Global Legends Unite: Rahman, Shankar and Mathlouthi Light Up Tanweer Festival 2025
The festival’s star-studded edition draws international crowds to Sharjah, affirming its rise as a global stage for music, art and culture
Sharjah, UAE; November 19, 2025: The Tanweer Festival 2025 returns to Sharjah’s Mleiha Desert from 21–23 November, bringing together 183 leading musicians and creators from 23 nations for a three-day celebration of artistic innovation and cultural connection.
With an extraordinary lineup of artists, the second edition of Tanweer Festival underscores Sharjah’s emergence as a global hub for intercultural exchange, creative excellence and soulful gatherings. 28 performances across four immersive stages will guide audiences on a captivating journey of sound, spirit and storytelling.
From Oscar-winning composer A.R. Rahman to Grammy-nominated sitar virtuoso Anoushka Shankar and Tunisian-American singer-songwriter Emel Mathlouthi, the festival brings together artists who embody the transformative power of music. They are joined by Palestinian vocalist Aya Khalaf, who reimagines heritage through her evocative performances; Iranian maestros Sohrab Pournazeri and Sahar Boroujerdi, who breathe new life into traditional forms; and Lebanese composer and Buzuq player Hanan Halwany, whose East–West fusion creates a bridge between cultures.
Beyond its world-class lineup, Tanweer’s scale and curation demonstrate Sharjah’s leadership in convening global talent around values of sustainability, tradition, and inclusive creativity.
Set against the inspiring landscape of Mleiha, —part of the newly inscribed Faya Paleolandscape on the UNESCO World Heritage List—the Tanweer Festival 2025 embraces the theme “What You Seek Is Seeking You.” Inspired by the timeless wisdom of the 13th-century poet Rumi, it invites audiences to experience the universal languages of music, art and human connection.
Over three unforgettable days, Tanweer’s purpose-built performance areas, such as the Main Stage, the Dome, the Tree of Life, and the Marketplace, will host starlit concerts, transformative sound journeys, and intimate cultural encounters that bridge heritage and innovation.
The festival features nine workshops led by visionary facilitators, and eleven large-scale art installations by Emirati, UAE-based, and international artists, including HYBYCOZO (monumental geometric light structures); Seo Young Deok (hyper-real sculptures forged from industrial chains); and Milla Novo (large-scale fiber and macramé works rooted in Mapuche heritage), among others.
A vibrant marketplace of 14 artisanal vendors and 17 Nourish-area culinary experiences celebrate craft, design, music, and global flavors. Extending into nature and history, nine experiential activities — from stargazing and desert explorations to guided archaeological tours — invite visitors to connect with place and memory. Together, these experiences highlight Sharjah as a living cultural hub, where art, nature, and global audiences come together to learn, celebrate, and create.
Tanweer welcomes international audiences and media to witness Sharjah’s creative leadership first-hand, where East meets West, tradition meets innovation, and desert horizons serve as the backdrop for performances that speak to our shared human story today.
For more information and to register, visit www.tanweerfestival.com
Hussain Al Mulla
Media Relations Executive – Sharjah Government Media Bureau
+971563980067
Hussain.almulla@sgmb.ae
