Dubai Shopping Festival 2020 and 2021

Pack light! The Dubai Shopping Festival 2020-21 is here!

If there’s one festival that celebrates the love of shopping, great bargains, food, fireworks, festivities, fun, and carnivals, it’s got to be the magnificent Dubai Shopping Festival! 

In its 24th year, the DSF 2020-21 promises to be bigger and better than ever, with massive discounts on everything from apparel, gold, cosmetics, watches, leather products, home decor, gadgets and even spices! It’s a great time to be here when the whole city transforms into a gala - with plenty of festivities everywhere and indulgent resorts in some of the most stunning places on earth. 

DSF can get overwhelming to even seasoned shopaholics, but worry not, this guide will help you make the most of it. So, make sure you pack light, and maybe carry an extra suitcase or two… trust us, you’ll need it! 

Best time to go to the Dubai Shopping Festival 2020-21

The month-long shopping extravaganza is on from 17th December 2020 right up till 30th January 2021. You can plan your trip anytime between these days, but remember that the best items fly off the shelves quickly, so you may not get the best items if you go too late. Although, you can grab some of the biggest discounts, towards the end too. Plan wisely! 

What to fill your shopping cart with

Take your pick from over 700 brands offering discounts ranging from 25% to 75% across 3,200 outlets. Moreove, you can hunt for extra discounts on weekends and participate in daily raffle draws, with mega prizes. The best shopping places are not just restricted to malls; they include local hideouts, traditional souks and flea markets too. Everything under the sun is on discount here. Plus, you get the bonus advantage of shopping duty-free! 

Here’s our pick on what should definitely be on your shopping list. 

• Apparel: 

Love designer apparel? Then get ready to be spoilt for choice – you’ll find everything from sky-high Christian Louboutin’s to Prada, Gucci and more. it’s the perfect place to shop for a wardrobe revamp.

• Gold: 

DSF is hands down the best place to shop for glittering gold jewellery, exquisitely embellished with platinum, diamonds and precious gems. The traditional Gold Souks are shoppers favourite haunts.

• Gadgets:

The Dubai Shopping Festival is a haven for gadget freaks, with everything from premium brands like Vertu, Apple, Bose and many more, at steal prices. Go early to find your favourite products, because they’re usually available till stocks last.

• Spices & Dry Fruits: 

Visit the local Souks and brush up on your bargaining skills, to get some of the most exotic spices on earth like saffron, cinnamon, dates and more. 

• Perfumes, Cosmetics & Watches:

Take your pick of cosmetics and fragrances from luxury brands like Bvlgari and Burberry or exotic attars, a Dubai speciality.  Watch connoisseurs can shop for all the luxury brands including, Cartier, Rado, Rolex, Breitling, Montblanc and more.

• Leather Products: 

Dubai is famous for genuine leather products. With designer handbags, jackets, and more from luxury brands at steal prices. 

• Home Décor

Get discounts from 50% – 90% on lavish handmade carpets and rugs, furniture, and more to give your home the perfect revamp for 2020-21.

Best places to shop 

Although the Dubai Shopping Festival is spread across the whole city, here are some spots you must not miss out on to shop for your favourites.

• The Dubai Mall
• Ibn Battuta Mall
• Deira City Centre 
• Souks
• Mall of Emirates
• Outlet Mall
• Burjuman

5 Insider shopping tips

We asked seasoned DSF shoppers to give us their secrets to finding the best deals. Here they are:

• GRAB THE DSF PASS: This special pass entitles you to over 65% discount at many top attractions and notable restaurants across Dubai.
• DOWNLOAD THE DSF APP: Stay updated with the latest offers, happenings around the city, weekend surprise deals and much more, to make your DSF 2020-21 experience easier.
• WEEKEND DEALS: Every weekend Thursday to Saturday, one selected retailer will offer everything at a 90% discount. The announcement is made just 24 hours in advance; so keep a close check on the DSF website/App.
• SKIP THE TRIAL ROOM QUEUES: Wear skivvies under your clothes, so that you can try the clothes on over them and skip the sometimes 45-minute-long lines at the trial rooms.
• RESEARCH WELL, START EARLY: Make a list, research well on what can be found, where. A great bonus tip is to ask a local for suggestions. Shop in the mornings for a relatively crowd-free experience!

What to do when not shopping

• Enjoy an evening with the family by indulging in one of the many fun activities, carnival, stunning firework displays, food and more at Global Village, Dubai Creek and Al Seef.
• Recharge your soul and your tired soles, with a luxurious massage at the Spa.
• Enjoy a desert safari with quad biking, hot air balloon ride, adventure sports and more.
• Take in the amazing sights of Dubai while cruising in a traditional Arabian Dhow, with local flavours & entertainment. 
• Visit the tallest building in the world – the Burj Khalifa, and enjoy a stunning show of the world’s tallest musical fountain here. Soak in the panoramic views of the city at the biggest frame in the world – The Dubai Frame. There’s no dearth of record-breaking monuments in Dubai.
• Take a break from the heat at Ski Dubai, with numerous activities like ziplining, snowboarding, skiing, and penguin enclosures!

The Dubai Shopping Festival 2020-21 is an experience of a lifetime, where you’ll come back home with not just amazing memories, but also suitcases full of all your favourite things! Check our website for tailor-made or pre-planned Dubai Tours, including the festival and all the must-visit hot spots!