Dubai Shopping Festival 2026–27 runs from Friday 4 December 2026 to Sunday 17 January 2027, according to Visit Dubai, the official tourism site of Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism (DET). That is 45 days across the city, including Christmas and New Year. To stay for a month or for the whole festival, one continuous booking in a monthly apartment is the simplest way to do it.
Staying less than a month? Apartments on HotelApartments.com are listed for stays of 30 nights or more. For a shorter stay during the festival, send us an enquiry with your dates and number of guests and we will check with the properties. Short stays depend on availability.
When is Dubai Shopping Festival 2026–27?
- Dates: Friday 4 December 2026 to Sunday 17 January 2027.
- Length: 45 days.
- Where: across the city. Visit Dubai lists the location as "Citywide".
- Programme: on 26 October 2026, the Visit Dubai page listed the dates but not yet the events, so check it again before you plan activities.
The festival covers the last four weeks of 2026 and the first 17 days of 2027, so a 30-night stay can take in Christmas and New Year plus either the opening or the closing weeks.
How long should you stay for DSF?
| Stay | Check in | Check out | Nights | What it covers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The first month | Fri 4 December 2026 | Sun 3 January 2027 | 30 | The opening weekend, Christmas and New Year |
| New Year to the finale | Fri 18 December 2026 | Sun 17 January 2027 | 30 | Christmas, New Year and the final days |
| The whole festival | Fri 4 December 2026 | Mon 18 January 2027 | 45 | Every day of the festival |
The Tourism Dirham stops after 30 consecutive nights. DET's Administrative Resolution No. 2 of 2020 charges it per room per night at hotel apartments and holiday homes for a maximum of 30 consecutive nights, so a 45-night stay pays it for 30 nights. Book the whole stay as one reservation: checking out restarts the count, while moving to another room in the same building does not.
The UAE government portal puts the fee at AED 7 to 20 per room per night, depending on the category of the property, and the DET resolution charges it for each bedroom of a unit with more than one. In May 2026 Dubai also approved a temporary exemption from collecting the Tourism Dirham, with no end date published yet (Dubai Media Office), so ask whether it will be charged on your booking.
Where to stay for Dubai Shopping Festival 2026–27
DSF runs across the city, so choose a base near the malls and neighbourhoods you will use most, with a metro or tram stop close by if you will not have a car. These are the areas where we list monthly apartments close to major shopping:
| Area | Shopping nearby | Metro or tram | 1-bedroom median (AED a month) | Units we list |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Downtown Dubai | The Dubai Mall | Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall (Red Line) | 15,800 (5 units) | 13 |
| Business Bay | The Dubai Mall, one Red Line stop away | Business Bay (Red Line) | 16,000 (13 units) | 30 |
| Al Barsha | Mall of the Emirates | Mall of the Emirates (Red Line) | 6,700 (11 units) | 26 |
| Deira | City Centre Deira | City Centre Deira (Red Line) | 13,750 (20 units) | 49 |
| Festival City | Dubai Festival City Mall | Not on the metro | 12,800 (5 units) | 9 |
| Dubai Marina | Dubai Marina Mall | Sobha Realty and DMCC (Red Line); Dubai Tram | 17,000 (24 units) | 65 |
| JBR | The Beach and The Walk | Dubai Tram: Jumeirah Beach Residence 1 and 2 | 9,000 (7 units) | 31 |
Medians are monthly asking prices for one-bedroom units on HotelApartments.com on 26 October 2026, with the number of units in brackets. Station and stop names are from the RTA's current rail network map.
Downtown and Business Bay: for The Dubai Mall
Downtown Dubai has 13 units on our site, and its own Red Line station, Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall. Business Bay has 30, one Red Line stop away, with a studio median of AED 9,100 (8 units). Ask whether a supplement applies to the nights you book, especially over New Year.
Al Barsha: Mall of the Emirates on a budget
Al Barsha has the lowest one-bedroom median of these areas, AED 6,700 a month (11 units), and the Mall of the Emirates station on the Red Line. Nearby Barsha Heights has a one-bedroom median of AED 7,000 (11 units).
Deira and Festival City: by Dubai Creek
Deira has the second-largest choice of these areas on our site after Dubai Marina, with 49 units, a one-bedroom median of AED 13,750 (20 units) and City Centre Deira station on the Red Line. Festival City has 9 units around Dubai Festival City Mall, with a one-bedroom median of AED 12,800 (5 units), but it is not on the metro.
