Dubai to light up with the start of shopping festival on December 8 stuffed with entertainment and excitement

When Dubai's shopping extravaganza kicks off on December 8, it will come to life with everything from drone performances to luminous installations. Of course, there will be lottery draws, retail specials, and promotions throughout the 38-day Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF), but there's much more to this festival than simply shopping and huge prizes.

The 29th edition of the festival, which runs from December 8 to January 14, will include pop-up marketplaces, culinary experiences, art installations, and athletic competitions.

Dubai Lights, as the name implies, is a free public art exhibition that showcases lighting displays.

Al Seef and d3 will be illuminated by Anooki, the inflatable figures. The characters were designed by Moetu Batlle and David Passegand, two French designers, and serve as environmental ambassadors.

Neon world: Visitors may meander around the neon-adorned bazaar in the former Gold Souk.

Walking lights: Inspired by the biggest tropical rainforest in the world, the West Beach of Palm Jumeirah will have walking sceneries with live-size exhibits of Amazonian parrots, elaborate floral artwork, and more.

Journey of lights: As part of the celebration, some 40 of Dubai's abras, or traditional boats, will flash neon green, illuminating the Creek.

The promoters claim that this year's drone display will be the "most sensational" that DSF has ever had. Twice every evening between December 10 and January 14, more than 800 drones will light up the sky over Bluewaters. At 8:00 and 10:00 p.m., the dancing drones will take to the skies to tell two tales: one about the Pearl's significance to Dubai and the other about an Emirati space researcher who discovers a doorway that transports him to the future.

Win cars, cash, and gold

• IDEALZ DSF grand prize is Dh2 million.
• With DSF mega raffle, winners get a brand-new Nissan Patrol V6.
• Dubai Jewellery Group raffle - 300 shoppers to win a total of 25kg gold 
• Shop, spin, and win up to Dh1 Million with the digital raffle promotion by Dubai Shopping Malls Group.

City Walk will be hosting the Dubai Police Carnival from January 4-8, where guests may see an amazing array of vehicles, and from December 15–24, City Walk will host the Emirates Classic Vehicles Festival, which will transport guests back in time.