01 Sep 2025
Dubai Festival City Center: The Ultimate Visitor’s Guide
Dubai Festival City Center (also known as Festival City Dubai or Festival City simply known as the Dubai Festival City) is not just another shopping mall, it is a lifestyle destination that offers a blend of world class retail, dining, entertainment and spectacular views of the eye-catching waterfront.
Dubai Festival promises an unforgettable experience whether you are a tourist visiting the emirate or a resident who wants to enjoy a good day out. This guide will give you all the information you need about how to maximize your visit in 2025.
Why Visit Dubai Festival City Center?
Festival city Dubai will anchor this large 1,300-acre waterfront community known as the Dubai Festival City, which is intending to seize the imaginative nature of Dubai. Festival city Dubai has more than 400 stores, more than 50 restaurants and very special attractions such as the world record-breaking IMAGINE show.
So it really cannot be missed by anyone looking to have a shopping, dining, and entertaining experience. It is also strategically located and only 10 minutes journey to the Dubai International Airport, so no matter your origin either as a traveler or a local resident, the location is friendly.
Dubai Festival City Center Timings: Plan Your Visit
In order to make the most out of your stay at Festival City Dubai, remember the working schedule:
- Sunday- Wednesday: 10.00 AM 10:00 PM
- Thursday- Saturday: 10:00 AM to 12:00 AM (Midnight)
- Hypermarkets (e.g. Carrefour, LuLu): 8.00 AM to 12.00 AM
- Restaurants and Waterfront Dining: 10 AM- midnight (Some restaurants will run late on weekends)
- IMAGINE Show: In an hour between 7:00 PM and 11:00 PM
Pro Tip: Go during the weekdays to evade some of the crowds, and employ the mall app to search available parking spaces and special offers.
Dubai Festival City Center Shopping: A Retail Paradise
Dubai Festival City Center has more than 400 shops to satisfy everybody, with any taste and any budget. Be it luxury fashion appurtenance, technological devices or household items, you can find them here. Highlights include:
- Fashion & Luxury: Buy the world best brands such as Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Zara, H&M and Marks & Spencer. To see exclusive Arabic fashion, please see Kashkha or Arabian Oud.
- Electronics: Apple Store, Samsung Experience Store and Sharaf DG stock the newest gadgets.
- Home & Lifestyle: IKEA, which is the only one in the city of Dubai, is a destination that any lover of furniture and ornaments cannot miss. Crate & Barrel and Pottery Barn sell high end home furnishing.
- New in 2025: Be on the lookout as new stores such as Balenciaga, Versace, Off-White and Supreme make the mall accommodate the heightened luxury and streetwear departments.
Pro Tip: Use the Festival Rewards app to get flash sale and promotions to save big.
Dubai Festival City Center Dining: A Culinary Journey
Dubai Festival City has more than 50 food outlets serving a food lover paradise. Whether it is a casual nibble or eating at a fine dining restaurant facing the water, there is something in store to satisfy every taste bud:
- Middle Eastern: Al Fanar Restaurant & Cafe is the authentic Emirati cuisine and is nostalgic. Another option is Operation Falafel whose fast and delicious morsels are a good idea.
- Foreign Food: Try Italian at Eataly or Osteria Mario, Asian at P.F. Chang or Din Tai Fung and American favorites at The Cheesecake Factory and Hard Rock Cafe.
- Waterfront Restaurants: The incredible sights of the Dubai creek make Joe’s Crab Shack and Peppermill restaurants ideal splendors of a romantic dinner, family dinner or any dinner at the time of IMAGINE show.
- On The Fly: Starbucks, Costa, or Caf Nero are useful choices for a quick coffee and the food court is also available with its fast-food restaurants, such as McDonalds and Shake Shack.
Pro Tip: Book a table at the restaurants in the waterfronts on weekends because they will be fully booked especially when the IMAGINE show is presented.
Dubai Festival City Center Entertainment: Fun for All Ages
Dubai Festival City Center is also the entertainment arena and therefore the center can be considered to be a family place with all feelings included:
- IMAGINE Show: This Festival Bay spectacle which has won the Guinness World Record award is a melding of water, fire, laser and 3D graphics. It is free and there are performances at sunset hourly- a must see.
- VOX Cinemas: View blockbuster movies in IMAX, Gold- theaters or KIDS- with lush cinemas and fine palates available.
- Fabyland: Indoor children and adult amusement park riding, arcades and VR with 70,000 sq. ft. footprint Basement Childcare Branding.
- BOUNCE-X: The first of its kind freestyle terrain park in the world where trampolines and the sport of parkour are combined to create a truly adrenaline filled experience.
- Festival Wheel: A 40-meter Ferris wheel with views along the skyline of Dubai creek.
- Dhow Rides: Ride an old-fashioned abra boat down the creek and get a soothing ride.
Pro Tip: The mall has its own site or social media where you can check the schedule of events as Dubai Festival City has live concerts, shows and seasonal events, such as Dubai Shopping Festival (January-February) and Ramadan Nights.
Getting at Dubai Festival City Center: Easy Access
The Dubai Festival City Center is a convenient place to be situated close to Sheikh Zayed Road and Business Bay Bridge wherein it only takes 10-minute drive to the Dubai International Airport. The way to get there is as follows:
- Metro: Board the Green Line to the light rail and take out a free shuttle or taxi. Alternatively, go to the Red Line to Emirates Station and travel a few kilometers in taxi.
- Bus: RTA Bus has stops at Festival Centre station just a short walk away mall.
- Water Taxi: Make an impressive entry with scenic ride on to Creek Metro Station.
- Car: Get free parking of more than 13,000 parking space and also enjoy valet parking. It can also find your parked automobile via mall app.
Accessibility: The mall has wheelchairs including elevators, wheelchair accessible toilets and hire of wheelchairs depending on families.
Final Thoughts
Dubai Festival City Center is not just a mall, but a living and breathing destination bringing together shopping, dining and entertainment in a beautiful setting overlooking Dubai creek. You can spend some retail therapy, enjoy the world cuisines, or admire the IMAGINE show and Festival City Dubai still won be soon forgotten. Visit in 2025 and find out what makes Maryan Old City one of the top attractions to millions of people every year.
