Saturday 13 December 2025 brings e& DSF Nights to Festival Bay at Dubai Festival City Mall, with Egyptian stars Mahmoud El Esseily and Nader Hamdy performing on a waterfront stage from early evening into the night. Doors are scheduled to open at 19:00, with the main concert expected to start around 20:30 as part of the Dubai Shopping Festival concert series. Organisers frame this as one of the key Saturday shows in the second edition of e& DSF Nights, which runs throughout the Dubai Shopping Festival season. Crowds will gather along the promenade amphitheatre that curves around the bay, giving clear views of the stage and the famous IMAGINE fountain backdrop. For many Arabic pop fans, this Saturday night concert at Festival Bay is likely to be one of the standout DSF events of December.
Mahmoud El Esseily and Nader Hamdy on stage
Mahmoud El Esseilly arrives in Dubai with a catalogue of Egyptian pop hits that blend modern production with emotional melodies and a strong live voice. His sets usually move between upbeat crowd singalongs and slower songs that highlight the lyrics, which suits an outdoor waterfront setting where people stand, dance and film on their phones. At the same concert, composer and producer Nader Hamdy steps further into the spotlight, bringing songs he originally crafted behind the scenes for some of the region’s biggest artists. This pairing gives the night a balance between familiar radio favourites and a more musician led performance style, which should appeal to fans across generations. Expect a dynamic, Arabic pop focused show that moves confidently from high energy choruses to more intimate moments.
Festival Bay waterfront setting in Dubai Festival City
Festival Bay at Dubai Festival City Mall serves as a natural amphitheatre, with the stage built along the water and audience areas stepping up around the curve of the promenade. By day the area mixes cafes, restaurants and open walkways, but on concert nights it transforms into a dense crowd facing the water, framed by towers, lights and the IMAGINE light and fountain show. Because the venue stays open air and sits directly on the creek, the atmosphere often feels more like a compact festival than a simple mall concert. Families and groups can also build their evening around nearby dining, then move outside in time for the show and fireworks. The setting is visually impressive, but space along the best viewing spots can fill early, so arriving ahead of peak time is strongly advised.
Place of e& DSF Nights within Dubai Shopping Festival
The e& DSF Nights series forms part of the wider Dubai Shopping Festival season, running from early December to mid January with concerts every Saturday at Festival Bay. These nights sit alongside drone shows, fireworks, mall promotions and family attractions across the city, so visitors often plan a full DSF weekend around a chosen concert. At Dubai Festival City Mall, that means combining the Mahmoud El Esseily and Nader Hamdy performance with free daily entertainment, roaming characters and regular IMAGINE fountain shows. The 13 December concert acts as the second Saturday highlight in the 2025 to 2026 programme, following earlier nights and preceding further headline shows later in the month. If you enjoy seeing DSF at its liveliest, this weekend at Festival Bay offers a concentrated mix of shopping, entertainment and live music in one place.
Tickets, prices in AED and age policy
Tickets for e& DSF Nights with Mahmoud El Esseily and Nader Hamdy start from approximately 150 AED for general admission, with higher tiers likely reaching around 250 AED depending on the chosen category and remaining availability. Current promotions highlight a buy one get one free structure for some ticket types, which makes early purchase particularly attractive for couples or groups. VIP platform sections usually cost more but provide raised viewing platforms and easier bar access, while still operating within the same waterfront space. Age policies differ between areas, with VIP typically open to all ages with a ticket, while general admission does not allow children under three years old and prohibits strollers for safety reasons. Because of dynamic pricing and limited capacity, buying tickets early through reliable sellers such as PLATINUMLIST is strongly recommended.
