The main weekend market in Dubai this season is the Ripe Market, open every Saturday and Sunday from 9 AM to 9 PM at Dubai Police Academy Park, from 10 October 2026 to 2 May 2027. In December there is the Madinat Jumeirah Festive Market, and Global Village runs every day until May. The Dubai Flea Market moves between parks and malls, and we found no confirmed schedule for this winter. This guide gives days, places and hours, and says plainly what we could not confirm.
By SB Excursions · Published 3 November 2026 · Updated 3 November 2026
Tour on this route: Old Dubai Walking Tour — From $35 per person, 3-4 hours.
When is the Ripe Market in Dubai?
Every Saturday and Sunday from 9 AM to 9 PM, from 10 October 2026 to 2 May 2027, at Dubai Police Academy Park in Umm Suqeim, according to Khaleej Times and Gulf News. The reports did not state an entry fee, so check before you go.
This guide also answers:
- Where is the Dubai Flea Market this winter?
- Is there a night market in Dubai?
- Are Dubai's markets free to enter?
Six markets to plan around
#1
Ripe Market, Dubai Police Academy Park
The 15th season runs every Saturday and Sunday from 9 AM to 9 PM, from 10 October 2026 to 2 May 2027. Stalls sell fashion, jewellery, homeware, art, beauty products and handmade gifts, with food, live music and children's activities. The reports we read did not state an entry fee, so check before you go.
#2
Madinat Jumeirah Festive Market
Madinat Jumeirah's website lists a Festive Market from 4 to 27 December 2026: Monday to Thursday from 3 PM until late, and Friday to Sunday from noon until late. Entry is free on a first come, first served basis. Pair it with dinner at Souk Madinat Jumeirah, where the restaurants open until 2 AM.
#3
Global Village, Season 31
Season 31 opened on 14 October 2026 and runs until May 2027, with gates opening at 4 PM. Khaleej Times reports tickets at AED 25 on weekdays and AED 30 at weekends. It is the largest evening market of the season, with pavilions and stalls; our guide covers the hours, which differ between reports.
#4
Dubai Flea Market
A rotating market of second-hand goods. Gulf News listed it at Discovery Gardens park on 16 May and Festival Plaza on 17 May, with free entry. We found no confirmed schedule for this winter, so check the organiser's channels the day before. A polite counter-offer normally works on second-hand items.
#5
Waterfront Market, Deira
A working fish and food market in Deira, not a craft or gift market. Our Waterfront Market guide covers what is sold, how to buy fish and the opening hours, and Deira is also where the Gold and Spice Souks are, so the two can share one outing.
#6
The Old Dubai souks and Karama Market
The Gold, Spice and Textile Souks and Karama Market trade through the week, including weekends, and shops set their own hours. They are the places for bargaining and traditional goods, while markets such as Ripe suit handmade and local goods. Our Old Dubai walking tour, from $35, covers the core with a guide.
Weekend markets in Dubai: the short answer
The main weekend market in Dubai this season is the Ripe Market: every Saturday and Sunday, 9 AM-9 PM, at Dubai Police Academy Park in Umm Suqeim, from 10 October 2026 to 2 May 2027, according to Khaleej Times and Gulf News. Two other markets matter this winter: the Madinat Jumeirah Festive Market from 4 to 27 December 2026, and Global Village, which opened on 14 October 2026 and runs until May 2027.
The Dubai Flea Market moves between parks and malls, and we found no confirmed schedule for this winter, so we list no dates for it. We also found no confirmed night-market schedule. When a date is not confirmed, this guide says so instead of guessing.
Dubai's markets follow the weather. October to April is the outdoor season. From May the Ripe Market moves to other venues: Gulf News listed it at Folivana, Art of Living Mall, on 15-17 May this year. We found no announcement yet for next season's dates (as of November 2026).
Ripe Market: dates, hours and what to expect
Khaleej Times reported on 8 September 2026 that the Ripe Market returns for its 15th season, and Gulf News gave the same dates. The table sums up what the reports say.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Season | 10 October 2026 to 2 May 2027 |
| Days and hours | Every Saturday and Sunday, 9 AM-9 PM |
| Place | Dubai Police Academy Park, Umm Suqeim, on Sheikh Zayed Road |
| Entry fee | Not stated in the reports we read; check before you go |
| Stalls | Fashion, accessories, jewellery, homeware, art, beauty products, handmade gifts and local produce |
| Food and extras | Breakfast, coffee, street food and sweets; live music, magic shows and free wellness sessions |
| For children | Petting zoo, pony rides, arts and crafts, inflatables, a carousel and mini train rides |
Sources: Khaleej Times (8 September 2026) and Gulf News (3 September 2026). Programmes change over the season.
Gulf News also lists Dubai Police shows, including the marching band, K9 demonstrations and supercar displays. The reports give only the location, not directions, so book a ride in an app with the park's name. From November to March any hour is comfortable outdoors, so choose your time by the programme; in October and April the middle of the day is warmer.
Dubai Flea Market: what we could and could not confirm
The Dubai Flea Market is a rotating market of second-hand goods, and it moves between venues. Gulf News's weekend guide, last updated on 15 May 2026, listed it at Discovery Gardens park on 16 May and at Festival Plaza on 17 May, with free entry. That was a spring appearance. We found no schedule for this winter.
Check the organiser's social channels the day before you go, because a venue can change from one weekend to the next. Second-hand stalls are where a polite counter-offer normally works, so bring small notes, look at items closely and test anything electrical before you pay. Carry only what you are willing to take home in a suitcase.
