Dubai Shopping Festival in short

When

6 December 2026 to 13 January 2027 (expected, not yet confirmed by the organiser)

Where

Malls and souks across Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Free time

The main event takes a day or an evening; plan the other days around day trips.

Best base

Downtown and Business Bay: Near the Burj and malls.

Getting there

Dubai International (DXB) is on the metro red line; downtown is 20 minutes away.

Weather

In December and January, Dubai temperatures average about 22°C, with roughly 17 mm of rain in the month. Expect about 10 h 37 min of daylight.

Top things to do

Burj Khalifa At the Top; Old Dubai and souks walking tour; Museum of the Future

Weather during Dubai Shopping Festival

In December and January, Dubai temperatures average about 22°C, with roughly 17 mm of rain in the month. Expect about 10 h 37 min of daylight.

What to pack

• Comfortable shoes for crowds, and keep valuables in a front pocket.

Monthly averages for 2001 to 2025 from NASA POWER. Check the forecast a few days before you travel.

Airport to Malls and souks across Dubai

Dubai International (DXB) is on the metro red line; downtown is 20 minutes away. Dubai World Central (DWC) serves the airshow site.

Metro to the big malls.

Public transport directions to Malls and souks across Dubai

Where to stay by budget

Three hotels we would book

• Budget: Rove Downtown
• Mid-range: Vida Downtown
• Splurge: Atlantis The Palm

Links search the nights from 5 December to 14 January. Event weekends sell out early and prices rise as the date gets closer: book a cancellable room as soon as you know you are going.

Day plans for the free hours

Built around the usual visit schedule for 6 December 2026 to 13 January 2027. Session times change: check the official timetable and move the blocks around.

Family-friendly picks

• Dubai Aquarium.
• IMG Worlds of Adventure.

Evening and day-trip tours

After dark

• Dubai Marina and DIFC.

7 tours worth booking for Dubai Shopping Festival

Event weeks sell out. Book tours with free cancellation as soon as the session times are published.

Where to eat

• Al Ustad Special Kebab Persian kebabs since 1978
• Ravi Restaurant Pakistani in Satwa
• Time Out Market Dubai Food hall
• Arabian Tea House Emirati breakfast in Al Fahidi

Reserve dinner for the nights around the event: restaurants near the venue fill up days ahead.

Rainy-day backups

• Dubai Mall.
• Etihad Museum.

Getting around on event days

• Metro red and green lines; Nol card. Dubai World Trade Centre has its own metro stop.
• Uber and Careem work across the Gulf and are the easiest way around.
• Dress modestly in malls, souks and religious sites; beach clubs and hotels are relaxed.
• Check current travel advisories for the region before travelling and keep bookings flexible.

Day trips from Dubai

• Abu Dhabi: 1 hour 15 minutes
• Hatta: 1.5 hours

Organiser of Dubai Shopping Festival? Add this guide to your website.

Questions people ask

How we put this guide together: dates come from the organiser's published calendar or, when not yet announced, from the event's usual pattern; weather from NASA POWER monthly averages 2001 to 2025; venue access and city tips from our own research. Last checked 2 November 2026. How we research.

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