The 12th edition of the Quoz Arts Fest took place on Saturday, 25th, and Sunday, 26th January 2025, at Alserkal Avenue and the Quoz Creative Zone, offering a dynamic and diverse program of activities. The festival featured a blend of public art installations, exhibitions, live performances, workshops, conversations, creative pop-ups, and a dedicated kids’ programme.
One of the standout highlights was Forest Dancer and the Path to Pure Creation by Australian collective ENESS at Concrete, an immersive light and sound installation celebrating creative freedom.
Renowned artists, including Syrian rapper Omar Offendum, Tunisian singer Emel Mathlouthi, and the alternative duo Ÿuma, headlined the festival with powerful performances that explored poetry, rhythm, and cultural expression. Emerging talent also took center stage through Quoz Encore, a platform spotlighting UAE-based artists making their debut.
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.”
At the forefront of the festival was Syrian rapper, poet, and storyteller Omar Offendum, who gave voice to the experiences of immigration. Tunisian singer and songwriter Emel Mathlouthi also took the main stage, renowned for her soaring voice and fusion of traditional Arabic music with contemporary influences.
Joining them was the Tunisian alternative duo Ÿuma, composed of Sabrine Jenhani and Ramy Zoghlemi, whose minimalist folk sound offered an intimate, guitar-driven journey. House of Yanos delivered an electrifying mix of Amapiano, Deep House, and Afro Tech, while Dubai City Sound’s all-female choir stirred audiences with breathtaking harmonies.
BOUMPH, a bold Arab hip-hop voice, delivered a raw critique of cultural identity, and DJ Hend presented an eclectic blend of Afrobeats, Amapiano, Arabic classics, and old-school R&B, inspired by Dubai’s cultural richness.
The main stage was hosted by Dubai’s own MC, Big Hass, who brought his signature energy to the festival.
Must-See Public Art
A standout highlight of the festival was Forest Dancer and the Path to Pure Creation by Australia’s ENESS at Concrete. This immersive installation blended light, sound, and movement to create a space that emulated the feeling of stepping into unhindered creative flow.
Across the Avenue, Bright Memories by Abdulla Alneyadi featured a series of public water dispensers, iconic to the UAE, designed by the artist, while a surprise site-specific outdoor installation by Brazilian artist Zé Tepedino added an unexpected element.
On the Avenue’s corner facade, Emirati artist Lamya Gargash presented her large-scale commission, the enlarged photograph A Corridor of Books. Renowned for her exploration of identity through both lived and abandoned spaces, Gargash turned to the private library of a prominent collector and patron of the arts in the UAE. At the heart of the photograph was a golden fabric draped through his library, guided by the Qibla—a compass pointing towards prayer. The installation invited reflection on memory, devotion, and the stories woven into the spaces we inhabit.
Gallery Exhibitions
The Avenue’s galleries and institutions opened an exciting lineup of exhibitions. At Ishara Art Foundation, Shilpa Gupta’s Lines of Flight took center stage, while Lawrie Shabibi presented 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 showcased Citadelles of Today by Chaouki Choukini.
Aisha Alabbar Gallery brought Superficial Transactions, a solo exhibition by Eman Al Hashemi, while Gulf Photo Plus’s The Life of an Itinerant through a Pinhole presented Behzad Khosravi Noori. 1×1 Art Gallery featured a solo show by Sohan Qadri, Custot Gallery exhibited Photosynthetic Forms by Marc Quinn, and Zawyeh Gallery highlighted a solo exhibition by Amirhossein Bayani.
Stage 2.0
Throughout the weekend, Stage 2.0 showcased 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 hosted Reel Palestine, a film festival celebrating Palestinian stories with screenings and a souk featuring crafts and flavors inspired by Palestinian traditions.
Kids’ Lane
The festival featured 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 were curated by What The Food by Alserkal, featuring the city’s most loved chefs, artisanal producers, and food entrepreneurs.
