Dubai is pulling out all the stops this year with the city’s biggest-ever celebration for the historic 30th anniversary edition of the iconic Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF), organised by Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE) from 6 December 2024 to 12 January 2025. A jam-packed DSF calendar bursting with iconic and only-in-Dubai citywide experiences was unveiled at a special press preview event held at the Theatre of Digital Arts (TODA), with a spectacular series of awe-inspiring interactive experiences – including Dubai’s first-ever indoor drone show – delivering an incredible close-up preview of DSF’s out-of-this-world experiences set to take over the city this year.

Distinguished speakers at the event included Mohamed Feras, Associate Vice President, Retail & Strategic Alliances – DFRE; Abdalla Al Ameeri, Associate Vice President, Raffles and Retail Promotions, Retail & Strategic Alliances – DFRE; Kaltham Al Shamsi, Assistant Manager, Events Planning, Festivals & Events – DFRE; and Abdulhakim Abdullah, Senior Associate, Retail Events & Festival – DFRE.

The press preview event was headlined by Dubai’s first-ever indoor drone show, pushing the boundaries of aerial entertainment in a never-seen-before fusion of innovative technology, vibrant visuals, and vivid storytelling. Presented by AO Drones, the groundbreaking show captivated attendees with 50 aerial drones equipped with over 200 tiny electric motors and rotors flying in unprecedented proximity to the audience to deliver a mesmerising performance that paid tribute to DSF’s 30th anniversary. The show served as a stunning teaser to DSF’s twice-daily, free-to-watch drone displays, where 1,000 drones will light up the city skies from 6 December 2024 to 12 January 2025.

Attendees experienced the first-ever glimpse of an exclusive light installation specially curated by Alsayegh for the preview event, representing DSF’s one-of-a-kind Dubai Lights interactive installations that will once again transform some of the city’s most iconic destinations into enchanting light districts from 6 December 2024 to 12 January 2025. Audiences witnessed an exclusive first-look at the inaugural DSF Auto Season that brings an exhilarating line-up of diverse automotive experiences to Dubai from 1 to 12 January 2025. Skincare brand Drunk Elephant joined the line-up of immersive experiences at the event, with an interactive activation surprising and delighting all attendees.

To help visitors navigate through the endless excitement of this year’s festival, the preview event also saw the launch of 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.

The historic 30th edition of DSF will be nothing short of extraordinary — a monumental citywide celebration bringing unforgettable, joy-filled moments for everyone, every day, in every corner of Dubai. Every experience will aim to immerse visitors deeper into the epic 30th-anniversary celebrations, making this year’s DSF truly unforgettable with a jam-packed calendar of exhilarating A-list concerts, irresistible shopping deals, incredible raffles, free daily fireworks and twice-daily drone shows, world-class gastronomy, and all-round iconic and out-of-this-world citywide experiences. This milestone edition of DSF is designed to captivate and inspire for 38 days, offering an awe-inspiring, vibrant tribute to three decades of showcasing Dubai’s finest offerings to the world.

Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) is supported by key sponsors Visa and Dubai Islamic Bank, and strategic partners which include Al Futtaim Malls (Dubai Festival City Mall and Dubai Festival Plaza), Al Zarooni Group (Mercato Shopping Mall), AW Rostamani Group, City Walk, Emirates Airline, ENOC, e&, talabat, and The Beach by JBR.

For more information, visit @DubaiFestivals on social media and the Dubai Shopping Festival website.