Dubai: Prepare to be awe-inspired as the annual Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) presents its most sensational DSF Drone Show yet.  

Every evening until 14 January 2024, Dubai’s skyline will be illuminated by an extraordinary display of 800 drones soaring hundreds of metres above, creating a breathtaking spectacle in the night sky. Presented by Emarat Petroleum in collaboration with The Beach, JBR, and Bluewaters, this year's free to attend drone show features two all-new displays, taking viewers on a magical journey through Dubai's story, weaving an enchanting narrative of its humble beginnings to the exhilarating promise the city’s future holds. Creating a symphony of colours and shapes, the drones take flight from DSF Drone Show’s new partner - Skydive Dubai. 

Promising an unforgettable experience, countless hours have been put into the programming and preparations to ensure tens of thousands of shoppers witness the magic and marvel at the boundless possibilities of Dubai's future with this captivating aerial showcase. 

Kaltham Alshamsi, Senior Associate, Events Planning, Festivals & Events, at DFRE, explains that, as soon as one DSF ends, planning for the next one begins, with the 2024 team spending almost 11 months planning and executing the 38-day spectacle. The most exciting element was adding hundreds of extra drones to this year’s event – up from 500 drones last year, and 300 from when the drone show was first introduced to the DSF calendar four years ago. “We really wanted to enhance the experience for visitors this year by adding a significant quantity of additional drones to narrate the story to a completely new awe-inspiring level,” she said. “People will definitely notice an elevated experience this year.” 

In a captivating union, both shows this year are intertwined by a compelling narrative that unfolds the story of Dubai's rich history. It begins with the significance of pearls, which played a pivotal role in the prosperity of the emirate and wider UAE. Seamlessly transitioning, the drone shows paint a vivid picture of Dubai's ambitious future, showcasing a world of electric and flying cars and flourishing international trade. Adding an extra layer of magic, renowned animator and storyteller Mohammed Saeed Harib, has collaborated to bring his artistic expertise to the first drone show. His contribution has helped shape a "fairytale" theme that beautifully captures Emirati culture and Dubai's humble origins as a nation rooted in pearl diving.  

Prepare to be enthralled as the DSF Drone Show transports you through time, weaving together the captivating history of Dubai and the boundless possibilities of its future, all illuminated by the mesmerising dance of 800 drones in the night sky. “We wanted that Emirati touch to the show, in terms of telling the story of Dubai purely from an Emirati eye,” said Alshamsi. “The team, together with Harib, brainstormed narratives for this year’s show, where we decided on an Arab saying that translates to ‘Dubai is the pearl of the world’”. This, said Alshamsi, became the launch pad on which the elaborate and magical storyline set to enchant audiences this DSF was built. The idea was to depict Dubai’s humble beginnings – from its pearl diving history – and how glistening precious pearls helped it become the prosperous city it is today.  

This year’s Dubai Drone Show would not have been complete without weaving in one of the city’s biggest achievements in 2023; the UAE’s historic space mission which saw Emirati astronaut Dr. Sultan Al Neyadi complete the Arab world’s longest mission – six months – onboard the International Space Station (ISS) and become the first Emirati to achieve a history-book making spacewalk. Space became an integral part of fusing both story lines together, said Alshamsi. “Every year we seek touch upon the future aspirations of the vision of Dubai. Last year we looked at the vision of 2040 and how Dubai will look in that year. This year we wanted to tell the Emirati story in a mythical, magical fairytale way. So, we thought, of course, we must have a space explorer! The space explorer goes into a portal which takes him into the future,” she explained, giving a sneak preview of this year’s show. “This space explorer then arrives at the final destination to show the Emirati emblem – which is the falcon.” 

With the help of cutting-edge technology, the audience is catapulted into the heart of the story and becomes at one within the 3D light show. “The falcon then takes us on a journey into the future, with all the different elements we can expect to see there – this is a glimpse of how Dubai will look in the future. From electric and flying cars, to trade and sustainability, viewers will be taken on a journey through the possibilities of Dubai’s  future,” said Alshamsi. “These two stories are the opposite of each other as one is showing the audience how the story of Dubai started, and the second shows the possibilities of where Dubai will be in the future.” 

Alshamsi added,” The vision of the leadership of Dubai in shaping the city’s future - being at the cutting edge of technology, commerce, industry and culture, is something that everyone in the city is immensely proud of. This is true whether we are Emiratis or from one of the 200 nationalities who call Dubai home. With these two shows, we wanted to craft stories that capture the excitement and inspiration of Dubai - the city where anything is possible - while also sharing the story of our humble origins, our culture and heritage. Together, these are the things that make us who we are. With two distinct visual narratives, we believe we have found that balance.” 

One of the most complex aspects of the 2024 Dubai Drone Show has been planning for an unprecedented number of aerial vehicles to take to the night sky. “The number of drones has almost tripled in four years,” said Alshamsi. “And you are not just seeing shapes and displays in the sky. You are seeing a story told in 3D. You are seeing history and the future. It is relatable. This is the essence of Dubai; there is a story behind everything.” 

The technical team at SKYMAGIC Drone Shows, who have worked hand-in-hand with DSF organisers to bring this year’s drone show to life, said Dubai residents and visitors are in for a sight to behold this year. As a cartoonist, animator, and storyteller, Mohammed Saeed Harib has an impressive catalogue of work, ranging from action movies and animated series, to creating not only Freej but also the EXPO 2023 Dubai mascots. Despite this, he had yet to work with drones and so when he was approached by DSF and Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) to be a key creative force this year, he was “very excited” to challenge himself and bring his storytelling expertise to Dubai’s skies. While a narrative was already decided, Mohammed got to draw from his own family's history as part of the animation process. “I come from a seafaring heritage; my grandfather was a sailor, and his father before him was a pearl diver. So, it was great to tell a story about how Dubai started from humble beginnings and about the sleepy city and how these connections took us where we are now - rising to reach the stars.”  

Mohammed also took his inspiration from Dubai’s rich and diverse mix of cultures. “We are a nation built not only on one nationality but on more than 200 – we have prospered together,” he explained. “We have all worked together to create something beautiful – this has been Dubai’s mantra from the beginning. We have built on that; from humble beginnings but with strong determination to better the prospects of not only the people from this country, but all the people who live here. Dubai was not an oasis or farming district, we were a city which prided itself on its pearl diving activities, with the Dubai Creek being an important waterway which has helped grow our trade with determination while brushing shoulders with other cultures. And, from this, we grew and matured to the story Dubai is today.” 

Talking logistics, Dyfan Rhys, Project Manager, SKYMAGIC said: “With 800 drones, this is the biggest drone show I have ever done, and it is up there with one of the best in the world, so the residents and visitors of Dubai are very lucky indeed. It is a very, very proud moment.” 

About the process, he said: “The creative team worked very hard with the client to understand what they needed – what images and creativity they wanted to present in the show – and then passed it over to us, the technical team who brought the show together, got it ready and then handed it over to the project team on-ground.” 

More on logistics, Rhys said, with this years’ launchpad being from SkyDive Dubai, the team have worked to create a showbox – where the drones will launch – which is vast;  500 metres by 300 metres – with four pilots simultaneously operating the vast number of aerial vehicles which have a capacity to fly up to 300 meters in altitude. Dozens of team managers have been on ground weeks before the grand opening night on 8 December 2023, rehearsing and practising to ensure the nightly show goes without a hitch. Using the biggest number of drones used in DSF’s history – 800, simultaneously flying 800 metres to where the show will light up the city’s skyline – could have been perceived as challenge, but he said everyone worked “extremely hard” to pull off what, he says, will be “an incredibly successful event”.  

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.