What is Singles' Day? Shopping deals and Dh1 meals to be found around the UAE

Black Friday? Forget it. Boxing Day sales? Meh. Eid deals? Move over ... there is new super sale to watch out for: Singles' Day. The Chinese shopping holiday, held annually on November 11 – 11.11, geddit? – celebrates single people, and with it comes a bucket-load of sales and discounts.

The sale started as an 'anti-Valentine's Day' in China, back in the 1990s. However, it wasn't until e-commerce giant Alibaba cottoned on to the event in 2009 that it became a shopping extravaganza.

It has since grown, and according to The Telegraph, last year Chinese shoppers spent $30.8 billion (Dh113.1 billion) in online sales.

Here, we round up which UAE outlets are celebrating Singles' Day 2019 with bargains aplenty ...

There is a Singles' Day sale extravaganza planned on Amazon.ae. From Monday, November 11 until Wednesday, November 13, there will be thousands of bundles and deals across a wide range of categories, including fashion, beauty, electronics, toys, consumables and books. Amazon Prime members get a 12-hour head start, with discounts available from Sunday, November 10. Expect up to 30 per cent off Samsung and Bose products, 40 per cent off Pampers items and 35 per cent off Braun electronics.

Alibaba

Arguably the home of 11.11, Alibaba is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its mega-sale this year with its Global Shopping Festival. Until Sunday, November 17, there is 10 per cent off brands across the website. However, for 24 hours on Monday, November 11, the reductions are expected to reduce further, with more than 200,000 brands participating and more than one million new discounted products. It is thought that 500 million users will snap up discounts during the sale.

Perhaps not technically a 11.11 deal, as it is part of Namshi's Black November, but for Singles' Day you can get buy one item, get one free on the fashion and home website. Use the code 'BN' to avail the deal across 600 brands. Namshi claims there is no catch – just add two items to your basket, and the lowest priced item of the two will be free. Anything that the coupon code is not applicable for is clearly labelled.

For Singles' Day, Sephora is plugging its app. Spend more than Dh450 when you order via the app between Sunday, November 10 and Thursday, November 14 and you'll receive a Single Ladies Box, filled with eight free minis. The box contains a Becca Hydra-Mist Set and Refresh powder; Nudestix matte eye colour; Briogeo conditioning hair mask; Sephora satin lipstick; Origins Plantscription anti-aging oil-free cream; Benefit Hoola bronzer; Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base and Mufe primer.

British online fashion giant Asos is offering 25 per cent off everything for Singles' Day. Until Tuesday, November 12 at noon (UAE time), use the discount code SINGLEYAY to get money off buys across the website. Although Asos is a UK brand, worldwide standard delivery is free when you spend Dh160 or more; express delivery costs Dh112.

The Swedish furniture brand is offering customers the chance to dine for discount prices. Get four breakfast items (vegetarian and non-vegetarian) for Dh1, or salmon balls and a drink for Dh11. This really is as close to a free breakfast as you're going to get. The offer is available until Tuesday, November 12.