Dubai Shopping Festival returns on Dec 4 for its 32nd edition. It will run for 45 days until Jan. 17, 2027, which is a week longer than last season’s 38 days. The festival brings concerts, drone shows, waterfront light displays, shopping offers and family fun across the city.
Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), part of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, organizes the event. The program will cover the December holidays, New Year’s Eve and the first weeks of January.
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Coca-Cola Arena hosts the opening weekend. Singer Rashid Al Majed performs on Dec 4, and DJ Steve Aoki follows on Dec 5. A free candlelight concert with Khaleeji music will take place before the festival starts.
From Dec 5, the waterfront between The Beach JBR and Bluewaters Island will host light shows every night from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. They include two drone shows set to music, laser displays, and laser mapping on selected JBR towers.
Some concerts and activities sell tickets separately, and prices are not confirmed yet. DFRE CEO Ahmed Al Khaja told Arabian Business that the festival has become “part of what winter in the city means” for many people.
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DSF Nights returns with local live artists at Festival Bay. Other programs include DSF x Hatta Wadi Hub, DSF Auto Season and etisalat MOTB. A new beachfront attraction arrives at Sunset Beach, and the etisalat Beach Canteen joins the festival for the first time.
The festival began in 1996 as a retail event and has grown into a citywide program. Last year’s highlight was the Red Bull Tetris World Final at Dubai Frame, where 4,000 drones formed a playable game in the sky. DFRE plans to share the full lineup, including headline acts, retail offers, and prizes, within the next month.