Dubai Marina and JBR: malls and the beach
Dubai Marina has the most choice, with 65 units, Dubai Marina Mall on the tram line and two Red Line stations. JBR has 31 units by the beach, on the tram. For prices by bedroom in both, and in Business Bay, see Dubai Marina vs JBR vs Business Bay.
What a month costs during the festival
The medians above are asking prices for a 30-night stay. Over the festival, check three things before you pay:
- Event supplements. Of our 458 Dubai listings, 409 say an event supplement can apply during major events and exhibitions. Two studio listings at Avani Palm View Dubai Hotel and Suites, in Dubai Media City, add AED 2,000 on top for December.
- VAT. Hotel apartments are subject to 5% VAT. Ask whether the quoted price includes it.
- The Tourism Dirham. Charged for the first 30 consecutive nights only, as above.
The festival runs through New Year: ask whether a supplement applies to the nights you book.
For the full breakdown of a monthly price, including deposits, see how much a hotel apartment costs per month in Dubai. If you are deciding between a hotel apartment and a holiday home for the festival, our guide to hotel apartments, serviced apartments and holiday homes compares the rules for each.
Tips for booking a stay over the festival
- Enquire early if your dates are fixed. The festival includes Christmas and New Year, and some properties set supplements for those nights.
- Arrive by 4 December if you want the opening weekend.
- Families: across Dubai, the median monthly asking price is AED 15,000 for two bedrooms (112 units) and AED 24,000 for three bedrooms or more (54 units).
- Bring your passport or Emirates ID. Under our reservation terms, guests show either in the original at check-in.
- Book the length you will use. Under our reservation terms, unused nights are not refunded if you leave early.
Browse monthly hotel apartments in Dubai for your festival dates, or send us your dates and we will check availability and the full price.
Frequently asked questions
When does Dubai Shopping Festival 2026 start?
Dubai Shopping Festival 2026–27 starts on Friday 4 December 2026, according to Visit Dubai, the official tourism site of Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism. It runs until Sunday 17 January 2027, 45 days in all, and covers Christmas and New Year.
When does DSF 2026–27 end?
On Sunday 17 January 2027. To stay for the whole festival from the first day, check in on 4 December and check out on 18 January: that is 45 nights, and it works as one booking with a monthly apartment.
Where is the Dubai Shopping Festival held?
Across the city: Visit Dubai lists the location as citywide. Choose an area by the malls and neighbourhoods you will use most, and by metro or tram access if you will not drive. Downtown, Al Barsha, Deira and Dubai Marina all have a large mall and a Red Line station.
Can I book an apartment for the whole Dubai Shopping Festival?
Yes. Our listings are for 30 nights or more, so a 45-night stay from 4 December 2026 to 18 January 2027 works as one booking. Keeping it as one continuous booking also limits the Tourism Dirham to the first 30 nights.
Is the Tourism Dirham charged for every night of a long stay?
No. Under DET's Administrative Resolution No. 2 of 2020, it is charged per room per night at hotel apartments and holiday homes for a maximum of 30 consecutive nights. A 45-night stay pays it for 30 nights, as long as you do not check out in between.
Which area is best to stay in for DSF?
It depends on where you will shop and how you will travel. Al Barsha is the budget choice near Mall of the Emirates (one-bedroom median AED 6,700 a month); Downtown and Business Bay are closest to The Dubai Mall; Dubai Marina and Deira have the most units; Dubai Marina and JBR add the beach.
Can I stay for less than a month during DSF?
Our listings are for stays of 30 nights or more. For a shorter stay, send us an enquiry with your dates and the number of guests and we will check with the properties. Short stays depend on availability, especially around New Year.
Sources
- Visit Dubai: Dubai Shopping Festival (dates and location, read on 26 October 2026)
- Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism: Administrative Resolution No. 2 of 2020 on the Tourism Dirham (Articles 1 to 3)
- UAE government portal: Other taxes (Tourism Dirham of AED 7 to 20 per room per night)
- Roads and Transport Authority: Dubai Rail Network map (station and stop names)
- Federal Tax Authority: Real Estate VAT Guide (VATGRE1)
- HotelApartments.com: Dubai listings (asking prices, minimum stays and supplement terms) and reservation terms, read on 26 October 2026
Prices and facts checked on 26 October 2026.
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