Quoz Arts Fest returns to Alserkal Avenue for 12th edition

Dubai’s Quoz Arts Fest, the Middle East’s largest celebration of art and culture, returns to Alserkal Avenue on January 25–26, 2025, promising a weekend of global sounds, immersive art, and unfiltered creative energy.

Now in its 12th edition, the festival has cemented itself as a cultural cornerstone, drawing a dynamic mix of emerging talent and established visionaries. The festival will feature a diverse lineup of public art installations, exhibitions, live performances, workshops, conversations, creative pop-ups, and a dedicated kids’ program, offering something for everyone.

Program and featuring act

Music and spoken word

The 2025 lineup spotlights artists whose work transcends borders and genres. Leading the charge is Omar Offendum, a Syrian-American rapper and poet whose lyrical storytelling captures the complexities of diaspora and identity. Also performing is Emel Mathlouthi, Tunisia’s revolutionary voice, blending traditional Arabic influences with modern music influences.

Also gracing the festival are Ÿuma, a Tunisian folk duo known for their minimalist soundscapes and emotive songwriting, and Musaafir Music, a collective from Pakistan, weaving a rich sonic tapestry of Pashto, Balochi, Urdu, Punjabi, and English. The festival’s sonic journey concludes with a poignant collaboration between London-based Indian musician Sarathy Korwar and poet Zia Ahmed, whose fusion of spoken word and experimental compositions resonates deeply.

Workshops, exhibitions and more

Beyond the music, Quoz Arts Fest will transform the industrial warehouses of Alserkal Avenue into a living, breathing canvas.

Visitors can wander through eclectic galleries, catch screenings at Cinema Akil, and engage with cutting-edge installations like Forest Dancer and the Path to Pure Creation by Australia’s ENESS. For families, the festival offers interactive workshops, kid-friendly programming, and even a space for furry companions at this dog-friendly event.

Workshops include making wallets wallets and bags using tape and recycled materials; painting with coffee and Emirati spices like turmeric, saffron, and pepper; friendship bracelets making and many, many more.

Reel Palestine

Experience the richness of Palestinian culture at its annual film festival in the UAE, taking place on January 25 from 10 PM to 11:30 PM. Reel Palestine’s Souk brings a thoughtfully curated collection of crafts, souvenirs, and flavors inspired by Palestinian traditions to the Back Lane. It will feature vendors offering products that celebrate a deep connection to the land and heritage.

Food

Get your hands on some amazing food and drinks on offer such as barbeque at Carnistore, coffee from the Indian subcontinent at Subko, and matcha at Pekoe.

Craving some Mexican? Head to Lila and Monlino. Live the food truck experience with Grow House by One Life.

And there's much, much more on offer.

Ticket categories

• Single day pass: AED 63
• Full weekend pass: AED 126
• Free for senior citizens 60+ and kids under 18