Shopping in Dubai is broadly classified into two main categories-the old souks and the Dubai souk in Deira and Bur Dubai, and the flamboyant, vivid malls around Beniyas Square, Al-Rigga and Al-Hiyafa Road. With new malls and shops sprouting up every year Dubai offers world class shopping experience.

Nevertheless souks in Dubai provide you the real taste of Dubai. The souks offer superb shopping experience with an aura of Dubai’s tradition. If this is not enough shopping festivals in Dubai surely are breathtaking. These festivals usually start in January and attract millions of visitors to Dubai from across the world every year. These festivals add to the glory of the city, and offer colossal discounts on merchandise as well as great deals on air fares and hotels.

With over 2300 retail outlets participating, Shopping, Winning and Family entertainment becomes the main focus of these festivals. Dubai shopping festival began in February 1996 which was mainly a retail event at that time to promote trade. But now it has changed altogether and has become an entertainment extravaganza.

Tourism sector benefits the most from these festivals. Every year various hotels, travel agencies participate in the process of promoting the festival. The festival which is inspired by the theme One World, One family, One Festival surely lives up to it. Various high end brands like Pepsi and Visa and Emirates Airlines sponsor the festival.
Several events like international fashion shows, street side performances, nightly fireworks, film festivals, children's events and many other cultural events take place throughout the festival, reflecting true colors of this economy. In addition to all these Dubai World Cup also takes place during the festival, and with an astounding US$ 12 million investment making it the richest horse race in the world.