The 32nd Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) runs for 45 days, from Friday 4 December 2026 to Sunday 17 January 2027, Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment announced on 14 October 2026: a week longer than last season’s 38-day run from 5 December 2025 to 11 January 2026. The full programme of shows, concerts and raffles is due in the coming weeks. Returning features include etisalat DSF Nights, DSF x Hatta Wadi Hub, DSF Auto Season and etisalat MOTB, and new this year is the etisalat Beach Canteen at Sunset Beach. Last season, free drone shows lit up the sky between Bluewaters and The Beach at JBR twice every evening, fireworks ran at Dubai Festival City’s Festival Bay and in Hatta, and the DSF Mega Raffle sold AED 100 tickets for daily car and cash prizes. Shops cut prices by 25 to 75%, with some up to 90%. We will update this page as the official programme is announced.
Status
- DSF 2026-27 dates
- 4 December 2026 to 17 January 2027, 45 days
- Last edition
- 5 December 2025 to 11 January 2026, 38 days
- Drone shows (last season)
- Bluewaters and The Beach, JBR, nightly, free
- Fireworks (last season)
- Festival Bay at Dubai Festival City; Hatta on Fridays and Saturdays
- Raffle
- DSF Mega Raffle, AED 100 a ticket
- Sales
- 25 to 75% off, some up to 90%
Last checked: 17 October 2026 against the 32nd-edition announcement from Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment, part of the Department of Economy and Tourism. Show times, concerts and raffle details are due in the coming weeks; last season’s details below are a guide.
On this page
When is DSF 2026-27?
Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment confirmed on 14 October 2026 that the 32nd DSF runs from 4 December 2026 to 17 January 2027. The 45 days take in the UAE National Day weekend, Christmas, New Year’s Eve and a new January chapter, when etisalat MOTB and DSF Auto Season continue to the final days of the festival.
| Edition | Dates | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 32nd, 2026-27 | 4 December 2026 to 17 January 2027 | 45 days |
| 31st, 2025-26 | 5 December 2025 to 11 January 2026 | 38 days |
Drone shows and fireworks
| Show | Where | When (2025-26) | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| DSF drone shows | Over the water between Bluewaters and The Beach, JBR | Nightly, usually two shows, around 7pm or 8pm and 10pm | Free |
| Fireworks | Festival Bay, Dubai Festival City Mall | Most nights during DSF, around 8:30pm | Free |
| Fireworks | Hatta | Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm until 31 December, plus New Year’s Eve | Free |
| Opening-weekend fireworks | Several waterfront sites | First weekend of DSF | Free |
Last season’s drone shows used two stories, “Dubai, City of Dreams” early in the festival and “Celebrations” later on. Times varied slightly between nights, so check the official DSF channels each week.
Free viewing spots
- Drone shows: the sand at The Beach, JBR, the Dubai Marina side of the bay, the Bluewaters promenade and the bridge between them; arrive 30 minutes early at weekends. See Ain Dubai for a view from the wheel.
- Festival City fireworks: the Festival Bay waterfront and promenade, where the IMAGINE water and laser show also runs.
- Hatta: the town and the Hatta Heritage Village area, with the mountains as a backdrop.
- Parking: JBR and Bluewaters car parks fill early; take a taxi and walk the last stretch.
DSF Nights and concerts
Festival Bay at Dubai Festival City Mall becomes the DSF Nights hub, with nightly music, food, games, character meet-and-greets and fireworks. Last season’s Festival Bay concerts, with Arab and Bollywood stars, started from about AED 50, with doors at 7pm, and a New Year’s Eve concert from about AED 69. Bigger concerts ran at the Coca-Cola Arena and Dubai Opera.
Markets and events
- Market Outside The Box (MOTB): a free fashion, beauty and food market at Dubai Design District, which ran from 1 to 11 January 2026, open into the evening and until midnight at weekends.
- Sole DXB: the sneaker, music and street-culture festival at Dubai Design District, which ran from 12 to 14 December 2025, tickets from about AED 299.
- DSF Auto Season: drifting shows, parades and car displays in January.
- Christmas and New Year: DSF overlaps with the Christmas markets and New Year’s Eve fireworks.
The DSF Mega Raffle
- Tickets: AED 100 each last season.
- Where to buy: ENOC petrol stations, ZOOM stores, DSF kiosks in malls and at Global Village.
- Draws: daily during the festival, with winners announced at Global Village.
- Prizes: cars, AED 100,000 cash prizes and a final-day draw of AED 400,000 last season.
- Shop-and-win: malls also run their own spend-and-win draws during DSF.
Raffle rules and prizes change each year; read the terms on the ticket before you buy.
The sales
- Discounts of 25 to 75% across fashion, electronics and home, with some flash deals up to 90% off.
- Look out for one-day “flash sales” announced at short notice through the DSF channels.
- The final week usually brings end-of-season markdowns.
- Tourists can reclaim most of the 5% VAT on eligible purchases from participating stores through the tax-free scheme at the airport; ask for a tax-free receipt.
- The biggest malls, such as The Dubai Mall, Mall of the Emirates and Dubai Festival City, run the most events.
How to plan each weekend
| Weekend | What to do |
|---|---|
| Opening weekend | Opening fireworks, the first drone shows and the start of the sales |
| National Day weekend | If DSF has started, combine it with National Day fireworks |
| Mid-December | Concerts at Festival Bay, Christmas markets, street-culture events |
| New Year | New Year’s Eve fireworks and concerts |
| Final weekend | Final raffle draw, last drone shows and end-of-season markdowns |
Update log: 17 October 2026: official 2026-27 dates added, 4 December 2026 to 17 January 2027, plus the new etisalat Beach Canteen at Sunset Beach; the full programme is still to come. 14 October 2026: 2026-27 dates and programme not yet announced; 2025-26 details shown as a guide. We will add the official dates, show times and raffle details as soon as Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment publishes them.
- UAE public holidays 2027: every holiday, long weekend and leave plan.
- Dubai’s winter season: what is open and when.
- Global Village: Season 31, with fireworks at weekends.
- Things to do in Dubai at night.
- Global Village pavilions: what to buy in each country pavilion.
- Expo City Winter City: more December evenings out.
Dubai Shopping Festival FAQs
When is the Dubai Shopping Festival 2026-27?
From Friday 4 December 2026 to Sunday 17 January 2027, 45 days, as announced by Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment on 14 October 2026.
Where are the DSF drone shows?
Last season they were over the water between Bluewaters and The Beach at JBR, usually twice a night, and free to watch from the beach and the Bluewaters promenade.
Where are the DSF fireworks?
Last season, at Festival Bay in Dubai Festival City Mall on most nights, and in Hatta on Fridays and Saturdays until 31 December.
How much is a DSF raffle ticket?
AED 100 last season, sold at ENOC stations, ZOOM stores, DSF kiosks and Global Village, with daily draws for cars and cash.
Are the DSF shows free?
Yes. The drone shows and fireworks are free to watch. Some concerts and events are ticketed.
How big are the DSF discounts?
Usually 25 to 75%, with some flash deals of up to 90% at participating stores.