Dubai Shopping Festival starts early

Our Correspondent

As the 26th edition of the much-awaited Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) began 10 days’ early this time, COVID-weary residents and visitors can look forward to some retail therapy to lift up their spirits. DSF 2020 is being held from December 17 to January 30, and will see raffle draws, family entertainment, live concerts and, of course, retail promotions.

This year’s DSF will start with a two-day celebration held at Market Outside The Box (MOTB) at Burj Park in Downtown Dubai on December 17-18. It will take place from 8pm to 12am on both days. Ticket rates start from Dh50.

Arabic music superstars Hussain Al Jassmi and Tamer Hosny performed on December 17 at the opening celebration in Burj Park. The show was sold out but was also be aired live on MBC 1 and Wanasah at 8.30 pm. TV presenter Lojain Omran hosted the event.

The DSF Sale Season will see 3,500 outlets offering savings between 25 per cent and 75 per cent. Organisers said that strict COVID-19 safety measures will be in place at participating malls and shopping destinations.

Ahmed Al Khaja, CEO, Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), said: “We are delighted to once again welcome back the DSF. The 26th showcase of the world’s biggest and longest running retail festival will be the perfect celebration of everything Dubai is famous for — unparalleled family fun, shopping and with a COVID safety approach.”

DSF will host the Infiniti Mega Raffle. Raffle tickets priced at Dh200 can be purchased at select ENOC and EPCO petrol stations, Zoom stores and Dubai Metro stations. Shoppers who spend Dh200 at The Gold Souk, Global Village and participating shopping malls will enter a raffle to land an Infiniti QX60 car and Dh200,000 each day.

As many as 45 vehicles will be given away during the DSF, with daily draws taking place at Global Village. One lucky winner will claim Dh500,000 on the final day of DSF. DSF’s Nissan Grand Raffle will give away 45 Nissan vehicles this DSF.

Dubai Gold & Jewellery Group (DGJG) will host a grand raffle from December 17 to January 30 with a total of 25kg of gold to be won. Residents and visitors who buy jewellery at any of the 180 participating DGJG outlets across Dubai can enter the raffle. Shoppers who spend Dh500 on gold jewellery will receive one raffle coupon while customers who purchase diamonds, pearls, or watches worth Dh500 will receive two. Every alternate day during DSF, four winners will share 1kg of gold equally; 3kg gold will be shared by 12 winners as part of a mega prize draw held on the final day of DSF.

DSF Markets will return with a collection of pop-up events taking place at Last Exit Al Khawaneej and Al Seef. There will be at Burj Park, Nakheel Mall, Mall of the Emirates, Dubai Festival City Mall and community markets around the city. The markets will also host weekly fireworks displays.

The DSF Market at Al Khawaneej will stage a series of children’s entertainment themed on ‘Alice in Wonderland’. The opening week will use the theme ‘Through Alice’s Lens’, and families can enjoy daily theatre shows, game shows, musical performances, storytelling sessions and even a Mad Hatter’s tea party. Opening times are Sunday to Wednesday, from 6pm to 12 midnight and Thursday to Saturday, from 4pm to 2am.