Featuring Emel Methlouthi and other acclaimed musicians, facilitators, and artists, the desert will become a vibrant stage for art, music, and human connection on 21, 22, and 23 November 2025

Reaffirming its status as a global cultural capital and a guardian of heritage, Sharjah is preparing to host the second edition of the Tanweer Festival, which returns to the spectacular Mleiha Desert on 21, 22 and 23 November 2025. Following the success of its debut event in 2024, the festival is bigger than ever with an impressive, expanded line-up of internationally acclaimed artists and facilitators, including world-famous singer and songwriter Emel Mathlouthi, who will headline the closing night.  With more world-renowned names yet to be announced, this year’s programme promises a transformative cultural journey where global artistry meets the timeless beauty of the Sharjah landscape.

The 2025 Celebration of Culture

This year’s Tanweer Festival is themed “What you Seek Is Seeking You,” and draws inspiration from the wisdom of Rumi. It’s vision encourages audiences to embark on an immersive journey of culture and heritage, with music, art, and nature woven into every experience. Over three days, visitors can expect a series of starlit concerts, inspiring workshops, interactive art installations, alongside a wide variety of activities that celebrate folk heritage and authentic traditions which embody the spirit of cultural exchange, sustainability, and collective transformation.

Performances from Global Icons

The festival will showcase a whole host of regional talents across its signature performance spaces: the Dome, the Tree of Life, the Marketplace, and the Main Stage. Each stage has been thoughtfully designed to evoke distinct sensory experiences and inspire encounters through culture, art, nature and connection of the human spirit. By blending natural elements with artistic expression, each performance is transformed into an intimate, evocative, and profound experience for all.

On the opening day of the festival, Emirati potter and artist Eman Al Shamsi, will bring the timeless beauty of clay to life in a dialogue between tradition and modernity at the Dome. On November 23rd, Master Can, a 34th-generation Shaolin monk known for blending martial-arts mastery with spiritual wisdom, will showcase a breathtaking demonstration of Tai Chi, which promises to be unmissable.

Day one at the Tree of Life will see the legendary Moroccan ensemble Nass El Ghiwane, hailed “The Rolling Stones of Africa” for their pioneering influence on world music, take to the stage. On day three, this stage will also feature a performance by Leo Rojas, the celebrated Ecuadorian pan flute virtuoso whose Andean roots echo through his soulful compositions, accompanied by guest art painter Geenss Archenti.

On day two the Marketplace will come alive with the dynamic Hanan Halwany– a Buzuq player and composer whose fusion of Eastern and Western sounds has captivated audiences from Dubai to Bollywood. Further, Dalal, a wellness coach whose work embodies transformational empowerment, will deliver her life wellness talk on day three.

On the Main Stage, the Kurdish Miraz Group will give audiences the opportunity to experience the beauty of Kurdish and Mesopotamian music firsthand with a unique performance on day two.

The first of the announced Main Stage headliners is Emel Mathlouthi, will close out the festival on day three. A Tunisian American singer-songwriter, musician, and producer, whose music has earned her international acclaim as a voice of resilience and empowerment, Emel is known for her bold artistry and dedication to achieving justice for the voiceless. She has inspired and captivated audiences around the world and with her latest album MRA, created entirely in collaboration with women artists, she amplifies stories of struggle and hope, making her the perfect embodiment of Tanweer’s spirit of enlightenment and unity.

Together, the festival’s artists bring diverse voices and traditions to the fore, creating a vibrant and powerful symphony of cultures. Over three days, the Mleiha desert with echo with ancestral rhythms, global sounds, and transformative performances that celebrate heritage, creativity, and collective connection.

An Invitation to Experience Tanweer

The second edition of Tanweer Festival is an invitation to step into a world where music, art, and nature converge in harmony. With its global line-up, meaningful ethos, and transformative desert setting, Tanweer offers a rare chance to experience a celebration that truly timeless.

The ‘Marketplace’ will be a vibrant hub within the festival, where visitors can meet local artisans and discover creative works in textiles, accessories, and handmade products.

Meanwhile, the ‘Nourish’ area will offer a space that brings together cuisines from diverse cultures to suit all tastes, in an atmosphere that celebrates diversity and tradition. It will provide a live experience reflecting the customs of different peoples and highlighting values of hospitality and generosity – an integral part of our shared cultural heritage.

The festival will also showcase art installations and artistic structures, adding new visual dimensions to the natural landscape. The installations will blend traditional materials with contemporary elements, offering visitors a unique aesthetic experience at the heart of nature.

For nature and adventure enthusiasts, the festival offers a wide variety of accommodation options, such as overnight camping, glamping and stays at nearby luxury retreats. The festival will also feature nine distinctive off-site nature activities, including guided tours of the Faya Paleolandscape site — recently inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list, visits to archaeological sites in Mleiha, nature walks, visits to the ‘Mleiha Archaeological Centre,’ stargazing, horse riding, fossil rock safari, and exciting rides in a custom Unimog vehicle. These activities aim to deepen visitors’ connection with the natural environment and the region’s historical heritage, adding a new dimension to their festival experience.

Don’t miss the Tanweer Festival 2025, which promises to be a gathering where the desert sings, the soul listens, and enlightenment awaits.

For more information and to register, visit www.tanweerfestival.com