Dubai Shopping Festival is back for its 27th year with pop-up markets and restaurants, prizes, fireworks displays, concerts and plenty of discounts across various malls in the emirate. Photo: Dubai Shopping Festival
Dubai Shopping Festival is back for its 27th year with pop-up markets and restaurants, prizes, fireworks displays, concerts and plenty of discounts across various malls in the emirate. Photo: Dubai Shopping Festival
Dubai Shopping Festival is back for its 27th year with pop-up markets and restaurants, prizes, fireworks displays, concerts and plenty of discounts across various malls in the emirate. Photo: Dubai Shopping Festival
Dubai Shopping Festival is back for its 27th year with pop-up markets and restaurants, prizes, fireworks displays, concerts and plenty of discounts across various malls in the emirate. Photo: Dubai Sh

Dubai Shopping Festival returns with fireworks, discounts and live concerts


Evelyn Lau
  • English
  • Arabic

The Dubai Shopping Festival is returning for its 27th year, running from Wednesday until the end of January. Expect shopping deals, concerts, nightly shows, family entertainment, outdoor markets and pop-up dining. There will also be a programme of events at Expo 2020 Dubai to coincide with the event.

“The Dubai Shopping Festival was initially launched to boost local businesses, and has now grown into the world’s longest-running, internationally acclaimed retail festival," said Ahmed AlKhaja, chief executive of Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment.

"Over the years, DSF has played a significant role in growing Dubai’s reputation as one of the best cities to live in, work and visit by showcasing its breadth of offers from shopping and cultural experiences to world-class dining and entertainment.

"This year, the packed calendar of DSF events not only demonstrates our ability to safely welcome visitors from across the world, but supports domestic tourism and further strengthens our position as a global retail destination."

Here's a small guide of what you can look forward to:

Opening night concert

Emirati-Yemeni Singer Balqees Ahmed Fathi will perform as part of the Dubai Shopping Festival. AMA/Getty Images
Emirati-Yemeni Singer Balqees Ahmed Fathi will perform as part of the Dubai Shopping Festival. AMA/Getty Images

Emirati-Yemeni singer Balqees Fathi and Egyptian artist Mohamed Hamaki will take to the stage for the DSF opening performance on Wednesday at Burj Park. Tickets start from Dh75. In addition to the live concert, there will also be a Burj Khalifa light show, dancing fountains and performance artists.

Drone shows

Returning for another year is the DSF Drone Light Show which will take place at Bluewaters Island, The Beach opposite JBR and the newly opened Ain Dubai. The show will run daily at 7pm and 9.30pm, and will also be complemented by a light show at Ain Dubai.

Set to Rashed Al-Majed and RedOne’s Ya Salam Ya Dubai, the Expo 2020 anthem This is Our Time and David Guetta’s global hit Titanium featuring Sia, the DSF Drone Light Show will showcase mesmerising choreography and incorporate augmented reality elements while telling the story of the UAE’s past, present and future.

Art installations

There will be six unique interactive art installations from international artists on display under the Dubai Lights project. One is City Gazing Dubai by VOUW at DIFC Gate Avenue, an installation inspired by the emirate with a special accompanying soundtrack. Other works can be seen at The Pointe, La Mer and Last Exit, Al Khawaneej.

Live music

Another addition to this year’s festival is TunesDXB at La Mer, which will run over three days. The event will feature live music and entertainment at 15 locations across the city with the main stage at La Mer. It will give local talent a chance to shine, with concerts from January 7 to 9. This will also coincide with a performance by some of the Arab world’s biggest stars, although names have yet to be revealed.

Shopping sales and outdoor markets

Starting on Monday, December 27, shoppers can take advantage of what DSF calls "unbelievable deals" which will be revealed only 24 hours prior from participating brands that span lifestyle, sports, fashion, beauty, home and accessories.

Food stalls and markets will pop up across Dubai. Photo: Dubai Shopping Festival
Food stalls and markets will pop up across Dubai. Photo: Dubai Shopping Festival

DSF Markets also returns across various locations including Al Seef, Rigga, Al Khawaneej and Global Village. Etisalat Market OBT, the flagship alternative shopping destination, returns to Burj Park and features food kiosks and concepts from the region. This year, it will also have its own roller skating rink and padel court.

Pop-up concepts

Emirati women will get a special showcase as part of the new Ladies Homegrown Pop Ups. The platform aims to provide support to home-grown businesses in the UAE. Also set to return will be global brand activations, although more details are to be announced in January.

Daily fireworks

As in previous years, daily fireworks displays will be taking place to offer onlookers a pyrotechnic spectacle from vantage points around the city. They will also be paired with the daily DSF Done Show.

Prizes

Shoppers can be rewarded for their time through daily prizes and raffles. On offer are chances to win a new Nissan (Kicks, Patrol, X-Terra or X-Trail) as well as an Infiniti QX80 along with Dh100,000. There’s also a mega cash draw for Dh750,000 or a gold raffle where one shopper can take home up to a quarter kilogram of gold. Also up for grabs is a weekly draw for a chance to win 1 million Skywards Miles with Emirates, among other contests and draws.

How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20IPHONE%2014
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Founders: Abdulmajeed Alsukhan, Turki Bin Zarah and Abdulmohsen Albabtain.

