The 32nd Dubai Shopping Festival runs from 4 December 2026 to 17 January 2027, 45 days in all, TradeArabia reported on 14 October 2026. It is organised by Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment and promises promotions, live entertainment, concerts and citywide experiences. For a visitor it means sales in malls and souks, bigger crowds and higher hotel prices around Christmas and New Year. This guide covers what to expect, where to shop, the VAT refund and how to fit in a Burj Khalifa visit.
By SB Excursions · Published 28 October 2026 · Updated 28 October 2026
Tour on this route: Burj Khalifa Observation Deck — From $55 per person, 1.5-2 hours.
When is the Dubai Shopping Festival 2026-27?
From 4 December 2026 to 17 January 2027, 45 days, according to TradeArabia on 14 October 2026. It is the 32nd edition, organised by Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment.
This guide also answers:
- Is the full programme of events published?
- Will hotels cost more during the festival?
- What is a good non-shopping plan during the festival?
Five places to use the festival
#1
The Dubai Mall
One of the biggest malls in the city and the entrance to the Burj Khalifa observation decks, so a shopping afternoon and a tower slot fit into the same visit. In festival weeks it is crowded in the evenings, so shop first, take a sunset slot and watch the Fountain afterwards. Check the festival's official channels for which shops are taking part.
#2
Mall of the Emirates
A large mall with its own Metro station, so it is easy to reach without a taxi. It is a good choice for a day when the weather is poor or you want to combine shopping with Ski Dubai. As with every mall, a festival promotion applies shop by shop, so compare prices before you buy and keep the receipt.
#3
The Gold Souk and Textile Souk
The old-fashioned way to shop, with covered lanes, small shops and prices you can discuss. Gold is sold by weight at the day's rate plus a making charge, so ask for the breakdown. Our Old Dubai walking tour, from $35 per person and 3-4 hours, passes the Spice Souk and Gold Souk with a local guide, which makes a calmer first visit.
#4
Sunset Beach and the beach canteen
TradeArabia reported that the festival includes the first Dubai Shopping Festival edition of the etisalat Beach Canteen at Sunset Beach. The report did not give a programme, so we cannot say what it offers. The beach itself has views of the Burj Al Arab at sunset, and our Jumeirah water sports start from Umm Suqeim Fishing Harbour, in the same part of Jumeirah.
#5
The Burj Khalifa and the Fountain
A slot about an hour before sunset gives the city by day, at sunset and lit up, and tickets start at $55 for Levels 124 and 125. Festival evenings are busy, so book earlier than usual: tickets cannot be refunded or changed once issued, and the walk through The Dubai Mall comes before the lift.
Dubai Shopping Festival 2026-27: the short answer
The 32nd Dubai Shopping Festival runs from 4 December 2026 to 17 January 2027, 45 days of promotions, live entertainment, concerts and citywide experiences, according to TradeArabia on 14 October 2026. It is organised by Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), and some travel sites still show other estimated dates, so confirm on the Visit Dubai website before you book flights.
For a visitor, the festival mostly changes three things: shops advertise sales across the city, the evenings are busier and hotel prices rise over Christmas and New Year. As of 29 October 2026 the reports we checked did not publish a full programme, so we do not list concerts or events. The Burj Khalifa, the souks and the sea do not depend on the festival, so build the trip around them and treat the sales as a bonus.
Dates, length and what falls inside them
The previous edition ran from 5 December to 11 January. This one starts a day earlier and finishes six days later, so it is about a week longer, and it takes in several other busy dates.
| Date | What happens | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 2-3 December 2026 | UAE National Day public holiday | Ends the day before the festival starts; see our National Day guide |
| 4 December 2026 | Festival starts | 32nd edition, 45 days |
| Early December | Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend | In Abu Dhabi, not Dubai; dates vary by source |
| 25 December | Christmas Day | Hotels and malls are busy |
| 31 December | New Year's Eve | Fireworks locations announced in late December, as in past years |
| 17 January 2027 | Festival ends | Last day of the 45 days |
Festival dates as reported on 14 October 2026. Confirm on the Visit Dubai website.
