Tanweer Festival returns to the Mleiha desert in Sharjah from Friday 21 November to Sunday 23 November 2025, bringing three days of music, workshops and contemplative desert experiences to the Central Region. Set up under the patronage of H.H. Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, the festival focuses on sacred music, mindfulness and sustainability rather than a conventional commercial concert format. The 2025 edition carries the Rumi-inspired theme “What you seek is seeking you,” with performances spread across a main stage, a Tree of Life area, a Dome space and a heritage stage. Friday is designed as a full narrative arc, starting with sound healing in the morning and ending with a late night poetry session under the stars. Day one on Friday 21 November 2025 will be the busiest, anchored by a headline concert from A.R. Rahman at 10:00 pm.
Friday programme overview at Mleiha desert
On Friday 21 November 2025, the official schedule shows activities beginning at 10:00 am with Sound Healing with Marko in the Dome, followed by creative and musical sessions that roll continuously through the afternoon and evening. Visitors can move between the Dome, the Nourish food area, the Marketplace, the Heritage Stage and the Tree of Life before the programme shifts to the Main Stage at night. The afternoon gradually builds energy with heritage bands and North African group Nass El Ghiwane before the opening ceremony at 7:30 pm. Later, the main stage sequence leads into Aya Khalaf at 8:30 pm and A.R. Rahman at 10:00 pm, while the Tree of Life hosts a musical poetry circle at 11:30 pm to close the first night. The entire day functions as one continuous journey, so a full Day Pass makes sense if you want the complete Friday story (suitable for adults and couples; solo-friendly, 18+ only).
Morning sound healing and creative workshops
If you prefer a gentle start, arriving between 9:30 am and 10:30 am will drop you straight into the quieter, contemplative part of the programme. Sound Healing with Marko at 10:00 am in the Dome sets a slow, meditative tone, while Authentica at 11:00 am in the Marketplace and a pottery workshop with Eman Al Shamsi at 11:30 am offer tactile, grounded ways to ease into the desert environment. Around 1:00 pm, musical poetry with Nancy Zabaneh and Sandu in the Nourish Area and a Daff session with Miraz Ensemble at 1:30 pm in the Dome deepen the daytime soundscape. Temperatures are expected to climb to around 32–33°C in the early afternoon, so regular water breaks and sun protection are essential even in November. For those who like slow, immersive experiences, the morning and early afternoon blocks are ideal (adult-only, reflective atmosphere).
Afternoon heritage shows and golden hour performances
From mid afternoon, the programme shifts more clearly into heritage and ensemble performances, just as the sun begins to soften over the dunes. At 3:20 pm, a Heritage Band performing Al Ayala takes over the Heritage Stage, followed by a set from Nassib Bouchebel at 3:30 pm in the Marketplace, making that time window good for moving between stages. At 4:00 pm, Nass El Ghiwane bring their distinctive Moroccan sound to the Tree of Life, giving the desert amphitheatre a cinematic mood. By 5:00 pm, Azhar Kubba plays in the Marketplace while an Art Tour leaves from the main entrance, ideal for visitors who want to understand the installations before the evening crowds arrive. At 6:00 pm, El Amir performs at the Tree of Life, often coinciding with golden hour light, which makes this section particularly attractive for photography-minded visitors. If you enjoy heritage bands and softer sunset performances, planning to be on site from around 3:00 pm is a smart move (18+, very suitable for couples and small friend groups).
Opening ceremony and evening build up
The main ceremonial moment of the day unfolds in the early evening, when attention focuses on the main stage. At 7:20 pm, Heritage Band Al Nadba perform on the Main Stage, effectively warming up the arena and setting a traditional rhythm for the night. At 7:30 pm, H.H. Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi delivers the opening speech, followed by an opening ceremony featuring calligraphy lighting by Julien Breton, so this is the key time to be inside the main stage area if you value the festival’s narrative and visuals. At 8:30 pm, Aya Khalaf takes over the Main Stage, giving guests a full concert experience before the headliner. Because the Main Stage Pass (AED 400, approximately) allows entry from 7:30 pm onward, some visitors will time their arrival specifically for this evening window rather than for the daytime workshops. Anyone holding an evening-only Main Stage Pass should aim to arrive well before 7:30 pm to clear parking and entry queues.
A.R. Rahman’s desert headline concert at 10:00 pm
The centrepiece of the first day is the A.R. Rahman show on the Main Stage at 10:00 pm, which anchors Friday’s identity within the wider festival. Rahman, a two time Academy Award and two time Grammy winner best known internationally for the soundtrack of “Slumdog Millionaire,” brings a catalogue that blends Indian classical, global pop and film music influences. In a desert context, this typically translates into a set that moves between introspective pieces and high energy arrangements, with visuals and lighting designed to match the spiritual tone of Tanweer. Because many guests will enter the site specifically for this concert, expect the main stage area to feel full, especially around the start time. For those sensitive to crowds, standing slightly towards the sides or near designated premium seating (included with the Mleiha Bracelet passes) can make the experience more comfortable. From a planning perspective, Friday night at 10:00 pm will be the highest intensity moment of the entire day (best for adults who enjoy large scale live shows).
