Quoz Arts Fest returns for its 12th edition on 25- 26 January 2025

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Spanning Alserkal Avenue and the Quoz Creative Zone, the festival features public art installations, exhibitions, live performances, workshops, conversations, creative pop-ups and a dedicated kids’ programme.

Quoz Arts Fest by Alserkal, the region’s leading community-driven arts and culture festival, will make its return on Saturday, 25, and Sunday, 26 January 2025. Taking place in Alserkal Avenue, Dubai’s vibrant cultural district, and the wider Quoz Creative Zone, the festival spotlights the best of homegrown and international talent in a thoughtfully curated mix of live music performances, art exhibitions, installations, food experiences, and conversations, alongside a special programme designed to inspire kids.

Gilda Gilantash, Director of Events, Programming and Partnerships at Alserkal Avenue, said: “Since its inception in 2012, Quoz Arts Fest has been a creative meeting ground for Dubai’s diverse communities—a place to come together and celebrate culture. Over the years, it’s grown into a major regional attraction while staying deeply connected to the grassroots, homegrown scene. It’s also become a platform for international artists redefining what’s next, offering a glimpse into the next wave of creative talent. This year, we’re proud to offer our most expansive programme yet, with cultural expression at its widest and the community at its heart.”

Festival Headliners 

At the forefront is Syrian rapper, poet, and storyteller Omar Offendum, who gives voice to the experiences of immigration. Tunisian singer and songwriter Emel Mathlouthi also takes the main stage, renowned for her soaring voice and fusion of traditional Arabic music with contemporary influences.

Joining them is the Tunisian alternative duo Ÿuma, composed of Sabrine Jenhani and Ramy Zoghlemi, whose minimalist folk sound offers an intimate, guitar-driven journey; House of Yanos, delivering an electrifying mix of Amapiano, Deep House, and Afro Tech, Dubai City Sound’s all-female choir stirs with breathtaking harmonies, BOUMPH, a bold Arab hip-hop voice, delivers a raw critique of cultural identity, and DJ Hend, presenting an eclectic blend of Afrobeats, Amapiano, Arabic classics, and old-school R&B, inspired by Dubai’s cultural richness.

The main stage will be hosted by Dubai’s own MC, Big Hass, bringing his signature energy to the festival.

Must-See Public Art 

A standout highlight of the festival is Forest Dancer and the Path to Pure Creation by Australia’s ENESS at Concrete. This immersive installation blends light, sound, and movement to create a space that emulates the feeling of stepping into unhindered creative flow.

Across the Avenue will be Bright Memories by Abdulla Alneyadi featuring a series of public water dispensers, iconic to the UAE, designed by the artist and a surprise site-specific outdoor installation by Brazilian artist Zé Tepedino.

On the Avenue’s corner facade, Emirati artist Lamya Gargash presents her large-scale commission—the enlarged photograph, A Corridor of Books. Renowned for her exploration of identity through both lived and abandoned spaces, Gargash turns to the private library of a prominent collector and patron of the arts in the UAE. At the heart of the photograph is a golden fabric draped through his library, guided by the Qibla—a compass pointing towards prayer. The installation invites a meditation on memory, devotion, and the stories woven into the spaces we inhabit.

Gallery Exhibitions 

The Avenue’s galleries and institutions will open an exciting lineup of exhibitions. At Ishara Art Foundation, Shilpa Gupta’s Lines of Flight takes center stage, while Lawrie Shabibi presents a solo show by Farhad Ahrarnia. Over at The Third Line, Neither Here ~ Nor Elsewhere, a group show curated by Sanaz Askari, and Green Art Gallery showcases Citadelles of Today by Chaouki Choukini. Aisha Alabbar Gallery brings Superficial Transactions, a solo exhibition by Eman Al Hashemi, while Gulf

Photo Plus The Life of an Itinerant through a Pinhole presents Behzad Khosravi Noori. 1×1 Art Gallery presents a solo show of Sohan Qadri, Custot Gallery features Photosynthetic Forms by Marc Quinn, and Zawyeh Gallery highlights a solo exhibition by Amirhossein Bayani.

Stage 2.0 

Throughout the weekend, Stage 2.0 showcases Quoz Encore performances, now in its third year, providing a platform for emerging UAE-based artists and talent making their debut, alongside afikra conversations with artists.

Reel Palestine Film Festival 

Cinema Akil hosts Reel Palestine, a film festival celebrating Palestinian stories with screenings and a souk featuring crafts and flavours inspired by Palestinian traditions.

Kids’ Lane 

The festival will have a dedicated Kids’ Lane offering interactive art workshops, reading sessions, and community activations led by Artful Minds, Wisdom Warehouse, The Junction, thejamjar, and The Happy Studio, engaging young audiences in creative play.

What The Food 

The culinary experiences will be curated by What The Food by Alserkal, featuring the city’s most loved chefs, artisanal producers, and food entrepreneurs.

Strategic partners for Quoz Arts Fest 2025 include Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, Al Quoz Creative Zone, and Dubai Economy and Tourism. Lead partners are Mini AGMC, with supporting partners Ounass and Fujifilm.

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