Khadijah Al Edrisi
Item bought: Makeup from Sephora
She says: I like this makeup, so I was really planning on buying it as soon as I arrived in Dubai from Saudi Arabia.
Shopping tip: Buying something on sale is just a bonus, but if you see something you really like and can afford to buy, you should get it. Reward yourself.
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Malik, Amir, Fadhel, Ismail and Olomi
Items bought: Assorted shoes, shirts, cap
They say: The cap is already on Amir’s head, while Malik (left) is wearing the shoes and shirt he bought.
Shopping tip: Wait for the sale season because it is ridiculously amazing. You can’t be a smarter shopper than that.
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Assylbek Gainullin
Item bought: Winter coat from Maison and jeans from Diesel
He says: I heard about DSF, so I decided to visit Dubai to check out what’s on sale. I got more than what I bargained for.
Shopping tip: Advertisements will often give you leads on which stores are having a sale. To save yourself time, check them out before heading out.
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DJ Sami
Item bought: Polo from Jovial at 60 per cent off the price
He says: This is my third time to visit Dubai and I always enjoy mall hopping to look for bargains during DSF. I am looking for outfits to wear when I perform back in Ethiopia.
Shopping tip: Check that the item you are about to buy is of good quality. Then check if the discounted price is worth it. If you have a check mark on both, go for it.
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Michelle Lopez
Item bought: bags for Dh50 each
She says: I wanted to buy them as gifts for my friends.
Shopping tip: Decide what you want to buy before going to the mall so that you don’t waste time or spend unnecessarily. Then, compare prices before you finally make a purchase.
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Lyuze Kirill and friend
Items bought: Swim shorts from Moschino and underwear from Calvin Klein
Lyuze says: I got most of the items at 40 per cent off the price, so I just had to buy them!
Shopping tip: It’s not enough to check the price tag. Have the item scanned at the counter to make sure the price is what it says on the tag. Sometimes, it could even be cheaper than you thought!
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Khagendhra Dhamala
Item bought: Dumbbell from Sun&Sands. Was Dh60 now Dh23
He says: I am going to add this to my exercise equipment, and I got a good deal for it.
Shopping tip: Be patient. You need to really spend time looking through the sale items until you find a real bargain.
Hassan Ibrahim
Items bought: Assorted clothes and shoes for children
He says: It’s fun shopping this time of the year because the huge discounts make it worth your while. I found some good bargains, including items with a 70 per cent discount, which were well worth my trip from Sharjah.
Shopping tip: Take time to check the stores and the merchandise on sale before you buy anything. Sometimes the real deal might just be at the next store, so don’t buy on impulse.
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Desie Silmaro
Item bought: Rado watch for Dh3,000
She says: I loved it so much I wore it right away! I also got another watch worth Dh1,500 for free. I picked a Tissot.
Shopping tip: Save up for DSF. It is the best time to splurge because you can really get value for your money with the discounted prices and promos.
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Hakan Lord
Items bought: 4 shirts and a jacket from Ted Baker
He says: I think I got a 30 per cent discount on the shirt and 40 per cent on the jacket. It was a spontaneous purchase, but the fit was right and the price was right. And I do need shirts. My friends back in Sweden won't believe what I found.
Shopping tip: Walk around first and be open-minded about what might come up and what you might need to buy.
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Naveed Nafees
Items bought: Hallmark card, shirts from Zara and a suit from Massimo Dutti.
He says: I am doing some last minute shopping before flying to Pakistan to attend a wedding. I’m going to be wearing the shirts and the suit. The shirts were a real steal for Dh30. The suit was marked down 40 per cent.
Shopping tip: Visit the mall regularly and don’t have anything specific in mind. Be open to surprises and always pick up the item which you think is unique.
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Radwa Abdulhamid
Items bought: Victoria’s Secret perfume gift set
She says: It’s a set of four perfumes that would ordinarily cost Dh75 each. The gift set used to cost Dh200, but it’s now on sale for Dh125, so I bought three which I will give as gifts to relatives.
Shopping tip: If you are planning to give out a lot of gifts, you should start buying items during the sale season. I personally wait until DSF to go on a big shopping spree.
Sushi Carmes
Item bought: top from bebe. Was Dh170 now Dh120
She says: I am just here on holiday, but I think I am going to like Dubai so much I am probably going to wear this top when I go on my first job hunt.
Shopping tip: Always shop alone so that you will have a lot of time to figure out which deals are worth it. Don’t be in a rush to buy things.
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Kenneth McMahon
Item bought: Fuji waterproof camera for Dh1,144
He says: I do a lot of watersports and scuba diving so I just had to buy this camera, and it came with a free waterproof mask.
Shopping tip: If you see something on sale that you really like, buy it immediately. It might not be there the next time you look.
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Azenith Aquino
Item bought: Dumbbell from Sun&Sands. Was Dh21 now Dh15
She says: I promised to start leading a healthy lifestyle this year. This is my first step.
Shopping tip: It’s obvious isn’t it? The best time to shop is during DSF because there are a lot of discounts, freebies and raffle draws.
