DSF’s opening weekend dazzles with spectacular sky displays and more

The iconic annual Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) took citywide celebrations to dazzling new heights this weekend with a sensational start to the festival’s greatest, most phenomenal, and uniquely out-of-this-world 30th anniversary edition.

An exhilarating line-up of world-class entertainment, awe-inspiring adventures, and unforgettable experiences brought together the entire emirate like never before, setting the stage for the most extraordinary season ever in the festival’s incredible history. An action-packed calendar brimming with non-stop, day-in-day-out, fun-filled moments will continue for everyone, every day, in every corner of the city until 12 January 2025.

The highly anticipated 321 Festival made its grand return this weekend, taking over Coca-Cola Arena and City Walk with a dazzling array of entertainment and activities. Featuring a star-studded line-up of concerts and vibrant carnival-themed celebrations, the festival brought the city to life with exciting family-friendly activities, captivating performances, and an atmosphere buzzing with joy and celebration. On opening night, Arabic musical legends Georges Wassouf and Kadim Al Sahir delivered unforgettable performances, marking the beginning of this milestone season. The excitement continued on 8 December with the mesmerising Coke Studio Live, featuring the best of South Asian music. Complementing the concerts, City Walk turned into a hub of family-friendly fun with carnival-themed activities, workshops, and street performances.

Dubai skies sparkled with breathtaking displays as dazzling fireworks lit up the night above Dubai Festival City Mall every night of the opening weekend, presented by Al Zarooni Group, as well as on Friday and Saturday in Hatta. Adding to the spectacle, the twice-daily brand-new drone shows at Bluewaters Island and The Beach, JBR, mesmerised audiences with their intricate choreography of the longest show in DSF history, featuring 1,000 drones painting the sky with vibrant imagery. These stunning displays will continue to enchant visitors every single night, non-stop throughout the DSF season until 12 January 2025.

Dubai also transformed into an enchanting, luminous wonderland with the captivating Dubai Lights installations that took over iconic locations throughout the city. Each installation celebrates the five elements that connect people: Energy, Water, Air, Fire, and Connection. Visitors can explore the stunning displays at Bluewaters Island,   Al Seef, Dubai Design District, Al Marmoom, Kite Beach, Hatta,

The opening weekend of DSF also marked the launch of the first-ever DSF Nights at Dubai Festival City Mall presented by talabat, offering a variety of daily family-friendly entertainment. The festivities kicked off with thrilling live performances by Ahmed Saad on 6 December and Shamma Hamdan on 7 December, as part of free-to-attend Saturday night concerts that will continue every week and can be booked through the Blue Rewards app. Audiences were also treated to two new spectacular IMAGINE shows twice daily, followed by dazzling fireworks lighting up the night sky. DSF Nights will be running every day for the remainder of DSF until 12 December, with concerts every Saturday night and live X Factor shows every Sunday night.

On Sunday night, the renowned X Factor, in partnership with Dubai TV and DSF, took over Festival Bay to showcase aspiring regional talents before celebrity judges Ragheb Alama, Rahma Riad, and Fayez Alsaeed. This thrilling competition to crown the next superstar will continue every Sunday night at 10:30pm until the epic finale on the 12 December.

What’s more; DSF x Hatta offered nature lovers and thrill-seekers an unforgettable escape for the opening weekend. The scenic destination will continue blending outdoor entertainment with family-friendly activities and dazzling fireworks every Friday and Saturday at 8pm. Adventurers can enjoy exhilarating pursuits like mountain biking and hiking, while finding tranquility amidst Hatta’s stunning landscapes. Food enthusiasts can savour a variety of culinary delights, while automotive fans can take part in exclusive Nissan test drives to navigate Hatta’s rugged terrain in style.

The highly anticipated DSF shopping season began with vibrant mall experiences and exclusive promotions taking over every corner of the city. Adding to the magic of DSF’s opening weekend, the DSF Amber Millionaire offered an unparalleled opportunity for 30 Amber Members to win one million Amber points each (equivalent to AED 10,000). Shoppers also began taking advantage of many more rewards and life-changing prizes, such as the DIB Visa Millionaire promotion which brings incredible opportunity to win an incredible prize of one million dirhams when using a Dubai Islamic Bank Visa Debit or Credit Card on a spend of over AED 500 at participating DSF stores. Tickit members who linked their Visa or MasterCard Debit or Credit Cards could also start entering into a draw to become one of 30 DSF Golden Tickit winners, each receiving AED 10,000.

With the opening weekend setting the tone for an epic DSF season ahead, get ready to explore the city’s greatest-ever experiences spanning world-class live entertainment, iconic unique-to-Dubai attractions, exceptional hospitality, a thriving gastronomy scene, wonderful cultural moments, and stunning natural landscapes – promising unforgettable moments for everyone.

Visitors can navigate through the endless excitement of this year’s festival with the all-new digital DSF Map, an interactive online guide to explore all of the season’s iconic and only-in-Dubai experiences, festival favourites, ever-popular signature events, and brand-new additions waiting to be discovered across the city. The dynamic tool has been specially designed to help users plan a seamless DSF journey across the city with just the click of a button.

Dubai Shopping Festival is supported by Key Partner VISA Dubai Islamic Bank and Strategic Partners which include: Al Futtaim Malls (Dubai Festival City Mall & Festival Plaza), Al Zarooni Group (Mercato Shopping Mall), AW Rostamani Group, DHAM (Al Seef, Bluewaters, Ibn Battuta Mall, Nakheel Mall and The Outlet Village), Emirates Airline, ENOC, e&, Majid Al Futtaim (Mall of the Emirates, City Centre Mirdif, City Centre Deira), Merex Investment (City Walk and The Beach, JBR), and talabat.

For more information, visit the Dubai Shopping Festival website and follow @DubaiFestivals on Instagram and TikTok.

Image Credit: DSF