What’s Special About the Dubai Shopping Festival
If you love shopping and you’re on the lookout for discounts, you should be looking forward to the Dubai Shopping Festival!
The Dubai Shopping Festival is special because it’s the only time of the year when thousands of participating shops around the city offer huge discounts on their products.
Shoppers also get the chance to win cars, jewelry and other prizes from daily raffles. Plus, there are different activities and shows that everyone can enjoy during the festival.
Interested in learning more? Read on!
Shops in Dubai Offer Huge Discounts
More than 1,500 shops around Dubai participate in the Dubai Shopping Festival every year.
In fact, it’s one of the most anticipated events in Dubai where local shops, big designer boutiques and department stores take part in the festival.
This year, the festival lasted for more than a month from 15 December 2022 to 29 January 2023 and during this time, shops extended their opening hours to give more time for shoppers to look around.
This is why a lot of people in Dubai wait until the festival before buying the products that they’ve been eyeing on because they can get as much as 90% discounts on their favorite products.
Since stores offer discounts and promotions during the festival, you can invest in big ticket items like gold jewelry, gemstones, electronics and even spices.
Shoppers Can Win Big Prizes
Another highlight of the Dubai Shopping Festival is the daily raffle promos in different stores around the city where you have the chance to win anything from shopping money to a brand new car.
In this year’s 28th edition of the Dubai Shopping Festival, some of the raffle promos that were offered to shoppers included:
- Dubai Shopping Festival Mega Raffle
One of the biggest raffles in this year’s Dubai Shopping Festival was the DSF Mega Raffle where shoppers got the chance to win a brand new Nissan Patrol and AED100,000 daily.
To qualify for the raffle, you only needed to purchase at least AED200 at ENOC and EPPCO stations around the city.
You can also purchase online at the Idealz app or website and you’ll be given a ticket for the daily raffle.
- Daily Cash Prizes
To help promote tourism through the Dubai Shopping Festival, the government allocated over AED1 million in cash prizes for shoppers to win throughout the duration of the festival.
You just needed to shop for at least AED200 at any participating stores and malls in Dubai to get a digital raffle coupon.
A list of shoppers were shortlisted and they were given the chance to spin the wheel to see how much money they won.
- ENOC Grand Raffle
Being one of the biggest companies that participated in the Dubai Shopping Festival, ENOC offered daily raffle promos.
You just needed to purchase at least AED50 at Autopro, at least AED25 at Zoom or take advantage of some services at Tasjeel and you were given a raffle coupon.
ENOC chose 50 winners of AED10,000 daily until 5 December and winners who took home AED100,000 were also chosen throughout the duration of the festival.
- Gold Prizes
Dubai is known for its top quality gold jewelry pieces and the Dubai Jewellery Group made sure that gold shoppers will get the chance to win even more gold.
Each shopper who spent at least AED500 on gold jewelry got one raffle coupon. Those who shopped for diamond or pearl jewelry got two entries.
With more than 170 outlets participating in the event, shoppers had plenty of options for jewelry and a chance to win one of more than 25 kilos of gold that were given away to 100 winners.
Shoppers Can Enjoy Different Shows and Activities
Of course, the Dubai Shopping Festival isn’t just for shoppers.
Since the government created this festival to attract more tourists to the city, different establishments host shows and activities throughout its duration to entertain visitors for free or for a minimal fee.
This year’s edition of the Dubai Shopping Festival, the government went all out with huge sales, different outdoor markets and of course, powerhouse events that included:
- Etisalat MOTB
One of the most popular outdoor markets during the Dubai Shopping Festival is the Etisalat MOTB.
Located at the Dubai Design District, entrance to the outdoor market was free and aside from shops, local performances also entertained guests throughout the festival.
- Concerts and Shows
Another highlight of the Dubai Shopping Festival are the outstanding performances from local and international artists almost on a daily basis.
This year, popular Arab singers Khalid Abdulrahim and Kadim Al Sahir as well as Bollywood singers Kanika Kapoor, Jasleen Royal and Arijit Singh performed in sold out concerts.
Famous Egyptian singer Amr Diab also headlined a sold out concert at the Media City Amphiteater.
The World Tennis League also invited international superstars Ne-Yo, Tiesto, Armin Van Buuren and Wizkid to the festival.
- Drone Show and Fireworks
Of course, the Dubai Shopping Fetival wouldn’t be complete without the spectacular drone and fireworks show that took place around the city.
The DSF Drone Light Show at the Bluewaters Island and The Beach in Jumeirah Beach Residence was one of the most anticipated events of the festival.
The Al Zarooni Group also performed different fireworks shows at important landmarks like the Dubai Creek, Burj Al Arab, Al Seef, the Pointe and the Dubai Frame.
Dubai Lights also featured different artistic light installations in key locations throughout the city.
The dates for the next edition of the Dubai Shopping Festival are still yet to be announced, so watch out for it if you want to experience one of the best shopping festivals in the world.