Dubai is preparing to welcome the 32nd edition of the Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) on December 4, 2026, bringing another season of shopping, entertainment and cultural experiences to destinations across the city. Building on more than three decades of success, the festival will run for 45 days until January 17, 2027, with a program designed to offer residents and visitors a wide range of activities throughout Dubai’s winter season.
This year’s edition will feature live concerts, waterfront light shows, family activities, dining experiences, shopping promotions and opportunities to win valuable prizes. Events will take place across some of Dubai’s best-known destinations, from the lively waterfronts of Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR) and Bluewaters to the mountain landscapes of Hatta.
The opening weekend will bring together Gulf music star Rashed Al Majed and internationally renowned electronic music artist Steve Aoki, while a new edition of Dubai Lights will transform the city’s waterfront with drones, lasers and illuminated displays. A special musical evening in Hatta, scheduled ahead of the official opening, will also form part of the celebrations.
Dubai Shopping Festival Builds on Three Decades of Success as the City Welcomes Its 32nd Edition
Over more than 30 years, Dubai Shopping Festival has grown from an event centered on retail into a citywide celebration that brings together shopping, music, entertainment and culture. Its development has followed Dubai’s own growth as an international destination, with each edition introducing new experiences while maintaining the festival’s connection with residents and returning visitors.
The 32nd edition continues that approach through a program spanning different parts of the city. Visitors can attend concerts, spend evenings along the waterfront, enjoy outdoor activities with family members or explore shopping and dining options across participating destinations.
His Excellency Ahmed Al Khaja, CEO of Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment, said: “Over more than three decades, Dubai Shopping Festival has become part of the city’s memory and the experiences of its residents and visitors, accompanying its journey toward strengthening its position as a global destination for tourism, shopping and entertainment. The strength of this legacy comes from our ability to build on it and renew it; every edition represents an opportunity to introduce ideas and experiences that keep pace with our audience’s aspirations and give them new reasons to discover Dubai and return to it.”
Al Khaja added: “In the 32nd edition, we bring together Dubai’s diversity in a festive experience extending from its waterfronts to the mountains of Hatta, where musical concerts, light shows and family experiences come together with shopping and culinary arts. The opening weekend offers a glimpse of this diversity and sets the stage for a season that allows everyone to find something that inspires them and enriches their visit. In cooperation with our partners in the public and private sectors, we continue to develop the festival in ways that enhance the city’s attractiveness, support the vitality of the tourism and retail sectors, and create renewed value for audiences and partners alike.”
Rashed Al Majed and Steve Aoki to Headline an Exciting Opening Weekend at Coca-Cola Arena
Music will take center stage as Dubai Shopping Festival begins its 32nd edition with two concerts at Coca-Cola Arena, bringing together Gulf music and international electronic performances during the opening weekend.
Rashed Al Majed will perform on December 4, 2026, presenting a selection of his best-known songs. The following evening, December 5, international electronic music star Steve Aoki will take the stage, adding a different musical experience to the festival’s opening celebrations.
The two performances reflect the range of entertainment planned for this year’s festival, with events aimed at audiences with different musical tastes.
Tickets for Rashed Al Majed’s concert will be available through Platinumlist, with the sale date to be announced later. Further information about Steve Aoki’s performance can be found on the Coca-Cola Arena website, while official festival channels will provide additional updates on both concerts.
Dubai Lights to Transform JBR and Bluewaters With Drone Shows, Lasers and Waterfront Displays
Dubai Lights will return with a new multimedia experience, transforming the waterfront between The Beach opposite Jumeirah Beach Residence and Bluewaters Island into an open-air setting filled with light, music and movement.
Running from Saturday, December 5, 2026, through Sunday, January 17, 2027, the displays will take place between 7:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m., offering visitors a nighttime program featuring two musical drone shows, laser performances and light projections across building facades.
A floating platform equipped with advanced searchlights and laser systems will form part of the installation, with lighting extending along the JBR waterfront and Bluewaters promenade. Selected towers at Jumeirah Beach Residence will also become part of the display through animated projections and dynamic lighting effects.
Together, the illuminated buildings, waterfront and night sky will create different viewing experiences depending on where visitors choose to watch. Music and immersive sound effects will accompany the visual displays, adding to the atmosphere along the waterfront.
With restaurants, hospitality venues and entertainment options available at both destinations, visitors will also be able to combine the shows with an evening walk or a meal overlooking the waterfront.
Hatta to Host a Free Candlelit Concert Celebrating UAE National Day Ahead of the Festival
The celebrations will begin before the festival’s official opening, with a special musical evening at Hatta Wadi Hub on December 2, 2026, marking the UAE’s Eid Al Etihad.
The free event, presented as part of Hatta x Dubai Shopping Festival, will feature a Gulf-inspired musical performance by candlelight against the natural backdrop of Hatta’s mountains.
Held outdoors beneath the night sky, the concert will offer visitors an opportunity to enjoy live music in a setting quite different from the city’s waterfront venues and entertainment centers.
The event will also highlight the variety of destinations included in Dubai Shopping Festival’s program. While some activities will bring visitors to the city’s beaches and waterfront promenades, the Hatta concert will provide a quieter experience surrounded by mountain scenery.
By extending its celebrations to Hatta, the festival will give residents and visitors another way to take part in Dubai’s winter activities while enjoying the area’s distinctive natural surroundings.
Dubai Shopping Festival Offers 45 Days of Shopping Deals, Valuable Prizes and Citywide Entertainment
Organized by the Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment, part of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, the 32nd Dubai Shopping Festival will run for 45 days, bringing together retail promotions, live performances, family entertainment and dining experiences at participating locations across the emirate.
Alongside the entertainment program, shopping malls and retail destinations will offer promotional deals and opportunities to win valuable prizes. Visitors will be able to plan their days around different activities, combining shopping with concerts, dining or other attractions taking place throughout the festival.
The event is supported by a network of public and private sector partners involved in retail, hospitality, entertainment and tourism.
Commercial Bank of Dubai is the festival’s main sponsor, with strategic partners including Al-Futtaim Malls, through Dubai Festival City Mall and Festival Plaza; Al Zarooni Group, through Mercato Mall; Abdul Wahed Al Rostamani Group; and Dubai Holding Asset Management, through Al Seef, Bluewaters, Ibn Battuta Mall, Nad Al Sheba Mall, Nakheel Mall and The Outlet Village.
Other partners include Emirates Airline, ENOC, etisalat, Majid Al Futtaim, through Mall of the Emirates, City Centre Mirdif and City Centre Deira; Merex Investment, through City Walk and The Beach opposite JBR; and talabat.
The partnerships bring together businesses and destinations from across Dubai, supporting the festival’s activities and its continued development as a major event for the city’s tourism and retail sectors.
Further announcements will provide details about additional events, participating experiences, ticket release dates and other festival activities. Residents and visitors can follow the latest updates through the official website, www.mydsf.ae, and the DubaiFestivals accounts on Instagram and TikTok.
