickets will be available on this website.

14. Shop & Win at Dubai Shopping Malls Group

When shoppers spend over AED 200 at participating malls, they will get a chance to win special prizes in the form of cash and gift vouchers for experiences across Dubai, totalling AED 1million.

15. Visit a new beachside destination

La Mer, the newly opened destination by Meraas, will be creating a Caribbean atmosphere at its venue with a parade of stilt walkers and a fiesta troop.

16. Experience mesmerising light and musical shows

The newly opened Al Seef shopping district will play host to a series of light and musical shows, including The Lighting Fairies and Light Umbrella, as part of its Layali Al Seef programme of events.

17. Feel the rhythm of a dance show

Mall of the Emirates, Mirdif City Centre and Deira City Centre will all be delighting shoppers with amazing dance shows throughout the festival featuring top gymnasts and musical waiters.

18. Watch a new performance

The Outlet Village will be taking shoppers on a fantasy journey with shows including The Nutcracker and Gold Illusions.

19. Delight in a carnival spirit

There will be a variety of exciting street performers, including drummers and plate spinners, at The Beach opposite JBR.

20. Join a makeup session

Robinsons at Dubai Festival City Mall will host several makeup workshops for beauty lovers.

21. Visit an exclusive scent lab

Visitors to Dubai Mall between 2^nd and 15^th January 2018 can explore the art of perfume-making through a dazzling journey with fragrance experts and learn all about the ingredients used. Brands include Giorgio Armani, Yves Saint Laurent, Lancome and Ralph Lauren.

22. Meet your favourite influencers

Fans will get a chance to meet some of the leading social media influencers such as Joelle Mardinian, Noha Nabil, Mthayel Al Ali and Taim Al Falasi during the shopping festival.

23. Laugh out loud

From 26 December 2017 to 1 January 2018, and 2 to 15 January 2018, Dragon Mart 2 and Ibn Battuta Mall will both host comedy drummers as part of the in-mall entertainment to keep shoppers entertained.

For a full update on DSF activities, visit: the official website.