Travel, Tourism & Hospitality

Dubai Shopping Festival returns for 32nd edition from December 4 to January 17

DUBAI
Dubai Shopping Festival returns for 32nd edition from December 4 to January 17

Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) will return from December 4, 2026, to January 17, 2027, with 45 days of shopping promotions, live entertainment, concerts and citywide experiences as the emirate prepares for its winter tourism season.

Organised by Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), the 32nd edition will build on the festival’s three-decade legacy, combining established attractions with new experiences across shopping, dining, entertainment and outdoor destinations.

Returning highlights include etisalat DSF Nights, DSF x Hatta Wadi Hub, DSF Auto Season and etisalat MOTB, alongside raffles, retail promotions, mall activations and events across the city.

A key addition this season will be the first DSF edition of etisalat Beach Canteen at Sunset Beach. The beachfront experience will combine food and beverage offerings with live entertainment, interactive workshops and activities. January will feature a further programme of events, including etisalat MOTB and the continuation of DSF Auto Season.

Shopping will remain central to the festival, with global and local brands offering citywide promotions, limited-time deals, mall experiences and raffles. Entertainment, food, automotive culture and outdoor attractions will provide additional opportunities for residents and visitors to explore Dubai.

Ahmed Al Khaja, CEO of DFRE, said: “Dubai Shopping Festival has grown alongside Dubai for more than three decades, and for many people it has become part of what winter in the city means. The memories people associate with DSF are incredibly varied, from shopping and raffle wins to concerts, and spectacles that have captured attention around the world.

“This year marks an important new chapter as we want to build on everything people already associate with DSF while continuing to create the unexpected moments that keep the festival fresh, relevant and worth returning to. There is much more to reveal, and we look forward to sharing what is ahead for the 32nd edition.”

Since launching in 1996, DSF has become a fixture of Dubai’s annual events calendar, staging large-scale entertainment and destination experiences. Last season featured the Red Bull Tetris® World Final at Dubai Frame, supported by 4,000 synchronised drones creating what organisers described as the world’s first playable sky-based Tetris® game. Other attractions included live music at Festival Bay and outdoor experiences in Hatta.

The previous edition attracted millions of visitors, featured more than 100 events and generated billions of dirhams in retail spending, with shoppers winning more than AED 11 million ($3 million) in prizes.

The full DSF 2026-2027 programme, including headline entertainment, prizes, retail offers and citywide activations, will be announced in the coming month.

Commercial Bank of Dubai is the festival’s key sponsor, with strategic partners including Emirates Airline, etisalat, talabat, ENOC and major retail, property and automotive groups. -TradeArabia News Service