Our National Day guide, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix guide and the New Year's Eve guide cover the dates in more detail, and what's on in December puts them on one calendar.
What to expect: sales, entertainment and the beach
The festival is Dubai's annual retail event, with promotions across malls and shops and a calendar of shows and concerts around the city. The reports for this edition describe promotions, live entertainment, concerts and citywide experiences, and add that it includes the first festival edition of the etisalat Beach Canteen at Sunset Beach.
Be realistic about the sales. A promotion is a promotion, not a guarantee of a low price: discounts vary shop by shop, some items are cheaper at home and some are not. Compare with prices you know, check the final total with VAT and keep receipts. The festival is best for fashion, electronics, perfume and gifts you were going to buy anyway, rather than a reason to fly in for shopping alone.
Where tourists shop, and what to combine it with
Most visitors split their time between one big mall and one old-style market. The table pairs each with something to do nearby. Check the festival's official channels for which retailers are taking part before you plan a mall day around a particular promotion.
| Place | Area | Good for | Combine with |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Dubai Mall | Downtown | The widest choice and the Fountain | Burj Khalifa slot, Dubai Fountain |
| Mall of the Emirates | Al Barsha | Shopping in air-conditioning, Ski Dubai | A Metro day on the Red Line |
| Gold Souk and Textile Souk | Deira and Bur Dubai | Gold, fabrics, haggling | Our Old Dubai walking tour, from $35 |
| Dubai Marina and JBR | Marina | Seaside shopping and cafes | A 1-hour shared yacht tour, from $32 |
Our prices are per person and prepaid, as on each tour page.
Our best malls guide covers the malls in more detail. In the souks, prices are usually open to discussion, but be polite and be ready to walk away.
VAT refunds and shopping rules for visitors
Visitors can claim back VAT on eligible purchases from registered shops through the tourist tax-refund scheme, usually at the airport on departure. Conditions apply, such as keeping receipts and the goods unused, so check the Federal Tax Authority (FTA) for the current rules and see our VAT refund guide. Leave extra time at the airport in festival weeks.
Crowds, prices and the best weeks
The weather in December and January is among the best of the year, which is why the festival draws crowds. Hotel prices and queues usually peak from about 20 December to 3 January, around Christmas, New Year and school holidays in many countries. The first half of December and the second half of January are calmer.
If you can choose, go from 5 to 18 December or from 5 to 17 January: the festival is on, the sea and sky are clear and the city is less crowded than over the holidays. Our December guide has the weather and the dates.
A simple two-day plan for the festival weeks
Most visitors do not want to shop for 45 days. Two days is enough to see the festival side of Dubai and still keep the sights. Swap the days if the weather or your slot suggests it.
- Day one, Downtown: shop in The Dubai Mall in the morning and early afternoon, take a Burj Khalifa slot about an hour before sunset, then watch the Fountain as the evening shows run.
- Day two, Old Dubai and the sea: spend the morning on the Creek and in the souks, rest in the afternoon, then take a one-hour shared yacht tour in Dubai Marina and walk the Marina in the evening.
- Keep one day free of shopping altogether for the desert or Abu Dhabi, since the Metro and the malls will be busy and you will want a change of pace.
If you are travelling with children, the pattern still works: one big stop in the morning, a rest at the hotel, and a short, early evening outing.
Fitting in the Burj Khalifa, the souks and the sea
A shopping trip is a good excuse for the view. Our Burj Khalifa ticket starts at $55 for Levels 124 and 125, with no time limit on the decks, and $115 for SKY on Level 148. Sunset slots cost more, tickets are for a fixed date and time, and they cannot be refunded or changed, so choose the slot carefully. Our guide to the best time to visit Burj Khalifa says which half hour to ask for.
