Bahraini visitors to Dubai can look forward to an unforgettable experience in the city with the return of the Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) 2018. The city’s annual citywide shopping extravaganza returns from 26 December – 27 January 2018 bigger and better than ever, offering the shopping-lover in all of us a month-long fiesta of sales, exclusive shopping experiences and extraordinary events for the whole family to enjoy. The festival, which will see millions of people hit Dubai’s malls to bag the latest bargains, brings together the best of Dubai’s retail offering, showcasing the top brands and shopping experiences from weekly flash sales, in-mall promotions and the opportunity to win amazing prizes from luxury cars and gold to cash at the daily raffles, there will be something to excite everyone this festival.
Ahmed Al Khaja, CEO, Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), an agency of Dubai Tourism said: “Dubai Shopping Festival has always been the jewel in the retail calendar crown and this year is set to be even bigger and better than ever. Together with our strategic partners, we will be bringing people truly memorable shopping experiences featuring celebrities, world-class experts and interactive masterclasses, making Dubai the ultimate must-visit shopping destination this New Year. Over the years we’ve worked closely with retailers on a local and global stage to bring out the very best of Dubai’s culture to create a thriving retail hub. From top global brands to local emerging designers, Dubai benefits from a rich melting pot of diverse shopping opportunities, making a truly unique retail destination for shoppers across the world.”
Organised by the Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), an agency of the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism), the 23rd edition of DSF will feature an exciting array of entertainment, including spectacular fireworks shows and a range of free-to-attend family-oriented activities in malls, and retail activations themed under Beauty & Perfume, Gold & Jewellery, and Apparel & Fashion platforms.
Here DFRE outlines the highlights of this year’s shopping extravaganza set to whet the appetite of visitors from across the region and beyond.
Discover the best of Dubai with the Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) Pass, a flexible citywide pass that will offer all Dubai residents up to 65 per cent off top attractions and dining options during the city’s ultimate shopping sale.
DSF will kick off in style with a mammoth 12 hour sale, giving customers further discounts ranging between 25% to 90% at the city’s prominent shopping malls.
Shoppers will also enjoy five weeks of madness with a homeware offer weekly from some of Dubai’s leading homeware brands released each Tuesday. Brands include IKEA, ID Design, Home Centre, Home Box & Cottage Chic giving interiors-lovers the chance to win a specially curated DSF Concept Room complete with top-of-the-range furniture.
Friday Surprise will offer people an incredible shopping deals each Friday throughout DSF, starting on 29 December. From incredible fashion to bold beauty, Friday Surprise will give bargain-hunters the chance to snap up an incredible offer on an exclusive retail product/product range at a specified shopping location each week.
To crown five glorious weeks of sales, promotions and raffles, DSF will culminate in the Final Sale, commencing on 25 January and finishing on 27 January. The three-day Final Sale will feature the very last price cuts of the festival, giving shoppers a final opportunity to snap up the best discounts before the sales period is over.
The Dubai Gold and Jewellery Group (DGJG) will once again be giving 100 gold and jewellery buyers the chance to win big with over 33 kilos of gold up for grabs during DSF.
The Infiniti Mega Raffle is back at the Dubai Shopping Festival with one lucky shopper winning a grand prize of an Infiniti QX60 plus AED 150,000 in cash.
Dubai Shopping Malls Group will launch a special DSF ‘Shop & Win’ promotion across participating community malls giving shoppers the chance to win special prizes when they spend over AED 200. The association will present shoppers with ample opportunity to win AED 1 Million worth of prizes in cash and gift vouchers for experiences around Dubai.
Loyal shoppers will have plenty of reasons to celebrate this DSF as a host of Loyalty Programmes will be joining forces to offer mega promotions throughout the festival. Customers who are members of either Shukran, Club Apparel Air Miles or Janshanmal loyalty programme cards who shop during the festival will get exclusive benefits and the chance to enter a raffle draw to win huge prizes.
In partnership with Meraas Properties, Dubai Shopping Festival will play host to a fantastic line-up of firework displays throughout the month-long shopping extravaganza. Each Thursday and Friday, shoppers can head to Al Seef, La Mer or The Beach at JBR to enjoy a stunning firework show and celebrate the weekend in true carnival style.
Malls across the city will be hosting an array of unique events and activities to bring a touch of magic to shopping experiences throughout the festival including amazing dancing shows featuring top gymnasts and musical waiters at Mall of the Emirates, Mirdif City Centre and Deira City Centre.
Al Seef will be creating a mesmerising light and musical atmosphere during the festival with a series of shows, such as The Lighting Fairies and Light Umbrella, as part of its Layali Al Seef programme of events, whilst The Outlet Village will be taking shoppers on a fantasy journey with shows including The Nutcracker and Gold Illusions.
New beachside destination La Mer will be creating a Carribean atmosphere at its venue with a parade of stilt walkers and fiesta troop, whilst The Beach will be bringing the carnival spirit to Dubai with exciting street performers, including drummers and plate spinners.
Dubai Mall will be filling the aisles with a musical extravaganza, laying on its ‘Dynamic and Classic’ series featuring modern music with an 18th century twist. From drummers, harpists and even musical waiters, the mall will be full of the sound of music during the festival.
Back again for a 5th edition following a successful run last year, Market Outside the Box (MOTB) will see a selection of Dubai’s unique retail concepts come together at Burj Park in Downtown Dubai from 11 to the 20 January.
The strategic partners for DSF are; Majid Al Futtaim, Emaar, Nakheel, AW Rostamami, Dubai Duty Free, Emirates Airlines, Enoc, Etisalat, Mercato Mall, Al Futtaim, Paris Galley and Meraas holding.