White Friday guide: buying smart instead of buying fast

"White Friday" is what Black Friday is called across the Gulf and Egypt. It typically runs through November, peaking in the final week, with major stores opening offers early and widening them until Cyber Monday.

Real discounts versus paper ones

The most common way to lose money is a discount calculated against an inflated reference price. Track what an item costs in the weeks before the season — if the "was" price jumps just before the sale, the reduction is smaller than it looks.

Stack a code on top of the sale

Many stores still accept a discount code on already-reduced prices, particularly in the opening days before stock runs down. Always try the code, even when the price already looks cut.

Prepare before it starts

Save what you want to a wishlist early and store your address and payment details in advance — the best offers go within hours. Check the returns policy too: some stores shorten the return window during sale periods.