The entrance is inside The Dubai Mall, on the lower ground floor, so on festival evenings allow extra time to walk through the crowd and the security check. For a calmer day, book the tower for a weekday and shop another day. The Old Dubai walking tour fills a morning with the Creek and the souks.
FAQ
When is the Dubai Shopping Festival 2026-27?
From 4 December 2026 to 17 January 2027, 45 days, according to TradeArabia on 14 October 2026. It is the 32nd edition, organised by Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment.
Are there other dates on travel websites?
Yes. Some travel sites still show other estimated dates. Confirm the dates on the Visit Dubai website before you book flights or hotels.
Is the Dubai Shopping Festival worth planning a trip around?
Only partly. The weather is excellent and there are sales and events, but discounts vary shop by shop and the weeks around Christmas and New Year are crowded and expensive. Treat it as a bonus, not the reason to come.
Can tourists get a VAT refund in Dubai?
Visitors can usually claim VAT back on eligible purchases from registered shops through the tourist tax-refund scheme at departure. Conditions apply, so check the Federal Tax Authority for the current rules.
Is the full programme of events published?
Not in the reports we checked as of 29 October 2026. They mention promotions, live entertainment, concerts and citywide experiences, plus the first festival edition of the etisalat Beach Canteen at Sunset Beach, but no line-up.
Will hotels cost more during the festival?
Prices tend to rise over Christmas and New Year, from about 20 December to 3 January, so book early if your dates fall there. Early December and the second half of January are usually cheaper.
What is a good non-shopping plan during the festival?
A Burj Khalifa slot about an hour before sunset (from $55), the Old Dubai walking tour (from $35) and a shared Marina yacht tour (from $32 per person) all work well alongside shopping days.
Recommended Dubai tours for this guide
Burj Khalifa Observation Deck
It is a ticket, not a guided tour: you pick the date and time slot, we book it and send the e-tickets on WhatsApp, and you make your own way to The Dubai Mall. Levels 124 and 125 suit most visitors; SKY adds Level 148 at 555 m with priority access, a multilingual host and refreshments. On request we also book Sky Views Observatory, The View at The Palm and Dubai Frame.
- Duration
- 1.5-2 hours
- Area
- Downtown Dubai
- Format
- Timed-entry ticket
- Best for
- first-time visitors, couples and families who want Dubai from the observation decks of the 828-metre Burj Khalifa
From $55 per person Full prepayment
View tour
Old Dubai Walking Tour
It is the Dubai that is walked rather than driven: the Creek where the city began as a trading port, the restored wind-tower quarter and the souks that still trade spices and gold. A local guide tells the story along the way. The $35 walk includes the abra, Arabic coffee or tea, dates and water; the $55 option adds street-food tastings.
- Duration
- 3-4 hours
- Area
- Old Dubai: Bur Dubai and Deira
- Format
- Shared group walk
- Best for
- first-time visitors, food lovers and anyone who wants the old trading side of Dubai on foot
From $35 per person Full prepayment
View tour
Dubai Marina Shared Yacht Tour
It is the most stylish way to see the skyline without paying for a private charter: a premium yacht with spacious decks and 5-star hospitality, a red carpet at the pier and the crew helping with photos against JBR and Ain Dubai. Full pre-payment secures your slot — the hourly departures sell out — and the yacht leaves strictly on time.
- Duration
- 1 hour
- Area
- Dubai Marina
- Format
- Shared 1-hour sightseeing cruise
- Best for
- families, couples and anyone who wants the Marina skyline from the water without a private charter
From $32 per person Full prepayment
View tour📚 Keep reading
Photos: The Dubai Mall — Dakstor, CC BY-SA 4.0, Mall of the Emirates — Fabio Achilli from Milano, Italy, CC BY 2.0, The Gold Souk and Textile Souk — Radosław Botev, CC BY 3.0 pl, The Burj Khalifa and the Fountain — Fabio Achilli from Milano, Italy, CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons).