Dubai: Shopaholics have more reasons to celebrate at this time of year, as retailers are not only offering Ramadan discounts, they’re keeping their shops open until the wee hours to accommodate a surge in footfall in the evenings.
The Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE) confirmed on Sunday that restaurants and retail shops across the emirate are now following a new schedule, with most shopping centres operating either until midnight or 1am.
The longest to operate throughout Ramadan is Dubai Mall, where restaurants and shops stay open until 2am. Malls around Dubai usually close at 10 or 11pm on regular days.
Commercial establishments have decided to extend their operations in order to enable consumers to enjoy a long evening of retail therapy throughout the holy month or give more time to those who want to spend iftar or Suhoor with friends and family.
With malls seeing a surge in visitors in the evenings, shoppers are advised to make the most of their time by doing their shopping in the morning.
At Mall of the Emirates, shops and food beverage outlets are open until midnight today (May 27) until June 7. The mall will extend the operating hours until 1am for retail shops and 2am for food and beverage outlets as Eid draws closer, between June 8 and June 17.
In Burjuman, retailers operate until midnight, while restaurants stay open until 1 am throughout the holy month.
City Centre Deira visitors can shop until 12 midnight between May 16 and June 7, and until 1am from June 7 to June 17.
Festival City Mall is also operating until midnight from Saturday to Wednesday and until 1am from Thursday to Friday.
According to Ahmed Al Khaja, CEO of DFRE, malls are also operating night markets and Ramadan bazaars, providing shoppers plenty of opportunity to shop for clothes, accessories and gifts for Eid Alf Fitr.
Here’s the complete list of new mall timings during Ramadan:
Dubai Mall: 10 am to 2am
Burjuman: 10am to midnight for retailers and 10am to 1am for food and beverage outlets
City Centre Deira: 10 to midnight for all retailers and restaurants (between May 16 and June 7) and 10am to 1am for retailers and until 2am for restaurants (between June 8 and June 17)
Dubai Festival City Mall: 10am to midnight for retailers and restaurants (from Saturday to Wednesday) and until 1am from Thursday to Friday
Mall of the Emirates: 10 am to midnight for retailers and restaurants (between May 16 and June 7) and from 10am to 1am for retailers and until 2am for restaurants (from June 8 to June 17)
Mercato: 10am to 1am for retailers and restaurants
