Dopa World 2026 in Dubai

Dopa World 2026 in Dubai is a two-day festival celebrating the new generation of Arab music, culture and creativity, held at Jubilee Park in Expo City Dubai on Friday 18 and Saturday 19 December. Egyptian rapper Ziad Zaza headlines the first night and Saint Levant the second, with Shehab also on the bill and more artists still to be announced. Doors open at 4pm on both days.

What is Dopa World?

Dopa World was created to support and showcase young Arab talent, and the organisers are clear that it is meant to be more than a concert. Alongside the stage, the festival brings together a curated selection of local brands, food concepts and creative experiences, giving emerging artists, small businesses and creatives a platform to reach new audiences. Think of it as a weekend snapshot of where Arab youth culture is right now: in music, fashion, food and design.

The line-up

Friday 18 December: Ziad Zaza

Ziad Zaza is one of the most distinctive voices in Egyptian rap. His early releases leaned on trap and drill, with a raspy voice and deliberately loose, off-beat flows, and his album El Rays was described by Scene Noise as an experimental attempt to shape a home-grown Egyptian drill sound, built on sparse bass and samples that recall 1990s Arabic television. Since then he has widened his palette: the EP Wrangler Beda stripped things back, while the album Zaza El Waseem brought in afrobeats, jersey club, post-shaabi and old-school hip-hop. Expect a high-energy, unpredictable set.

Saturday 19 December: Saint Levant

Saint Levant, born Marwan Abdelhamid in Jerusalem in 2000, grew up between Gaza and Amman and sings and raps in Arabic, English and French, the three languages he grew up with. He broke through in 2022 with “Very Few Friends”, a trilingual track that spread fast on TikTok and Spotify, and in 2024 released his debut album Deira, whose title track features MC Abdul. Between those came the 2023 EP From Gaza, with Love, and in 2024 he also performed at Coachella in California. His music moves easily between rap and pop, and between languages, often within a single verse, which is a big part of why it has travelled so widely across the region and beyond.

Shehab and more

Shehab is also listed on the line-up, without a confirmed day yet, and the organisers say more artists will be announced. Keep an eye on the ticket page for the full bill and set times.

Beyond the stage

Between sets there are stalls from local brands, food concepts to try and creative experiences around the park. The festival is cashless, so bring a card or phone for payments, and outside food and drink are not allowed. With doors at 4pm, there is time to explore before the evening headliners.

The venue: Jubilee Park, Expo City Dubai

Jubilee Park is an open-air space within Expo City Dubai, the district built for Expo 2020, and it suits a festival of this kind, with room for a main stage, food and brand areas. December evenings are mild, which makes it a comfortable time of year for an outdoor event. There is no cloakroom or storage, so pack light.

Entry rules

• Age: strictly 12+, and under-16s must be with an adult aged 18 or over.
• ID: bring an original Emirates ID, an original passport or digital ID on the UAE ICP app; foreign driving licences are not accepted.
• Bags: nothing larger than 30 x 30 x 15 cm, and bags may be searched.
• Not allowed: weapons, glass containers, fireworks, lasers, large recording equipment, selfie sticks, megaphones, foldable chairs, large flags or banners, musical instruments, laptops and tablets.
• Tickets: one entry per ticket, with no re-entry, and tickets are non-refundable unless the organiser cancels. Accessible tickets for People of Determination must be bought in advance.
• Filming: the festival is professionally photographed and filmed, and entering means you consent to appear.

Getting there

By car, take Expo Road (E77), then follow Boulevard 2020 and Mangrove Street; GPS is advised. Parking is limited and not guaranteed with your ticket, so taxis and ride-hailing apps are a sensible choice. Expo City Dubai is also served by the Expo 2020 station at the end of the Metro Red Line.

Who it suits

Dopa World is made for fans of contemporary Arab music and anyone curious about the artists shaping the region’s new sound, from Egypt’s rap scene to the trilingual pop of Saint Levant. It suits groups of friends, music lovers who like discovering emerging names, and teenagers aged 12 and over with an adult. As each night has a different headliner, pick the artist who matters most to you, or make a weekend of it.

For more ideas, see our guide to concerts in Dubai, check what is on this weekend, or browse things to do in December.