Late night poetry circle at 11:30 pm
Rather than ending abruptly after the headliner, the Friday programme flows into a quieter, more intimate late night segment. At 11:30 pm, Musical Poetry with Anas Halabi and Nancy Zabaneh takes place at the Tree of Life, offering a softer landing after the energy of the main stage. This part of the evening usually attracts guests who want to sit on the sand, listen and decompress before facing the drive back or heading to their tents. Because desert temperatures are forecast to drop toward 16–18°C by the late night hours, a light layer or shawl will feel very useful once you stop moving. Visitors staying in or near Mleiha can comfortably remain until the end of the poetry session, while those driving back to Dubai or Abu Dhabi might choose to leave either just before midnight or after the first traffic wave has cleared. If you value a calmer, more reflective close to the day, the 11:30 pm poetry circle is the moment to prioritise (best for solo visitors and couples, 18+).
Tickets, passes and pricing options in AED
For Friday 21 November 2025, pricing is structured around several pass categories rather than individual show tickets. As of mid November, Main Stage Pass General Admission for headliner performances is listed at around AED 400 per person, granting access to the festival site from 7:30 pm, the main stage headliner and the Nourish and Marketplace areas. One Day Pass General Admission stands at approximately AED 700 per person, giving full day access from the morning workshops through to the late night poetry session. For visitors who prefer additional comfort, the Mleiha Bracelet One Day Pass is currently around AED 1,050 per person and adds Shurooq Lounge access, reserved parking, access to the Mleiha Archaeological Centre and premium main stage seating on a first come, first served basis. Multi day options include a three day General Admission Festival Pass at about AED 1,650, a Mleiha Bracelet three day pass at about AED 2,500, a Together Pass for two people at around AED 2,100, and Group Passes for five people starting near AED 5,100, with higher rates for bracelet upgrades. Children’s pricing is not highlighted in the official information because the programme is designed for adults 18 and over, so all visitors should assume adult pricing and check the latest details before booking (adult only, couples and friend groups).
Getting to Mleiha from Sharjah, Dubai and Abu Dhabi
Mleiha sits roughly 65 km southeast of Sharjah city along the Sharjah Kalba Road (E102), with access also possible via the E611 from Dubai, making it a realistic same day trip for most UAE residents. Travel guides and official descriptions generally estimate about 40 minutes driving from Sharjah and around 50 to 60 minutes from most parts of Dubai, depending on traffic and your exact starting point. There is no direct public transport to Mleiha, so visitors almost always arrive by private car, rental or organised transfer, and you do not need a 4WD vehicle just to reach the festival grounds if you stick to the main access road. Sharjah residents may find it easiest to leave the city between 2:00 pm and 3:30 pm to enjoy both daytime workshops and sunset, while Dubai visitors who only want the evening could target departures between 4:30 pm and 5:30 pm to avoid peak urban traffic and still arrive before 7:00 pm. Because the organisers expect around 1,500 people per day and parking availability can vary by ticket type, arriving early in the afternoon usually makes parking and check in smoother, especially for those without reserved spaces.
Camping, glamping and staying overnight near the site
For visitors who want to avoid a late night drive after the 10:00 pm A.R. Rahman concert and the 11:30 pm poetry session, the festival’s stay options are a key part of planning. Tanweer works closely with Mleiha’s camping infrastructure, offering tent rental, glamping setups and bring your own tent pitches close to the grounds, all with access to basic facilities such as toilets, showers, running water and managed waste. Standard glamping provides stylish tents and shared facilities, while premium glamping adds ensuite bathrooms and more privacy, making it attractive to couples who want a quieter base between shows. Alternatively, guests can stay in Sharjah city or Dubai and drive back after the programme, but this will mean navigating dark desert highways after midnight with other festival traffic. Because the site is adults focused and the official guidelines ask anyone 17 and under to sit this edition out, overnight arrangements are clearly targeted at adults seeking a mindful retreat rather than a family weekend. If you are sensitive to driving when tired, staying overnight in Mleiha or nearby and driving home on Saturday morning is the safest and most comfortable strategy (suited to adults, couples and solo travellers).
Weather, clothing, traffic and closing warnings
Forecasts for the Mleiha area on Friday 21 November 2025 indicate plenty of sunshine, with afternoon highs near 33°C and night time lows around 16°C, and similar hazy sun on Saturday 22 November and Sunday 23 November 2025, so rain and mud are not currently expected to affect the weekend. Lightweight, breathable clothing, a hat, sunglasses and high SPF suncream are essential during the day, while a light jacket, scarf or hoodie becomes important after 9:30 pm when you slow down to watch the shows. Closed shoes or sturdy sandals are better than open flip flops because you will be walking on sand and gravel, and the terrain can be uneven, especially around the Tree of Life and the Heritage Stage. Traffic is likely to peak on arrival between 4:00 pm and 8:00 pm and again on departure between 11:30 pm and 1:00 am, so visitors from Dubai and Abu Dhabi should factor in extra time for the Sharjah Kalba Road and night driving on unlit desert sections; there is no direct public transport, but taxis or pre arranged transfers remain an option if you do not wish to drive yourself. Ticket prices and on the door availability may change, so treat all prices as approximately in AED and secure your preferred pass early if possible, a point also underlined by editors following the festival closely on platforms such as www.few.ae.
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