Beats and eats: Untold Dubai line-up mixes DJs and dishes
The UAE is set to host one of its biggest music festivals to date with Untold Dubai. Running from today until Sunday at Expo City Dubai, the festival will host nearly 100 acts across five stages playing dance music, hip-hop, Afro-pop, K-pop and more.
In between performances by big-ticket DJs and musicians, festivalgoers can grab a bite from more than 25 regional and international food and beverage outlets, all served pop-up-style. With so much on offer, here are eight to see at the festival, and the foodie highlights to look out for.
Armin van Buuren
It’s only right that the Dutch DJ tops the bill. In addition to being a genre pioneer and seasoned hitmaker, Van Buuren was on hand to officially launch Untold Dubai last year with a performance at Burj Khalifa. Tonight, expect to hear songs including Lose This Feeling, One More Time and This Is What It Feels Like.
Bebe Rexha
The American singer has become a mainstay of the pop and dance charts. The latter is down to the dance festival favourite I’m Good (Blue) with David Guetta. Rexha’s solo hits include the Lil Wayne collaboration The Way I Are (Dance with Somebody) and the Grammy Award-nominated single I’m a Mess.
Ellie Goulding
The British singer returns to Dubai with fresh tunes courtesy of her new album Higher Than Heaven. Released last year, her fifth record has been critically hailed as her best yet with synth-pop tracks such as Easy Lover and Let it Die. Expect Goulding to also play some past favourites including 2010’s Starry Eyed and 2016’s Still Falling for You.
Tiesto
What can we say about Tiesto? The Dutch spinner and producer has virtually done it all. As well as helping to bring trance music to the masses, Tiesto has headlined some of the world’s biggest dance music festivals and continues to produce crossover hits including The Business and The Motto. He returns to the UAE after his performance at last year’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Major Lazer
The electronic music trio, led by super producer Diplo with DJs Walshy Fire and Ape Drums, is defined by their deft and sometimes kooky approach to blending pop music with everything from dance hall and reggae to hiphop and electro-house. This is best heard in the eclectic hit Lean On with DJ Snake and Powerful, featuring fellow headliner Goulding.
Manal
After making local ways with breakout singles Denia (2015) and Koulchi Ban (2017), Moroccan rapper Manal has established herself as a regional star, having featured in the 2022 Qatar World Cup official song Light the Sky and won Best Female Artist in Northern Africa at the 2021 All Africa Music Awards.
Asake
The vibrant Afrobeat genre is well represented with Asake. Since releasing his 2022 debut
It’s only right that Van Buuren tops the bill. He is a genre pioneer and launched Untold Dubai last year at Burj Khalifa
album Mr Money with the Vibe, the Nigerian singer has released a string of club-friendly anthems including the Grammy-nominated Amapiano.
Masego
The American-Jamaican saxophonist will bring his eclectic sound to Dubai. Blending jazz with hip-hop and RnB, Masego is viewed as a rising star with his 2022 debut album Lady Lady nominated for a Grammy.
Food trucks at Untold
Groove on the Grass, Cop28, ComiCon. Chances are UAE residents have come across the vibrant food trucks put together by Wheels Ahoy over the years. The home-grown brand’s latest adventure will be at Untold.
The National reached out to a host of home-grown and international restaurants that will serve bite-sized dishes at the festival for a fraction of their usual cost.
For those craving Middle Eastern meze, head to the Allo Beirut kiosk. Here, you will be able to find chicken shawarma and falafel sandwiches, as well as dynamite fries, with a starting price of Dh16.
For some hearty yet healthy Asian-inspired fare, check out the Vietnamese Foodies popup. The Dubai-born chain will have appetisers such as prawn crackers (Dh10), edamame (Dh20) and chicken satay (Dh35); and mains such as beef brisket pho (Dh55) and banh mi sandwiches (Dh45).
Of course, fast food – and not the salad bowl kind – is par for the course at music festivals.
Seek out a sandwich from German Doner Kebab or a gourmet burger from the British brand Patty & Bun. The latter offers a classic dry-aged beef patty, buttermilk fried chicken and a portobello mushroom burger with garlic parsley butter.
These will be served from a food truck on all four days of the music festival.
Burgers can also be picked up from High Joint, Pickl and Neat (ideal for vegans), while pizza lovers can make a beeline for a slice at Pinza, Tonda or Pizza Express.
“The nine-metre trailer we put together for Pizza Express is called the Ahoy Infinity model and its USP is that the width can be extended using a remote control, so it goes from the usual 2.4 metres to three metres,” says Jithin Shamsudeen, head of marketing at Wheels Ahoy, which is the official food and beverage manager of Untold.
Untold Dubai runs from today until Sunday at Dubai Expo City. Tickets start at Dh300 and doors open at 6pm. More information is available at www.untold.ae