Family entertainment and atmosphere around Festival Bay
Beyond the ticketed concert zone, the wider DSF programme at Festival Bay includes a variety of free activities such as character appearances, live shows and gaming corners across selected dates in the season. Families can arrive earlier on Saturday 13 December 2025 to explore these elements, then older children and adults can move into the concert area if they hold tickets (suitable for families with older children, couples and groups of friends). The promenade also offers quick service outlets and sit down restaurants where visitors can eat before the main show, with some terraces overlooking the bay. During the DSF period, extra lighting, pop up stalls and occasional competitions add to the buzz. If you travel with mixed age groups, combining the free entertainment zones with the paid concert area can make the evening feel like a complete mini festival.
Getting to Dubai Festival City Mall and parking notes
Dubai Festival City Mall sits along Dubai Creek, reachable by car from central districts via routes such as Al Rebat Street or by following signs from major highways toward Festival City. Drivers typically enter using the main mall access roads and then follow directions to Festival Bay parking, which can include both surface and structured lots. However, Saturday evenings during Dubai Shopping Festival attract heavy traffic around the mall and along nearby bridges, especially between 17:30 and 19:30 when visitors arrive for dining and events. Ride hailing services and taxis therefore work well for those staying in Downtown, Dubai Creek, Deira or neighbouring areas, because they avoid the need to search for parking after queues have built up. Parking capacity around Festival Bay can feel tight during major concerts, so consider arriving early or using taxis to reduce stress.
Travel suggestions from other Emirates
Visitors coming from Abu Dhabi usually take Sheikh Zayed Road toward Dubai, then exit toward Festival City using the well signed city approaches, with an average driving time of around 90 minutes in normal conditions. Leaving Abu Dhabi between 15:30 and 16:00 for a 19:00 door time usually allows for traffic and a short break on the way. From Sharjah and Ajman, drivers often use the routes that cross into Dubai via Al Ittihad Road or Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, then connect toward Festival City, but evening congestion near the creek bridges can slow progress. Because of that, some people from the northern Emirates park near a Dubai Metro station such as Creek or Stadium and continue via taxi, which can simplify the return after the show finishes around late evening (suitable for couples and small groups). Wherever you start your journey, planning for at least one extra hour of buffer time each way helps avoid unnecessary rush and frustration.
Weather outlook for Saturday 13 December 2025
Mid December in Dubai normally offers mild, pleasant conditions, and current forecasts for Friday 12 December, Saturday 13 December and Sunday 14 December 2025 indicate daytime highs around 30 degrees Celsius with nights cooling to about 19 to 20 degrees. On Saturday evening around 19:00, temperatures should sit in the mid twenties, with light haze or thin clouds and a low chance of rain. Humidity can rise slightly after 21:00 along the creek, yet it usually stays far lower than peak summer levels, which makes standing outside for several hours much more comfortable. Wind speeds are expected to stay moderate, although the open waterfront location can feel breezier than inland areas. Light, breathable clothing with a thin extra layer and comfortable closed shoes will suit the evening best, while heavy jackets are unlikely to be necessary.
Warnings, practical tips and closing notes
For this e& DSF Nights concert on Saturday 13 December 2025, plan around peak weekend congestion near Dubai Festival City from late afternoon until shortly after the show starts, since DSF shoppers and concertgoers share the same access roads. Public transport via bus to the Festival Centre stops combined with a short walk, or a taxi from Metro stations on the Green Line, can reduce parking pressure and make the return journey easier, especially if you leave close to 23:30 when many people exit together. Ticket prices and door policies may change as DSF progresses, so treat stated ranges of approximately 150 to 250 AED as guides only and always purchase through trusted sellers such as PLATINUMLIST or other official channels named by Dubai Festivals. Pack only essentials, follow bag restrictions and remember that strollers are not allowed inside the main concert zone, which reinforces the focus on older children and adults. Book your tickets early and plan your journey with extra time so you avoid last minute ticket issues, long queues and heavy traffic around Dubai Festival City Mall. As several recent roundups from editors at www.few.ae have pointed out, visitors who plan ahead for e& DSF Nights usually enjoy a smoother evening, with more time to focus on the music, fireworks and relaxed creekside atmosphere.
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