The Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF 2025) is back for its 31st edition, transforming the city into a world-class retail and entertainment paradise from December 5, 2025, to January 11, 2026. This 38-day event is packed with over 3,500 outlets offering massive deals and over 1,000 brands participating in the festivities.
If you want to move beyond simple window shopping and truly maximize your time and money, you need a smart, updated strategy.
Here is your detailed on the top 13 ways to experience the very best of the Dubai Shopping Festival 2025-2026.
What’s special about DSF 2025-26
One of the biggest new features this year is the mega drone- and pyrotechnic display. More than 1,000 LED drones will fly in synchronised formations every night above Bluewaters Island and The Beach, JBR — turning Dubai’s skyline into a dazzling light show. Gulf News.
Even more impressive: this edition includes pyro-drones — drones equipped for fireworks — delivering bursts of colour, light, and artistry overhead. On select nights the skies will combine drone choreography with fireworks effects for a breathtaking multimedia experience. DubaiVerse.
These shows run twice nightly (8:00 PM and 10:00 PM) for free, making them accessible to everyone.
1. Time It Right — Shop Smart from Day One to the Final Weekend
If there’s one rule experienced DSF regulars swear by, it’s this: timing is everything. The first week of the festival is perfect for grabbing the freshest stock — new fashion drops, untouched electronics shelves, and full-size availability. But don’t ignore the final two weekends; that’s when major brands quietly roll out their deepest markdowns as part of their end-of-festival clearance. A well-planned approach, where your first visit is for must-haves and your final one is for bargains, gives you the best of both worlds.
2. Keep an Eye on Flash Sales and Tech-Enhanced Shopping
Some of the best DSF savings don’t last the whole day. Flash sales, bundle deals, and surprise in-store offers often run for just a few hours. This year, many retailers are upgrading the experience with virtual try-ons, AR styling tools, and digital in-store kiosks that help you compare products instantly. Staying active on DSF’s official socials and mall apps is a huge advantage — most of these surprise drops are announced last minute.
3. Explore the Big Malls — But Don’t Underestimate the Smaller Ones
The Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates remain DSF favorites for a reason. You get global luxury labels, huge high-street brands, dining, entertainment, and everything in between. But smaller malls deserve attention too. Places like City Centre Deira, City Centre Mirdif, BurJuman, or Dubai Hills Mall often offer the same DSF discounts without overwhelming crowds. You walk in, shop faster, pay less stress tax. A mall-hopping day — starting big, ending small — is a surprisingly effective strategy.
4. Step Beyond the Malls — Souks, Pop-Ups & Outdoor Markets Have Their Own Magic
DSF isn’t only for mall lovers. The traditional souks — especially the Gold Souk, Spice Souk, and Perfume Souk — often run their own DSF promotions. You’ll find custom-made fragrances, heritage jewellery, textiles, pashminas, and artisanal pieces you simply can’t get in modern malls. Then there are the seasonal pop-up markets at JBR, Al Seef, Global Village, and various beachfronts. These are perfect for discovering unique, handcrafted finds and enjoying the festive vibe outdoors.
5. Enter Raffles — Because DSF Raffles Are Life-Changing
Anyone who’s lived in Dubai long enough has a friend-of-a-friend who won something big at DSF. The festival is famous for raffles that award luxury cars, gold bars, cash prizes, and even instant-win rewards. Many retail partners give raffle coupons based on minimum purchase amounts. Think of it as a bonus perk: you get your shopping done and you might walk away with a brand-new SUV. It doesn’t hurt to dream.
This year’s Dubai Shopping Festival offers five major prize promotions based on your shopping and loyalty program activity.
DSF Super Shopper (Cash Prizes)
- What you win: A chance to win up to Dhs1 million in cash. One winner gets the grand prize of Dhs500,000, and five others will win Dhs100,000 each.
- How to enter: Spend a minimum of Dhs100 at participating stores between December 5 and December 25. Scan the QR code in-store to upload your receipt and enter the draw.
Biggest Prize of the Year (SHARE App)
- What you win: A chance to win Dhs1 million in cash.
- How to enter: Spend Dhs300 at major Majid Al Futtaim (MAF) malls: Mall of the Emirates, City Centre Mirdif, or City Centre Deira. Scan your receipts using the SHARE app.
AURA Millionaire (Points Giveaway)
- What you win: A chance to win 1 million AURA points (worth Dhs20,000).
- How to enter: Shop or dine at participating AURA brands (like H&M, Bath & Body Works, or Shake Shack) from December 5 to December 25. Scan your AURA app to enter the draw.
Modesh x Blue Rewards (Points Giveaway)
- What you win: A chance to win 1 Million Blue Rewards points (worth Dhs10,000).
- How to enter: Spend more than Dhs300 at any participating Blue Rewards outlets in Dubai Festival City Mall. This enters you into the draw to become a DSF Modesh Blue Millionaire.
