The very popular annual shopping extravaganza, Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF), is back with its 27th season. The 46-day event has kick-started in style with a marvellous opening ceremony at Burj Park on 15th December. Viewers enjoyed the spell-binding live performances by the award-winning artist Mohammed Hamaki and superstar Balqees Fathi.
Scheduled to last till 29th January, the event marks the start of a festive season for shopaholics as they can buy everything at discounted rates. This year, it is going to be a bigger and better than ever shopping bonanza with abundant deals and discounts available for shoppers.
Let’s dive into details of Dubai Shopping Festival 2021-22 and know everything about this event:
Dubai Shopping Festival – A Brief History
DSF is a mega event that attracts a huge number of people from across the globe. It runs for six weeks all across the Emirate. Shoppers get exclusive discounts from the biggest malls, brands, retails, and shops in the region.
The first DSF took place in 1996 centred around the theme “One World, One Family, One Festival”. Nearly 1.6 million visitors from across the world attended this event. It was a brainchild of H.H Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and since then, it has become a major attraction for visitors. As a matter of fact, it now holds various world records, including the longest chain, the largest biryani bowl, the biggest shopping bag, the longest sofa, etc. The event also saw the first-of-its-kind moving train fashion show in 2013. It was held inside the Dubai Metro.
The Location of Dubai Shopping Festival 2021-22
The extravagant event is not confined to one mall or store; you will find discounts and deals throughout the Emirate. From traditional souks to prestigious malls, you will find discounts everywhere. However, its epicentre lies at Burj Park, where the opening ceremony was held and Etisalat Market OTB is nestled.
Highlights of the Dubai Shopping Festival 2021-22
Fireworks
Apart from shopping, it’s the fireworks that attract a lot of people to this festival. In fact, they are considered one of the abundant highlights of this event.
Fireworks start from the inaugural day of the festival and continue throughout its duration, particularly on weekends. Other than fireworks, the whole of Dubai glitters up with beautiful lights and decorations that wash over the Emirate’s iconic attractions and shopping malls.
DSF – Deals and Discounts
Throughout this festival, buyers can find discounts and deals on over 800 brands spread across the Emirate. The range of discounts varies somewhere between 25 and 75 percent. Apart from buying various products, you can also find bargains at top hotels and resorts in Dubai. This provides tourists with an opportunity to experience the world-class hospitality Dubai is famous for.
Shopping Extravaganza at Dubai Shopping Festival
Experience the true meaning of “shop till you drop” at DSF this year by visiting the following trending places and get amazing discounts:
Dubai Mall
Whether it is the Dubai Shopping Festival or not, you shouldn’t miss out on visiting this massive shopping mall during your trip to Dubai. Apart from an impeccable shopping experience, there are many other attractions in this mall you can explore.
Dubai Festival City Mall
Located next to Dubai Creek, Dubai Festival City Mall houses more than 400 furnishing and fashion outlets of different brands. The culinary experience in this mall serves as a cherry on the cake.
Wafi Mall
Boasting an impeccable interior inspired by ancient architecture, Wafi Mall in Dubai offers an ultimate Arabian retail experience. It is further enhanced by carved figures you will find at every turn.
Mercato Mall
H&M, Toy R Us, Lava – these are just some of the popular international brands you will find in Mercato Mall. It is also home to many gourmet restaurants and family entertainment centres.
Mall of The Emirates
Mall of the Emirates is much more than just a shopping mall. It’s a complete family entertainment destination with various attractions offering an amazing experience. If retail therapy is what you’re seeking, you will find abundant options here, including Harvey Nichols, Marks & Spencer, Debenhams, to name a few.
City Walk
It is a beautiful venue with abundant options comprising high-street fashion boutiques and international brands. You can also find trendy streetwear here at affordable rates. The best part, however, is the splendid view of Burj Khalifa you will get to enjoy from this shopping destination.
Ibn Battuta Mall
Ibn Battuta Mall is famous for a lot of things apart from the remarkable shopping experience it offers. It has a massive gold elephant, spell-binding architecture and tilework that’s going to leave you in awe.
Dubai Marina Mall
A shopper’s paradise, Dubai Marina Mall is home to several international retailers where you will find affordable yet trendy high-street fashion products. Not only this, but you can also pamper yourself with the amazing beauty services available in the Mall. It is located next to Pier 7 to satisfy their appetite. This eatery offers seven exciting food concepts foodies can choose from.
Apart from the aforementioned malls, visitors are also recommended to check out lucrative deals and discounts at Dubai Outlet Mall, BurJuman, Dubai Festival Plaza, The Outlet Village, and City Centre Mirdif.
Etisalat Market OTB – The Main Attraction
As stated above, you will find discounts and deals all over the Emirate, but if there’s one place you shouldn’t miss during DSF, it’s the Etisalat Market OTB. Located at Burj Park in the hugely popular Downtown Dubai, it echoes the multicultural environment of the Emirate. You don’t need an entry ticket to visit this market.
Abundant Entertainment Options
The Dubai Shopping Festival is not all about shopping. Visitors will find a lot of things that will keep them entertained throughout the duration of this event. This includes live music shows, New Year Eve performances, and stand-up comedy shows.
