WASLA Festival Announces 2026 Dubai Edition November 28th

Arab alternative music and arts festival WASLA is returning to Dubai on November 28th, bringing together four acts spanning Arabic folk, oud-led compositions, desert blues and contemporary soul for a night of music to raise funds for displaced families across the region.

WASLA launched in Dubai in 2017 as an Arabic alternative music festival, bringing artists from across the Middle East and North Africa onto one stage at a time when independent Arabic music remained underrepresented in the UAE’s mainstream live circuit. Across its early editions, the festival hosted influential acts including Mashrou’ Leila, Souad Massi, Cairokee, 47Soul and Autostrad, spanning indie rock, folk, electronic music and regional fusion, earning recognition as a significant platform for the region’s independent music scene.

Taking place at Jubilee Park, Expo City Dubai, the festival’s 2026 edition will be headlined by legendary Lebanese composer and oud player Marcel Khalife, joined by Palestinian oud trio Le Trio Joubran, Syrian duo TootArd, and Abu Dhabi-based singer Fatime, formerly known as FAFA.

The festival is organised by BRAG in partnership with UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency. All proceeds from the festival will be donated to UNHCR to support its work with displaced families. Tickets for WASLA 2026 are available via TicketsMarche UAE’s official website.