Dubai set to host Global Encounters Festival 2025
UAE welcomes Ismaili Muslim youth from 50 nations
DUBAI is set to host the Global Encounters Festival 2025, a week-long international event that will bring together over 4,000 young Ismaili Muslim artists and athletes from more than 50 countries.
Scheduled from 20 to 27 July, the Festival is expected to attract over 25,000 visitors and unfold across key venues in the city.
Recognised as one of the largest global gatherings of the Ismaili Muslim community, the Festival will highlight youth creativity, sporting excellence, and civic participation – affirming the UAE’s role as a platform for cultural dialogue and innovation.
Held under the patronage of Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council, the Festival also aligns with the UAE’s declared Year of Community 2025, spotlighting shared values of unity, inclusion, and collective progress.
Institutional support
The event is being organised with strong backing from several UAE institutions, including the Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Sports, Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, and the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC).
Global talent and teamwork
At the core of the Festival are two signature platforms:
- Jubilee Games: Featuring 18 international sports competitions ranging from cricket and basketball to squash and swimming, the Games will be held at world-class venues across Dubai. They aim not only to challenge skill and stamina but also to foster ethics, collaboration, and intercultural unity.
- Jubilee Arts: A multifaceted celebration of global artistic expression, this segment spans visual arts, film, media, and performance. Hosted at DWTC, Jubilee Arts will showcase experimental films, interactive exhibitions, street art, and stage performances — offering a vivid glimpse into the creative energy of the global Ismaili youth.
Cultural programmes
Delegations from each participating country and region will contribute their own athletes and artists to the Festival, further enriching its diverse cultural tapestry. In addition to competitions and exhibitions, the Festival will serve as an interactive campus of ideas and innovation.
Key highlights include:
- The Global Concert: Headlined by internationally acclaimed performers Shreya Ghoshal, Salim-Sulaiman, and Shehzad Roy, this musical celebration aims to blend heritage with hope, rhythm with reflection.
- Opening and Closing Ceremonies: Conceptualised as theatrical pageants, these multilingual spectacles will narrate a shared story of cultural richness, diversity, and generational expression.
The Global Village: A lively, immersive marketplace celebrating world cultures through cuisine, crafts, and traditions. - AKDN Pavilion: Curated by the Aga Khan Development Network, this space will offer multimedia exhibitions on global development initiatives in health, education, heritage, and climate resilience. Interactive storytelling, digital media, and documentary films will bring these efforts to life.
- Aga Khan Museum Pop-Up: Visitors will also encounter a travelling exhibit from the Aga Khan Museum, showcasing centuries of Muslim artistic innovation through curated objects, digital works, and artefacts.
Symbol of unity
A poignant emblem of the Festival is the Faanoos – a lantern that has travelled from remote mountain hamlets to bustling metropolises. Its journey to Dubai symbolises the shared light of hope and the enduring unity that connects Ismaili communities worldwide.
Focus on sustainability
Environmental responsibility is deeply woven into the Festival’s ethos. From low-emission transportation to sustainable sourcing, organisers aim to minimise the event’s carbon footprint.
Festival participants have also pledged to plant one million trees through the Roots for Change campaign, a global initiative supporting the Aga Khan Development Network’s net zero commitment by 2030. Volunteers and attendees alike will take part in tree-planting activities and awareness campaigns, adding a lasting environmental legacy to the event’s cultural impact.