Let’s find out more about the interesting line-up of entertainment options at the Dubai Shopping Festival:
Jo Koy – Funny Is Funny
DSF has joined hands with Blu Blood Entertainment and arranged a laugh riot for visitors. Jo Koy, a renowned Filipino-American stand-up comedian, will start his “Funny is Funny” world tour during the Dubai Shopping Festival. This show includes impersonations, unlimited jokes, and non-stop banter – a perfect recipe for a night full of entertainment.
This show will take place on 29th December 2021 at 09:00 pm. The tickets are priced at AED 180.
Performance by Martin Garrix
A popular disk jockey known for his eccentric performance, Martin Garrix will be gracing the Dubai Shopping Festival and mesmerise the audience with his top charts, such as “Scared to Be Lonely”, “Animals”, and “In the Name of Love”.
His performance is scheduled for 16th December 2021 at 08:00 pm. The ticket price is AED 150.
From Russia with Basta
Basta, the famous Russian hip-hop star, has a performance lined up during the DSF at Coca-Cola Arena. Winner of multiple awards, he will be performing his top numbers on 5th January 2022 at 08:00 pm. The ticket price starts from AED 150.
Me, Myself & I Reloaded with Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan
Brace yourself for an enthralling and spell-binding performance by the maestro musician from Pakistan, Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, on 30th December 2021 at 08:00 pm. He will be crooning his chartbuster hits, including famous Bollywood songs, Qawwali, Fusion, iconic OSTs, during this four-part concert held in collaboration with PME Entertainment and DSF. You can buy a ticket for this event for AED 200.
Win Big at Dubai Shopping Festival 2021-22
DSF presents an amazing opportunity to try your luck and win big prizes, which range from cash to a supercar. Isn’t it amazing? You can win a prize by purchasing a raffle ticket.
There is a variety of raffles you can enter in DSF 2021-222. Among them, the raffles with the biggest prizes are:
Nissan Grand Raffle
Entering this raffle may win you an X-Terra, Patrol, Nissan Kicks, X-Trail or 200,000 instant prizes. It is available throughout the festival’s duration.
To enter this raffle, spend a minimum of AED 25 at Dubai Metro stations, the Gold Souk, AutoPro and Zoom Stores, and Global Village. You can also enter the raffle by filling up your vehicle with fuel at EPPCO and ENOC stations.
Infiniti Mega Raffle
This is where you will get all the big prizes, including an Infiniti QX80. You also have the chance to win AED 100,000 in cash. The second lucky winner also gets a prize here of AED 10,000. To enter this raffle, spend a minimum of AED 200 at any petrol station located in Dubai.
What to Buy in DSF 2021-22?
Here’s a list of things you must buy during this mega festival:
Perfumes
Get your hands on the most mesmerising scents in DSF. Top-tier brands, such as Bvlgari, Chanel, De Beers, Burberry, etc., have discounts on their products.
Besides perfumes, you can also buy branded cosmetics from different outlets at discounted prices.
Designer Clothes
Designer clothes are generally very expensive; thus, not many can afford them. But, when you’re in Dubai during DSF, you can purchase high-end designer clothes at affordable rates because of the massive discounts offered by top outlets.
Gold Jewellery
Fancy wearing flashy rings and other jewellery items? The Dubai Shopping Festival offers the opportunity to buy the best of pieces without burning a hole in your pockets. Apart from gold, you can also buy diamond jewellery at various outlets in the Dubai Shopping Festival.
Watches
Dubai Shopping Festival allows watch-lovers to add more timepieces to their collection. Big brands, including Burberry, ICW, Rado, Michael Kors, Cartier, etc., have massive discounts on many products.
Leather Items
While the UAE weather may not suit the leather jacket, they certainly look fascinating and stylish, don’t they? So, get some trendy leather goods from top brands and stock up on your collection this season.
Home Décor
Give your home a makeover by getting some stylish & high-quality home décor items from many globally renowned stores this DSF. Discounts range from 50 to 75 percent.
Gadgets
If you are fond of cool tech gadgets, DSF offers you plenty of them at discounted rates. You can choose from a range of products manufactured by top brands, such as Fujitsu, Acer, Cross Gold, Bose, Sony and Apple.
Stay Up-to-date with DSF Deals & Discounts
You can stay updated with all the deals and discounts available at the Dubai Shopping Festival by downloading the DSF app on your smartphone. With the help of this app, all the details about the mega fair will be at your fingertips.
COVID-19 Guidelines for The Dubai Shopping Festival
Although the number of COVID-19 cases has reduced, it is still mandatory to follow UAE COVID-19 guidelines not only for your but for everyone else’s safety. The Dubai Government has set certain requirements, which every attendee must adhere to. This includes basic safety precautions, such as maintaining social distance, wearing masks, using sanitiser, etc.
In addition to that, every traveller must have a PCR test completed at least 4 days before their arrival. They have to carry the certificate along with them to the airport. Travellers may also have to take another test at DXB.
In all, the Dubai Shopping Festival is an extravagant event you shouldn’t miss out on. It’s bigger and better this year. So, if you haven’t done already, book your tickets to Dubai and become part of this mega event.
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