Evening markets: Global Village and the Festive Market
The two clearest evening options this season are Global Village and the Festive Market at Madinat Jumeirah. We found no confirmed night-market schedule beyond these, so we list none.
| Market | Dates | Hours | Entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Global Village, Season 31 | 14 October 2026 to May 2027 | Gates open at 4 PM; closing time differs between reports | AED 25 on weekdays, AED 30 at weekends, per Khaleej Times |
| Madinat Jumeirah Festive Market | 4 to 27 December 2026 | Monday to Thursday from 3 PM until late; Friday to Sunday from noon until late | Free, first come first served |
From Khaleej Times (via our Global Village guide) and the Madinat Jumeirah website. Check the official sites before you go, because dates and prices can change.
Our Global Village Season 31 guide covers tickets and hours in detail, and the Souk Madinat Jumeirah guide covers dinner next to the Festive Market. The 32nd Dubai Shopping Festival runs from 4 December 2026 to 17 January 2027, TradeArabia reported, and adds mall promotions rather than markets. For the festive programme across the city, read Christmas in Dubai.
A week at a glance
The table puts the confirmed markets against the days of the week, for the period when they overlap. Everything marked with a date range needs a check before you go.
| Day | What is on |
|---|---|
| Saturday and Sunday | Ripe Market 9 AM-9 PM (to 2 May 2027); Festive Market from noon until late (4-27 December); Global Village from 4 PM |
| Monday to Thursday | Festive Market from 3 PM until late (4-27 December); Global Village from 4 PM |
| Friday | Festive Market from noon until late (4-27 December); Global Village from 4 PM |
| Weekdays and weekends | Gold, Spice and Textile Souks and Karama Market (shops set their own hours); check the hours of the Waterfront Market in Deira, a food market |
| Not confirmed | Dubai Flea Market and night markets |
The old souks and everyday markets
If your trip misses the weekend, the old souks and Karama Market are not tied to it: they trade on weekdays and weekends, and shops set their own hours. The Gold, Spice and Textile Souks are free to walk. Our Dubai souks guide gives the route, and our haggling guide says where a counter-offer works. Karama Market is the district's souvenir centre; see our Karama guide. The Waterfront Market in Deira is a food market; our Waterfront Market guide has the details.
Our Old Dubai walking tour is a shared group walk of 3-4 hours with an English-speaking local guide, from $35 per person, or $55 with street-food tastings. It goes through Al Fahidi and Al Seef, crosses the Creek by abra and visits the Spice Souk and the Gold Souk. It is not a shopping tour. Full prepayment confirms your place, and cancellation or a date change is free up to 24 hours before the start.
Tips for any market in Dubai
These habits work at the Ripe Market, the flea market, Global Village and the souks:
- Check on the day. Organisers change venues and programmes, and the dates in this guide come from reports we read in September, October and November 2026.
- Carry small notes. Some stalls take cards and some do not, and change for a large note can be slow.
- Bargain where it fits. A counter-offer works at second-hand stalls and in the old souks; at stalls with price tags, ask only if you buy several items.
- Skip copies of famous brands. Selling them is illegal, and your own customs may seize them.
- Dress for the weather. November to March is comfortable at any hour; in October and April bring water and a hat for the day hours.
- Plan the ride home. Global Village empties fast at closing time, so book a car early or leave a little before the end.
FAQ
When is the Ripe Market in Dubai?
Every Saturday and Sunday from 9 AM to 9 PM, from 10 October 2026 to 2 May 2027, at Dubai Police Academy Park in Umm Suqeim, according to Khaleej Times and Gulf News. The reports did not state an entry fee, so check before you go.
Where is the Dubai Flea Market this winter?
We could not confirm a schedule. Gulf News listed it at Discovery Gardens park on 16 May and at Festival Plaza on 17 May, with free entry. The venue changes from weekend to weekend, so check the organiser's channels the day before.
Is there a night market in Dubai?
We found no confirmed night-market schedule. For evening shopping, Global Village opens its gates at 4 PM and runs to May 2027, the Madinat Jumeirah Festive Market runs until late from 4 to 27 December 2026, and the old souks stay open into the evening.
Are Dubai's markets free to enter?
It depends. The Festive Market at Madinat Jumeirah is free, the Flea Market listing we found was free and the souks are free to walk. Global Village costs AED 25 on weekdays and AED 30 at weekends, and we could not confirm a Ripe Market fee.
What happens to the weekend markets in summer?
The outdoor season ends. The Ripe Market's season finishes on 2 May 2027. In May this year Gulf News listed it at a mall venue, Folivana at Art of Living Mall, on 15-17 May, 3-10 PM, with free entry. We found no announcement for next season yet.
Can I haggle at Dubai's weekend markets?
At second-hand stalls and in the old souks a polite counter-offer normally works. At craft stalls with price tags, ask only if you buy several items. Global Village stalls vary, and pavilions with printed tags are fixed.
Ripe Market or Global Village: which should I choose?
Ripe is a daytime weekend market for local, handmade goods, food and children's activities. Global Village is an evening market with pavilions and stalls from many countries, open every day, with a ticket of AED 25 or AED 30. Many visitors do both, on different days.
Recommended Dubai tours for this guide
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
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It is the slow-travel version of the classic safari: more time on the dunes, sunset without the crowds and a full evening programme at a premium camp with air-conditioned tents, unlimited drinks and a large BBQ buffet with vegetarian and gluten-free options. Everything is arranged from the hotel door — a licensed English-speaking driver, the 4x4, the camp and the shows.
- Duration
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- Area
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- Format
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- Best for
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Photos: Global Village, Season 31 — Slayym, CC BY-SA 4.0, Waterfront Market, Deira — Jpbowen, CC BY-SA 4.0, The Old Dubai souks and Karama Market — Radosław Botev, CC BY 3.0 pl (Wikimedia Commons).