Dubai is set to host the 31st edition of the Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF). It will be held from December 5, 2025, to January 11, 2026. This event has been part of the Emirati city’s history for almost 30 years. It is a global cultural phenomenon that attracts millions of visitors and turns the city into a place where commerce, creativity, and community intersect.
The opening weekend concerts will be headlined by an international and regional roster of artists, and some of the most popular attractions will return with new and improved features, such as the DSF Drone Show, DSF Auto Season, and Dubai’s favourite outdoor market e& MOTB.
In keeping with the tradition of fireworks at the festival, more than 1,000 drones, including 100 pyro drones, will illuminate the sky, presenting two new shows each night. The event is the sequel to DSF Auto Season, which featured more than 300 experiences that focus on building a community where car enthusiasts can connect, share their passion, and celebrate motoring culture.
The e& MOTB will turn Dubai Design District into an open-air festival hub with 27 new food vendors, 56 retail concepts, and over 100 exclusive products. DSF x Hatta provides family-friendly evenings in Dubai’s natural landscapes with immersive Hatta Lights trails, outdoor concerts, gourmet pop-ups, fireworks displays, and kids’ activities. There will be over 1,000 retailers, with something for every style and taste, and a dynamic gastronomy scene.
Meanwhile, in a statement, Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) reported that the city hosted 9.88 million international overnight visitors between January and June 2025, which is closer to its goal of becoming one of the top three tourism destinations in the world and exceeds the total of 18.72 million visitors in 2024, a 9% year-on-year increase. Average hotel occupancy stood at 80.6%, with 22.24 million room nights sold.