Every year, the Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) transforms the emirate into a shopping paradise—an epic celebration of bargains, glamor, and excitement. Among the many phases of DSF, the clearance sale period is the most magnetic for value seekers looking for massive markdowns across fashion, electronics, homeware, and more.

This guide dives deep into the history of DSF, insider shopping strategies for mall and online deals, and a special look at standout retailers like Sharaf DG, Jumbo, Carrefour, ACE, and V Perfumes—highlighting how GC Coupons users can pair DSF discounts with verified coupon codes to maximize savings.

🏁 Origins & Legacy: A Brief DSF History

  • The first edition of DSF took place in 1996, making 2025 its 30th edition—a remarkable milestone in UAE retail culture.

  • Originally launched to promote trade and tourism, DSF has expanded into a six-week mega festival across malls, souks, and online platforms.

  • Over the years, DSF has added fireworks, concerts, raffles, and city-wide entertainment—but its core remains retail discounts.

📅 DSF 2025 Dates & Schedule

  • Official DSF 2025 Dates: January 3 – February 7, 2025

  • Clearance Sales Phase: Typically begins mid-January, running until end-of-DSF.

  • Many retailers and malls have “anniversary” or second-wave sales timed around January 25–30, offering the steepest final markdowns.

Why DSF Clearance Sales Are Prime Shopping Time

1. Deep Discounts Across Categories

Brands often offer discounts of 50–90% on clearance racks, seasonal overstock, or RS (remove shipping) items.

2. Zero Delivery Fees for Mall Pick-Up

Even if shoppers order online, they can opt for “store pick-up” during DSF to avoid delivery charges.

3. Combined Promotions

Many retailers participate in “sale + coupon stacking opportunities, allowing savvy buyers to pair clearance markdowns with coupon codes and loyalty points.

4. In-Person Perks

At malls you’ll see live demonstrations, limited-time redemption desks, augmented reality mirrors, and DSF-exclusive freebies.

🛍️ Top Malls for DSF Clearance Shopping

The Dubai Mall

  • Home to international brands offering clearance at Level Shoes, Galeries Lafayette, Bloomingdale’s, H&M, and Zara.

  • Several stores offer VIP-only clearance sections or flash promotions curated for DSF shoppers.

Mall of the Emirates

  • Known for clearance sales at Max Fashion, Home Centre, and ACE Hardware.

  • DSF clearance tags can reach 75% off on power tools, paint, gardening gear, and more.

City Centre Mirdif / Deira / Festival City

  • Focused on mass-market brands—Splash, Lifestyle, Home Box, and Centrepoint—with clearance bins and pop-up sale sections dominating corridors.

  • Customs clearance events occasionally feature branded overstock at deep discounts.

Dubai Festival City Mall

  • Offers seasonal clearance at Mall anchor brands like IKEA, Pottery Barn, and Crate & Barrel.

  • Frequent “Blue Sale” events during DSF offer extra markdowns on top of storewide sales.

Dar Al Berland (Bhogal Souk Area) & Arab Souk

  • A different flavor: small, independent stores offering clearance on electronics, gadgets, textiles, and perfumes—especially in perfume new arrivals and overstock.

Read: Guide to the Best Sales in the UAE

🔌 Electronics & Appliances During DSF

Electronics clearance rides heavily during DSF. Leading stores include:

  • Sharaf DG – offers up to 70% off on gadgets and accessories. They often run DSF-specific jigsaw deals: JD value bundles and free warranty extensions.

  • Jumbo Electronics – clearance on international appliances, smart devices, and seasonal tech. Often, camera demo units and open-box TVs are heavily discounted.

  • Noon & Amazon.ae – online giants that also participate in DSF with mega markdowns, especially during “White Friday” phases in January. Many provide free pick-up at mall lockers.

🌿 Home & Hardware: ACE and More

  • ACE UAE – clears seasonal hardware, tools, and garden kits with multi-day sale promotions; often branded “Home Fest Clearance.”

    • Via GC Coupons, shoppers can unlock additional markdowns using verified ACE coupon codes.

  • Carrefour (Home section) – clearance on large format home decor, small appliances, and seasonal bedding sets.

🧴 Beauty, Fragrance & Personal Care: V Perfumes Stands Out

  • V Perfumes adjusts pricing mid-DSF to clear last season’s inventory, often with “buy 2 get 1 free” or 70% discount tags.

  • Other mall perfumeries, including Nice & Crazy, Fragrance Net, and independent perfume kiosks, often publish DSF-only in-store QR codes or print-out coupons.

👗 Fashion & Apparel Markdowns

Fashion sees deep markdowns during DSF clearance phases:

  • High-street brands like Level Shoes, Max Fashion, 6th Street, SHEIN pop-ups, and Namshi kiosks offer deep in-store discounts.

  • Mall anchor stores like H&M, Splash, and Carrefour Clothing sections run clearance racks up to 80% off.

📦 Online vs. Offline DSF Clearance Trends

In-Store

  • Better visibility of stock clearance sections

  • Ability to inspect items, mix and match, and try on before buying

  • Instant gratification and no shipping wait

Online

  • Retailers like Carrefour and Noon often feature “clearance + free pick-up” zones

  • Online-exclusive DSF promo deals combined with no delivery fees

  • Coupons from GC Coupons can be applied instantly at checkout for extra savings

✨ 5 Smart Clearance Shopping Tips for DSF

  1. Start early: Visit malls the second week of January to catch clearance markdowns before popular sizes disappear.

  2. Combine coupons with clearance pricing using GC Coupons—especially at Carrefour, ACE, V Perfumes, and electronics retailers.

  3. Check FAQs or ask store staff about coupon stacking policies so you don’t get turned away.

  4. Use price comparison tools—scan a product online before purchasing in-store, to ensure clearance deals aren’t better online.

  5. Watch for Flash Clearance—pop-up events that last just a few hours; watch social channels or GC Coupons notifications.

Read: UAE Coupon Stats

Read: The Rise of Tabby

Read: How to avail free delivery on major shopping sites in the UAE? 

💡 Why DSF Clearance Matters for UAE Shoppers

  • Massive Discounts: Many items are 50–90% off, including final season colors or display pieces.

  • Access to High-Value Goods: Electronics, furniture, and queen-size decor often get clearance pricing for the first time.

  • Value Stacking: Combining clearance, coupon codes, loyalty points, and free pick-up or shipping maximizes value.

  • Convenience: DSF malls often create clearance zones in a single wing, making shopping efficient.

  • Cashflow-Friendly: Major purchases during DSF can also be split via Tabby or Tamara payment options.

✅ Final Thoughts: DSF 2025 Clearance – A Savvy Shopper’s Dream

Dubai Shopping Festival remains the largest retail event in the UAE, but it’s the clearance sale phase that truly rewards those who plan strategically.

Whether you’re after a pair of designer shoes, a smartphone, a sofa, or a perfume set, DSF clearance sales—combined with coupon codes—are the ultimate tools for smart shopping.

If you’re looking for exclusive coupons to stack on DSF deals, check out the links below:

  • Sharaf DG Coupon Codes – for tech and appliance marks

  • ACE Coupon Codes – for hardware, garden kits, and seasonal decor

  • Carrefour UAE Coupon Codes – pantry staples, homewares, and groceries

  • V Perfumes Coupon Deals – fragrance and beauty offers