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The Dubai Shopping Festival is the largest shopping festival in the world. It has phenomenal deals on brands that go from couture to high street to flea markets. If you are an avid shopper, this is a great time to visit Dubai. Make it a trip with your family or friends and have a wonderful time. Here are some tips on how to begin preparing for the shopping bonanza that is the Dubai Shopping festival.
Book Early
Do remember that world comes down for the Dubai Shopping Festival so book your hotels and entertainment passes early. This includes flight tickets too. The Dubai Shopping Festival is a heady carnival. So, you might get carried away and end up with four handbags instead of the one you’d originally planned.
Tip: Travel light on your way in. In fact, travel very light so you all have room for your shopping.
Be Organised
Make a list. The Dubai Shopping Festival has anything and everything, so a ready reckoner is handy. Remember, go to the hyper markets or flea markets for gifting and the big malls for yourself and family.
If you’re here only for the Dubai Shopping Festival and want to focus only on that, cut down on other expenses. Get your meals street-side like the 2nd December street or at budget food joints in the mall.
Another great saver for the Dubai Shopping Festival is to take the metro. The taxis are comfortable, and the drivers are courteous. But they’re expensive. As a compromise, you can take the metro in and taxi on your way out.
Some Tips and Tricks
Here’s a great hack for making the most of the Dubai Shopping Festival. Come early. You’re likely to find the malls less crowded and get the best deals.
One more way of making the most out of the Dubai Shopping Festival is to go by malls not brands. For example, we would say, go to the Dubai mall first where the world’s best brands are, to find the deals you want. Then go to the smaller malls where local brands or smaller brands are.
Also, buy something local. Everyone will walk away with a designer bag but not all of them will take an exquisite kilim home at 75% off!
Another smart trick is to dress in layers. That way, you can try clothes on without standing in the endless queues for changing rooms.
Do your research while you are home, so you will know exactly where to head and for what.
Dubai Shopping Festival 2022 Dates
The Dubai Shopping Festival 2022 will start on the 15th December 2022 and go on up to 29th January 2023. So, you have plenty of time to plan ahead.
Have your visa, flight tickets and hotel reservations confirmed before you head out to the Dubai Shopping Festival 2022:
Here are some of the things to buy at the Dubai Shopping Festival:
Electronics: This is your time to buy or upgrade your devices at superb discounted prices. You’ll be spoilt for choice as all the world’s top electronics brands will be available for ridiculously low prices.
Perfumes: All your favourite perfume brands are available at duty-free rates.
Watches: The watches you thought were stuff of your dreams are all available at discounted prices. Now’s the time to buy them.
Tip: This is your chance to buy one great watch that you can wear for life and maybe pass on as an heirloom. Buy one really good watch instead of five okay ones.
Gold: Dubai is famous for its gold – not only the prices, but the sheer range and intricacy of design.
Tip: Go only to the Gold Souk to buy your gold. There’s more than enough to choose from.
Gadgets: This is a tax-free land so buy your favourite gadget here. The prices won’t be lower anywhere else.
Tip: Don’t buy cumbersome things like a washing machine. Going up to a TV is okay. Also, buy a global brand so it can be easily serviced back home.
Clothes: Everything from Topshop to Burberry, Hugo Boss to Brooks Brothers is here – and it’s all marked down for the Dubai Shopping Festival.
Tip: Instead of the usual, opt for the fresher, newer looks from lesser-known brands.
Home Decor: Head to the Carpet Oasis (at various locations) for discounted carpets, kilims or rugs, and even antiques at discounted prices. Take a trip to the IKEA store at the Al Rebat road at Dubai Festival City for some sleek, ultra-modern furniture.
Personal Care: You can get all brands from Bath & Bodyworks to La Prairie, so pick and choose.
Cosmetics: From Bobbi Brown to Guerlain, they are all within your reach now, thanks to the DSF.
Shoes & Bags: Jimmy Choo and Christian Loboutin will vie for your attention at great prices. You now have a chance to own a bag that makes its own statement wherever you go.
The Dubai Shopping Festival 2022 will be incomplete without Dubai’s signature larger-than-life aura. Expect grand fireworks displays, celebrity performances, live music, food tastings and let’s not forget the Raffle. The Raffle has prizes like SUVs and gold and people really do win, so do register!
All in all, this giant dose of retail therapy at jaw dropping prices brings the world together and lights up the city in a way that you couldn’t have imagined. Pick a SOTC Dubai tour that will take you around this wonderful mega-city at the peak of the Dubai Shopping Festival.
