Stop Paying Full Price: Your Ultimate 2025 Guide to UAE Discounts (7 Hacks)

As like every UAE resident,  I am very eagerly waiting for Black Friday 2025, which is know as White Friday in the UAE. The stores are getting ready with new stock and are waiting for the day. Meanwhile, most of the stores already started sales in the middle of November, ahead of coming Black Friday. This year, Black Friday (White Friday) is on 28th November 2025. This is the time the residents can buy and stock items for the next entire year, most of the banks in UAE are also promoting this sale with offers. More than that, online stores and apps are also doing their best to engage the active shoppers.

Here are 7 smart, practical savings hacks every UAE resident should start using in 2025.

1. The BOGO Revolution: ENTERTAINER & Cobone

BOGO

BOGO stands for Buy One Get One Free (or often just "Buy One Get One"). It is a common promotional strategy used by businesses in the UAE to attract customers. These offers allow a customer who buys a product or service at full price to receive a second one of the same item for free. 

Key points about BOGO:

    * Types of offers: BOGO deals can apply to a wide range of items, including dining, entertainment tickets, spa treatments, hotel stays, and more.

    * How it works: In many cases, customers use digital "vouchers" found within dedicated BOGO apps or platforms. These often require a membership fee to access the thousands of available offers.

    * Popular apps: The most well-known BOGO platform in the UAE is the "Entertainer" app, which provides members with over 10,000 "2-for-1" offers across various categories.

If you're paying full price for dining or spa days, you’re doing it wrong.

The Entertainer

    * BOGO meals at hundreds of restaurants.

    * Free spa treatments when you buy one.

    * Fitness and adventure offers (jet skis, salons, waterparks).

Cobone

Cobone is a prominent Middle East-based daily deals website and app (a "group buying" site) that has been operating since 2010. It acts as a marketplace connecting businesses with customers by offering substantial discounts on a wide variety of local experiences, products, and services in the UAE and other GCC countries. 

Key points about Cobone:

    a) Business Model: Unlike subscription-based BOGO apps (like the Entertainer), Cobone primarily sells individual, deeply discounted vouchers for specific deals.

    b) Variety of deals: While they feature BOGO offers, they also provide standard percentage discounts (e.g., 50% off) on a diverse range of things to do, eat, and enjoy in cities like Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

    c) How it works: Customers purchase a voucher directly from the Cobone website or app, which they then present to the merchant to redeem the offer. 

Think of Cobone as the UAE’s daily discount marketplace.

    a) Affordable buffets

    b) Staycation deals

    c) Salon & spa offers

    d) Activities for kids and families

Some offers go up to 70–80% off, which makes it perfect for spontaneous plans without burning your budget.​

2. Happy Hour Hunters: Drinks for Dhs25–Dhs40

Dubai nightlife is fun—your bill doesn’t have to hurt.

Where to look:

    a) Dubai Marina

    b) JBR

    c) Barsha Heights (TECOM)

    d) Business Bay

Many bars run happy hours where drinks are Dhs25–Dhs40, usually between 4 PM and 8 PM. Apps like Zomato, Ladies Night DXB, and What’s On often list updated happy hour timings.

Tip: Pair a happy hour deal with an ENTERTAINER BOGO to cut your bill by 50%+.​

3. What Banks offers?

Banks in the UAE give excellent discounts—most people forget to use them.

Popular offers include:

    a) 20%–30% off dining with Emirates NBD cards
    b) Retail discounts at brands like H&M, Sephora, Home Centre

    c) Movie ticket deals (buy 1 get 1 free)

    d) Fitness and hotel offers

If you have Emirates NBD, FAB, ADCB, Mashreq, or Dubai Islamic Bank, download their app and check the “Offers” tab. You’ll be shocked how much free value you’ve been missing.​

4. Bulk Savings in Groceries & Home Goods

Want to cut your grocery bill by 15–40%? Shop smart.

Best places for deals:

    * Ansar Gallery – groceries, household, textiles

    * Carrefour – weekly and weekend specials

    * Union Coop – bulk buys and family-size discounts

    * Lulu Hypermarket – electronics + grocery offers       

    Many supermarkets run 3-day mega sales or Friday deals where basic items drop heavily in price.

Pro Tip:

Use online platforms like:

* Amazon.ae

* Noon

* Instashop

5. Staycay Smarter: Try “Brunch & Stay” Packages

A hotel brunch for two can cost the same as a one-night stay. But here’s a hack…

Many UAE hotels offer Brunch + Stay packages where the room is almost free. You pay for brunch (which you were probably planning anyway) and get a night’s stay included.

Popular options:

   a) Dubai Marina hotels

   b) Palm Jumeirah resorts

   c) Yas Island hotels in Abu Dhabi

6. Loyalty Apps as Quiet Money Savers

Many restaurants and stores have loyalty programs that quietly save you hundreds per month.

Examples:

    a) Carrefour MyCLUB

    b) Shukran Rewards (Centrepoint, Splash, Home Centre)

    c) LuLu Rewards

    d) Talabat Pro

    e) Careem Plus

These give:

1. cashback

2. free delivery

3. special prices

4. early access to deals

If you shop somewhere regularly, join their rewards program—it’s literally free money.

7. Flash Sale Culture: UAE Edition

Always keep notifications ON for:

    a) Amazon

    b) Noon

    c) Lifestyle Stores

    d) Babyshop

    e) Sharaf DG

    f) Danube Home

    g) Home Centre

​UAE brands run constant flash sales—Midnight Madness Deals, Friday Offers, Ramadan sales, End-of-Season clearances. You can save big if you time your purchases.

Conclusion

Living in the UAE doesn’t have to be expensive. By stacking apps, bank offers, loyalty programs, and timed deals, you can comfortably save 20–40% every month—without giving up restaurants, nightlife, staycations, or shopping.

FAQs

1. What is the best app for saving money in the UAE?

The ENTERTAINER is the most popular for BOGO dining and spa deals, while Cobone offers big discounts on activities and staycations. For groceries, Carrefour and Lulu apps frequently run weekly promotions.

2. How much can I actually save using these hacks?

Most residents save 20–40% monthly if they combine BOGO offers, happy hours, bank card discounts, and loyalty programs. Staycation deals can save up to 50–70%.

3. Which UAE banks offer the best discounts?

Emirates NBD is known for strong dining and retail offers. FAB, ADCB, and Mashreq also have extensive discount catalogs available through their mobile apps.

4. Are happy hour deals available every day?

Most bars in areas like Dubai Marina, JBR, Barsha Heights, and Business Bay run happy hours Sunday to Thursday, typically from 4 PM to 8 PM. Weekends vary, but deals are still common.

5. Are “Brunch & Stay” packages really cheaper?

Yes. Many hotels price the brunch at the usual rate but include a hotel night for a small additional fee—or sometimes free. It’s usually cheaper than booking a separate brunch + room.

 - Chithra Sooraj (Digital Marketing Executive)​