Golden Tickit (Instant Win via Card)
- What you win: A chance to be one of 38 lucky winners, each receiving Dhs10,000 in Tickit points.
- How to enter: Link your Visa or MasterCard to the Tickit app and complete at least one transaction with any of the 4,000-plus Tickit partners. You are automatically entered into the DSF Golden Tickit Draw.
DSF Mega Raffle : Dhs100 ticket wins daily Nissan + Dhs100k cash; includes entry for Dhs400k grand prize (ends Jan 11). Buy at ENOC/ZOOM/kiosks.
Dubai Jewellery Group Gold Raffle : Spend $\ge$ Dhs1,500 on jewelry for a coupon to win a share of 5 kilos of gold (up to Dhs1.5M), including a 1 kilo mega prize (draws until Jan 11).
6. Mix Shopping with DSF Entertainment — It’s Part of the Experience
Shopping is only half the story. DSF turns the whole city into an entertainment stage. Expect drone-light shows, concerts, roaming performers in malls, outdoor cinema nights, food festivals, and themed weekends across different districts. Bluewaters, JBR, and City Walk usually host vibrant evening programs, while Dubai Mall fountains and Burj Park see special DSF editions of their shows. Plan your shopping around these events and you’ll enjoy a festival within a festival.
7. Add Some Exploration — From Hatta Escapes to Street Culture Nights
This year’s DSF brings a stronger focus on outdoor experiences. One of the biggest highlights is the DSF × Hatta collaboration, offering mountain concerts, glowing night trails, and gourmet food pop-ups under the stars. If you want something closer to the city, look out for DJ nights, pop-up food trucks, urban art corners, and outdoor family carnivals. DSF gives you the perfect excuse to explore Dubai beyond the malls.
8. Master the Art of Stacking Deals — Loyalty, Banks, Cashbacks & Coupons
A seasoned DSF shopper doesn’t leave money on the table. Many banks release DSF-specific cashback rewards, credit card bonuses, or instant-discount codes. Combine these with store promotions, mall loyalty programs like SHARE or Club Apparel, and DSF coupons… and suddenly you’re slicing 20–40% off the price without even touching the store discount. If you plan to buy electronics or jewellery, stacking deals can save you a significant amount.
9. Budget Wisely — DSF Excitement Can Be Dangerous for Your Wallet
DSF gives you the urge to buy everything in sight. That’s why setting a realistic budget — and a small buffer for impulse buys — is essential. Start by listing what you genuinely need: shoes, luggage, electronics, gifts, kids’ clothing, winter pieces, etc. Prioritizing categories helps you avoid random purchases that don’t serve you later. Keeping all receipts in one envelope or digital folder also helps with tracking — and is useful if you’re participating in raffles.
10. Make DSF a Full-Day Experience — Not Just a Shopping Run
One of the best parts of DSF is how naturally it blends with everything else Dubai offers. After you shop in the morning, you can go for lunch at a new restaurant, sit by the Marina, relax at La Mer, catch a drone show at night, or explore an outdoor market. Families often pair mall trips with attractions like Ski Dubai, theme parks, or desert experiences. Visitors coming from other emirates can even turn DSF into a weekend getaway by staying in a hotel offering festival-season discounts.
11. Rely on Official DSF Tools to Make Decisions Faster
This year’s DSF has invested heavily in digital platforms. The official website and social channels share real-time updates of offers, events, concerts, fireworks, and flash sales. These tools help you avoid wasted trips and guide you to the most active spots of the day. If you’re deciding between two malls or trying to catch a limited-time deal, these official updates are extremely handy.
12. Combine DSF with Travel Deals — A Smart Trick for Visitors and Residents
Hotels, tour operators, and airlines regularly align special offers with DSF dates. You’ll find bundle promotions that include shopping vouchers, breakfast deals, stay-more-pay-less offers, and discounted attractions. If you’re travelling from another country — or simply want a mini staycation — booking during DSF gives you extra value for the same price. Think of it as a holiday where shopping is the main event.
13. Enjoy the Festival for What It Is — A Celebration of Dubai’s Spirit
At its heart, DSF is more than discounts. It’s a citywide celebration filled with music, performances, food, art, and a sense of joy that’s hard to put into words. Even if you don’t end up buying much, you’ll still enjoy the festive atmosphere — the decorations, the outdoor markets, the shows, the energy. The season brings Dubai to life in a truly unique way.
Final Thought
If you plan it right, DSF becomes more than a shopping trip — it becomes a seasonal tradition, a memory, and a cultural experience. With smart timing, savvy deal stacking, a bit of exploration, and a willingness to soak in the atmosphere, you’ll walk away with great buys and even better stories.
Visit MYDSF.AE and follow @dubaifestivals for all the deets.
Discover more from DubiTop
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.