Hotels near Dubai Festival City

The Dubai Shopping Festival returns for its 32nd edition from 4 December 2026 to 17 January 2027, with 45 days of discounts, raffles, concerts and fireworks across the city. Dubai Festival City, on the eastern bank of Dubai Creek, is one of its best evening venues. The waterfront promenade outside the mall hosts IMAGINE, a free show that combines fountains, lasers, projections and fireworks over the water.

Shows usually run every evening, with extra performances at weekends and during the festival. The mall has around 400 shops, and during DSF many offer discounts of 25-75%, alongside prize draws. The creekside restaurants and terraces face the water show, which makes it a relaxed alternative to the crowds in Downtown Dubai.

Pro Tip: Check the IMAGINE schedule on the day, then take a terrace table on the promenade about 30 minutes before showtime for an unobstructed view.