Dubai: Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) starts this weekend, with 38 days of exceptional entertainment and unparalleled experiences for everyone, in every corner of the city across 38 action-packed days.  

While teenagers can be some of the hardest people to please, Dubai Shopping Festival organisers, Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), has pulled out all the stops, with a selection of DSF highlights guaranteed to keep young people entertained throughout the festival season. From bungee jumping thrills and massive inflatables, uber-cool pop up and seasonal markets, to roaming entertainment and the Dubai Lights there’s bound to be something to keep any teen entertained this winter, and especially during the school break. 

TAKE IN A DRAMATIC DRONE SHOW 

Teens who love tech won’t want to miss the DSF Drone Show presented by Emarat Petroleum, part of the Dubai Lights line up. From 8 December to 14 January, this nightly awe-inspiring display paints the night sky with cutting-edge drone storytelling displays at 8pm and then 10pm. Presented in collaboration with The Beach, JBR and Bluewaters - with these destinations offering exclusive views, this year’s show features not one, but two all-new displays each night, featuring out-of-this-world displays of artistry. And best of all? It’s completely free.  

ENJOY STREET FOOD, BUNGEE JUMPING AND TRAMPOLINING 

This year, teenagers can look forward to CanteenX, all new for this edition of DSF. Taking place at Mushrif Park from 15 to 31 December, this out-of-this-world event merges food with entertainment, offering teen-friendly activities like inflatables, trampolines, and bungee experiences alongside some of the tastiest street food in town. The unique drive through cinema experience, exclusively for the CanteenX community, features retro English, Bollywood, and Arabic movies, with a one-of-a-kind atmosphere that’s not to be missed.  

WATCH SLAVA’S SNOWSHOW 

Families looking to create special moments together with their teens over the festive season will want to immerse themselves in the mesmerising theatrical masterpiece SLAVA’S SNOWSHOW at the Dubai Opera from 8 to 10 December. A universal and timeless spectacle, which has gained rave reviews and enchanted audiences worldwide since its launch in 1993, SLAVA’S SNOWSHOW  is a magical, one-of-a-kind, must-see show that runs over DSF’s opening weekend.  

VISIT SOLE DXB 2023 FESTIVAL 

Also taking place over DSF opening weekend, from 8 to 10 December, teens will want to grab their friends and explore Sole DXB 2023 at Dubai Design District. Joining the DSF line-up for the first time this season, the region’s coolest lifestyle and street-culture festival is back with a packed schedule of live performances, DJ sets, sports tournaments, talks and workshops. This year, the festival celebrates 50 years of Hip-Hop, and with Busta Rhymes confirmed as the headline act, it’s sure to fill the social media feeds of teens and Gen Zs across the city. 

SUPPORT UP-AND-COMING ARTISTS AT TUNES DXB 

For those young adults who love their music and want to show their appreciation for up-and-coming local artists, Tunes DXB is not to be missed. With in-mall and outdoor performances, featuring renowned social media performers and artists, Tunes DXB runs from 5 to 14 January, with soul-stirring sounds of busker-style musicians and electrifying live performances in venues across the city. It’s the perfect platform to catch the rising local talent of Dubai’s dynamic music scene. 

SHOP AT SEASONAL WINTER MARKETS 

What’s cooler than a winter market? The Bay by Social market at Dubai Festival City Mall will be packed full of special shopping treats, family friendly activities and a huge array of food trucks to tickle those taste buds. Expo City Dubai is another wonder-filled venue gearing up to provide a much-loved Winter Wonderland for teens and their families to enjoy from 8 December until 7 January, complete with artisanal market, live entertainment and dancing images illuminated onto Al Wasl Plaza.  

Another annual family-favourite is the Madinat Jumeirah Festive Market, all set to return for a three week seasonal shopping spree from 15 December. Teens will love spending time browsing the food stalls, shopping for unique items in the market and making the most of the immersive family festivities.  

MAKE A MARK AT ETISALAT MOTB  

And of course the hottest pop-up market in town, Etisalat MOTB, returns this DSF with a curated selection of homegrown F&B and retail vendors, and performances from up-and-coming artists. Running for just 10 days, from 5 to 14 January, at Dubai Design District (d3), Etisalat MOTB is a magnet for teens. It’s the perfect place to hang out with friends, grab a bite to eat, and find those unique items to match each personal sense of style. What’s more, it’s free to enter.  

GET FIT AND HAVE FUN  

Sporty teenagers will want to lace up their shoes and join in the Community Run series, with races spanning 2.5km, 5km, and 10km and get going on their fitness goals. Alternatively, those young people who are open to an even greater fitness challenge can take part in the Dubai Marathon on 7 January, offering distances from a 4km fun run to a challenging 42km course. 

CATCH STUNNING LIGHT INSTALLATIONS 

Dubai Lights returns from 8 December to 14 January, illuminating the city with creative installations. An exciting addition this year is the introduction of the beloved inflatable duo, The Anooki, making their debut in Dubai and lighting up Al Seef, d3, Hatta and Etisalat MOTB. They are sure to win teenage hearts with their planet-positive messaging. Dubai Neon at Al Seef will set 40 abras aglow and see neon installations across the Old Gold Souk, while the beloved Modesh and Dana will bring light to City Centre Mirdif as one of the Dubai Lights locations. Meanwhile, Amazon Wonder at West Beach in Palm Jumeirah will feature breathtaking scenes, including life-size installations of Amazonian parrots and intricate floral artwork, inspired by the world’s largest tropical rainforest. Each installation guarantees an Instaworthy backdrop.  

Dubai Shopping Festival is supported by Key Sponsor Jumbo and Strategic Partners which include: Al Futtaim Malls (Dubai Festival City Mall & Festival Plaza), Al Seef, Al Zarooni Group (Mercato Shopping Mall), AW Rostamani Group, Bluewaters, Citywalk, Emirates Airline, Enoc, Etisalat by e&, Majid Al Futtaim (Mall of the Emirates, City Centre Mirdif, City Centre Deira), Nakheel Malls (Ibn Battuta Mall, Dragon Mart 2, Palm West Beach, Nakheel Mall and The View), The Beach and The Outlet Village. 

Experience exceptional entertainment and adventures for all, every day, in a city like no other, with the 29th edition of Dubai Shopping Festival. Running from 8 December 2023 to 14 January 2024, get set to see the city at its best during the most wonderful time of the year and enjoy Dubai’s perfect winter weather. Adventures are waiting to be discovered in every corner – from enchanting experiences to out of this world entertainment –  each and every day, for 38 days. And of course, Dubai Shopping Festival promises the very best in retail experiences – with sales, discounts, pop-up markets featuring homegrown exclusives, high street favourites, the ultimate in luxury and a variety of retail offerings, with something for everyone.