Few acts from the Arab world have shifted the sound of hip-hop quite like Shabjdeed and Al Nather. The Palestinian duo—who co-founded Ramallah’s underground collective BLTNM back in 2016—have built a universe that’s loud, political, and deeply local. Shabjdeed’s (born Abu Othaina) raw, slang-laden verses cut through the noise of daily life under occupation, while Al Nather’s dark, experimental beats turn those stories into something cinematic. Together, they’ve carved a new lane for Arabic rap.
Now, the pair who gave us Sindibad el Ward are bringing that energy to one of the region’s biggest cultural stages. Sole DXB just revealed that they will take the stage at the forthcoming three-day event, joining a jam-packed lineup that includes headliners Tyla, Kaytranada, and Miguel, on the main stage this December at Dubai Design District (d3). The festival also announced Lil Yachty, who will perform on December 13, which is his first major show in Dubai since his Let’s Start Here era sent the internet into a frenzy.
For years, Sole DXB has been the place where music, fashion, and street culture collide, but this year’s roster for its 13th edition signals a shift toward celebrating the region’s own voices at the same scale as its global counterparts.
Since launching in 2011, the festival has grown from a niche sneaker event into a full-blown cultural takeover. Beyond performances, it’s a space where ideas and identities intersect, where art, design, and subcultures from across the world find common ground under Dubai’s winter sun. So to see Shabjdeed and Al Nather up there, headlining next to Grammy winners and global chart-toppers, is well-deserved. In short: fans who’ve followed Shabjdeed and Al Nather from SoundCloud links and DIY gigs to Boiler Room acclaim will now catch them on a marquee stage.
Shabjdeed and Al Nather will hit the main stage on Sunday, December 14. General admission tickets are already available on Dubai Platinumlist, starting from Dhs449 for a weekend pass. Lineup details, ticket categories, and programme updates will all be revealed in the lead-up to the festival.