The annual Quoz Arts Fest will sweep Alserkal Avenue and transform it into a buzzing hub of creative events this week. The two-day cultural festival is happening on January 25 and 26, making it a weekend of debunking Dubai’s “lack of culture”. This 12th edition will feature 48 hours of non-stop live music and performances by 20 acts, an array of workshops, eyeball-grabbing creative installations sprouting around the sprawling venue and over 25 food kiosks and stalls.
Quoz Arts Fest – live musical and dance performances
This is one of the hottest arts and culture festivals on Dubai’s social calendar – it’s a gateway to encounter up-and-coming talents and genres while also rediscovering beloved fixtures of the local arts scene.
Syrian-American rapper and poet Omar Offendum has a genre-bending performance prepared that blends oud melodies with drum beats. Tunisian singer-songwriter Emel Mathlouthi will mesmerise audiences with her first concert in the Middle East. Meanwhile, Dubai-based DJ Hend will have you on your feet with rhythmic Afro beats and special mixes of R&B tunes.
Abu Dhabi’s street dance club Free Flow will be encouraging visitors to join their roving energetic dance circles and stomp around. Sudanese-British spoken word poet and basketball Asma Elbadawi’s powerful words about identity and culture will stamp themselves into your memory. Full line-up here
Workshops and installations
While your feet tap to the music, your hands can stay busy with creative painting, slime-making, stencil and gifting workshops the whole family can participate in. Quoz Arts Fest has also carved out a niche for itself when it comes to out-of-the-box workshops – there’s a mixology workshop by Tonique, the first non-alcoholic pop-up bar lab.
Equally phenomenal are the installations here. Sky Castle is an interactive exhibit of inflatable arches that emit music and light as people move through. Emirati artist Lamya Gargash’s photograph of a home library called A Corridor of Books will hold a larger-than-life space.
Crowd-favourite eL Seed’s famous murals will be on display, and you can catch his signature calligraphy in the form of latte art at a pop-up café. This will also be your chance to catch an exhibition by Gulf Photo Plus and film screenings at Cinema Akil’s Reel Palestine Festival.
Food and shopping at Quoz Arts Fest
Once you’ve taken the edge off your cultural cravings, head to the food stalls by some of Dubai’s most exclusive food outlets and pop-ups. CarniStores’ handcrafted smoked meats, Nightjar’s artisanal coffees, Mexican food from Tacos Los Hermanos, Oklahoma Smash burgers from See You On The Grill and Project Chaiwala‘s steaming hot chai from… The list goes on and we’re drooling.
Afterwards, hit up Alserkal’s many independent outlets and concept stores live Kave and The Flipside for some retail therapy. You’ll find pre-loved fashion, vintage accessories, vinyl records and more. Also check out the Reel Palestine Souk’s all-day market.
Tickets to Quoz Arts Fest start from AED 63. Free for kids under 18 years and senior citizens aged 60 and above. From 8am to 11:30pm; more info here.