On Saturday 22 November 2025, Dubai Sports City will host AWEH! Fest, a new South African music festival bringing a full afternoon of live bands, food and rugby to Garden by Kicker, with doors opening at 14:00 and the main performances scheduled from 16:00 into the evening. The event marks the first edition of a year-round festival series dedicated to South African culture, created to give the local community and curious newcomers a proper taste of home. A line-up of South African acts, a dedicated kids’ area and a big-screen rugby screening are designed to turn the day into a relaxed, family-style gathering rather than a short, late-night club show. Tickets currently start at approximately 199 AED for early bird general admission, with VIP options reaching around 299 AED and free entry for children under 12 on selected categories. Doors open at 14:00, so arriving early gives you cooler temperatures, easier parking and more time to settle in.
South African artists light up Garden by Kicker
The debut edition of AWEH! Fest leans heavily into South African talent, with a bill that reads like a playlist from back home. Posduif bring upbeat Afrikaans pop with big sing-along choruses and a reputation for energetic live shows that celebrate togetherness and hope. Rubber Duc add their polished alt-pop sound, drawing on years of headlining South African festivals and corporate stages, blending acoustic dance grooves with catchy hooks. Eloff delivers modern Afrikaans pop-sokkie, built around radio-friendly melodies and crowd-pleasing hits that have helped him emerge as a rising name across South Africa. Finally, 4AM round out the line-up with indie pop-rock energy, known for festival appearances and interactive performances that focus on good vibes and audience participation. The debut line-up is curated to feel like a compact South African festival transplanted directly into Dubai.
Festival concept of AWEH Fest in Dubai
Organisers are positioning AWEH! Fest as more than just a concert, framing it as a full cultural day out built around South African music, food and social rituals. Stalls serving familiar South African flavours are expected to anchor the food offering, so you can graze between sets rather than treating the show as a quick in-and-out performance. A big rugby screening is planned to weave sport into the programme, encouraging people to stick around through sunset and watch a match together on large outdoor screens. In addition, organisers highlight a kids’ play area so parents can relax while children stay entertained, which helps the festival feel welcoming rather than intense. The day is pitched as a chilled, open-air gathering with space for families, groups of friends and solo visitors to mingle without pressure. Overall, the concept is a relaxed all-ages festival afternoon and evening (children/family-friendly, suitable for couples, solo).
Timings, tickets and age details for AWEH Fest
The first AWEH! Fest takes place on Saturday 22 November 2025 at Garden by Kicker in Dubai Sports City, with listed doors at 14:00 and the main music programme starting at 16:00. Listings suggest the event runs into late evening, with some schedules indicating an approximate closing time around 23:00 to 23:30, so you can expect a full day rather than a short early set. Early bird general admission is currently advertised from approximately 199 AED, while early bird VIP packages for 21+ guests climb to around 299 AED, usually with better viewing areas or additional comforts. Ticket categories also include free or zero-cost options for children under 12 in certain family-friendly sections, provided they are accompanied by an adult with a valid ticket. Since some ticket types are marked 21+ and others are all-ages, it is important to check your specific category before purchase and to carry ID for age checks at the entrance. Plan to arrive between 14:00 and 15:30 to avoid queues, secure preferred viewing spots and allow time for ticket scanning and ID control.
Travel, traffic and parking around Dubai Sports City
Garden by Kicker sits within Dubai Sports City, close to the residential clusters around Victory Heights and Motor City, and most drivers will approach via Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road or Al Khail Road before following local signage toward Sports City. Once you exit onto the internal road network, traffic can slow around roundabouts and junctions, especially on a Saturday afternoon when residents and visitors are all moving at similar times. Parking is available in and around Sports City, including surface parking close to Garden by Kicker and other nearby facilities, but it is not endless and can fill quickly during major events. For drivers coming from central Dubai areas such as Dubai Marina, JLT or Business Bay, allowing at least 30 to 40 minutes of travel time is sensible, plus extra for parking and walking to the gate. Those driving in from Abu Dhabi should factor in at least 90 minutes on the E11, then time to navigate into Sports City, while visitors from Sharjah and Ajman should allow generous margins for weekend traffic on Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Road. Because on-street and venue-side parking can reach capacity before sunset, arriving earlier in the afternoon significantly reduces stress.
If you prefer not to drive, ride-hailing and taxis are the most straightforward alternatives, as there is no Metro station directly at Dubai Sports City and bus options are limited and slower. A drop-off near Garden by Kicker keeps walking distances short, although you should agree a clear pick-up point with your driver for the journey home, as traffic at closing time can become congested around common taxi waiting spots. Visitors coming from Abu Dhabi, Sharjah or other emirates often drive most of the way and switch to taxis for the last few kilometres, which helps avoid the hassle of finding unfamiliar parking under time pressure. On the way out, it is often calmer to wait 20 to 30 minutes after the final songs or the rugby screening before ordering a car, especially if you are with a larger group. Using ride-hailing or pre-booked taxis for the final leg is often the least stressful choice, particularly for those unfamiliar with Dubai Sports City’s internal roads.
On site experience, comfort and accessibility tips
AWEH! Fest is staged in a largely outdoor setting at Garden by Kicker, so expect a mix of grass and paved areas, food and beverage tents, and open standing zones in front of the stage where the South African acts perform. The festival layout is designed so you can move between music, food and the rugby screen without losing the relaxed afternoon atmosphere, but that also means you will spend long stretches on your feet. Comfortable closed shoes are strongly recommended, especially if you plan to arrive early for the first performances and stay through the rugby and headline sets into the evening. Most comparable festivals in Dubai operate largely cashless systems, so you should prepare to pay by card or mobile wallet and bring a fully charged phone plus a small power bank. Although accessibility details may vary, outdoor events at this venue generally offer level access routes, but wheelchair users and guests with mobility needs should still allow extra time to move between areas and avoid the busiest crowds. Carry only essential items in a small bag, keep your phone charged and your ID accessible, and expect bag checks at the entrance.
Weather, clothing and safety guidance for 22 November
Weather forecasts for Saturday 22 November 2025 indicate hazy sunshine and warm but manageable temperatures in Dubai, with daytime highs around 31 to 32 degrees and evening lows dipping to the low to mid 20s. Rain is not expected and November historically brings very few wet days to the city, so mud is unlikely, though grass areas may still hold a little moisture from evening dew. Light, breathable clothing works best for the afternoon heat, but it is wise to pack a thin layer or shawl for later, when temperatures feel milder and a light breeze can pick up across the open Sports City site. A hat, sunglasses and sunscreen help during the early part of the day, especially if you plan to stand near the stage from the first sets, while a refillable water bottle is useful if allowed by the organisers, given that the festival covers many hours. Traffic should be moderate by mid-afternoon but can become heavier as people drive in from other parts of Dubai and nearby emirates for the evening performances and rugby, so building extra time into both arrival and departure plans is sensible. According to information cross-checked by editors working with www.few.ae, the most important thing is to buy tickets early, double-check your chosen category and organise transport in advance so you are not scrambling for parking or entrance when the music starts. Ticket categories, prices and timings are still subject to change, so treat the ranges of approximately 199 AED to 299 AED and the suggested schedule as guidance, not guaranteed figures.
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