Based: Riyadh

Offices: UAE, Vietnam and Germany

Founded: September, 2020

Number of employees: 70

Sector: FinTech, online payment solutions

Funding to date: $116m in two funding rounds  

Investors: Checkout.com, Impact46, Vision Ventures, Wealth Well, Seedra, Khwarizmi, Hala Ventures, Nama Ventures and family offices

Company Profile

Company name: NutriCal

Started: 2019

Founder: Soniya Ashar

Based: Dubai

Industry: Food Technology

Initial investment: Self-funded undisclosed amount

Future plan: Looking to raise fresh capital and expand in Saudi Arabia

Total Clients: Over 50

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%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3EHigh%20fever%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EIntense%20pain%20behind%20your%20eyes%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ESevere%20headache%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EMuscle%20and%20joint%20pains%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ENausea%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EVomiting%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ESwollen%20glands%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ERash%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A%3Cp%3EIf%20symptoms%20occur%2C%20they%20usually%20last%20for%20two-seven%20days%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs

Engine: Two permanent-magnet synchronous AC motors

Transmission: two-speed

Power: 671hp

Torque: 849Nm

Range: 456km

Price: from Dh437,900 

On sale: now

FIXTURES

Fixtures for Round 15 (all times UAE)

Friday
Inter Milan v AS Roma (11.45pm)
Saturday
Atalanta v Verona (6pm)
Udinese v Napoli (9pm)
Lazio v Juventus (11.45pm)
Sunday
Lecce v Genoa (3.30pm)
Sassuolo v Cagliari (6pm)
SPAL v Brescia (6pm)
Torino v Fiorentina (6pm)
Sampdoria v Parma (9pm)
Bologna v AC Milan (11.45pm)

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets

Turkish Ladies

Various artists, Sony Music Turkey 

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%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Yasir%20Alyasiri%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%20Baraa%20Alem%2C%20Nour%20Alkhadra%2C%20Alanoud%20Saud%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Emergency

Director: Kangana Ranaut

Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry 

Rating: 2/5

Directed by: Craig Gillespie

Starring: Emma Stone, Emma Thompson, Joel Fry

4/5

Water waste

In the UAE’s arid climate, small shrubs, bushes and flower beds usually require about six litres of water per square metre, daily. That increases to 12 litres per square metre a day for small trees, and 300 litres for palm trees.

Horticulturists suggest the best time for watering is before 8am or after 6pm, when water won't be dried up by the sun.

A global report published by the Water Resources Institute in August, ranked the UAE 10th out of 164 nations where water supplies are most stretched.

The Emirates is the world’s third largest per capita water consumer after the US and Canada.

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SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20M3%20MACBOOK%20AIR%20(13%22)
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Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.

'Shakuntala Devi'

Starring: Vidya Balan, Sanya Malhotra

Director: Anu Menon

Rating: Three out of five stars

The%20new%20Turing%20Test
%3Cp%3EThe%20Coffee%20Test%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cem%3EA%20machine%20is%20required%20to%20enter%20an%20average%20American%20home%20and%20figure%20out%20how%20to%20make%20coffee%3A%20find%20the%20coffee%20machine%2C%20find%20the%20coffee%2C%20add%20water%2C%20find%20a%20mug%20and%20brew%20the%20coffee%20by%20pushing%20the%20proper%20buttons.%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EProposed%20by%20Steve%20Wozniak%2C%20Apple%20co-founder%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Non-oil%20trade
%3Cp%3ENon-oil%20trade%20between%20the%20UAE%20and%20Japan%20grew%20by%2034%20per%20cent%20over%20the%20past%20two%20years%2C%20according%20to%20data%20from%20the%20Federal%20Competitiveness%20and%20Statistics%20Centre.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EIn%2010%20years%2C%20it%20has%20reached%20a%20total%20of%20Dh524.4%20billion.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ECars%20topped%20the%20list%20of%20the%20top%20five%20commodities%20re-exported%20to%20Japan%20in%202022%2C%20with%20a%20value%20of%20Dh1.3%20billion.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EJewellery%20and%20ornaments%20amounted%20to%20Dh150%20million%20while%20precious%20metal%20scraps%20amounted%20to%20Dh105%20million.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERaw%20aluminium%20was%20ranked%20first%20among%20the%20top%20five%20commodities%20exported%20to%20Japan.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ETop%20of%20the%20list%20of%20commodities%20imported%20from%20Japan%20in%202022%20was%20cars%2C%20with%20a%20value%20of%20Dh20.08%20billion.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Dust and sand storms compared

Sand storm

  • Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
  • Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
  • Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
  • Travel distance: Limited 
  • Source: Open desert areas with strong winds

Dust storm

  • Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
  • Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
  • Duration: Can linger for days
  • Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
  • Source: Can be carried from distant regions

Leap of Faith

Michael J Mazarr

Public Affairs

Dh67
 

As it stands in Pool A

1. Japan - Played 3, Won 3, Points 14

2. Ireland - Played 3, Won 2, Lost 1, Points 11

3. Scotland - Played 2, Won 1, Lost 1, Points 5

Remaining fixtures

Scotland v Russia – Wednesday, 11.15am

Ireland v Samoa – Saturday, 2.45pm

Japan v Scotland – Sunday, 2.45pm

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
Updated: December 13, 2021, 7:57 AM