- What The Food by Alserkal runs 25–26 October, 10 am to 10 pm, at Alserkal Avenue, Al Quoz.
- 2025 theme is “Disrupting the Table,” focused on rethinking food systems and values.
- Expect critical conversations, curated experiences and collaborative learning, not just tastings.
- Supported by Dubai Calendar; partners include Emirates NBD, Jumeirah, Wisk, Rikas and Stellantis.
- Closest metro: Onpassive (M1). RTA bus 110 links the station to Alserkal; parking uses code 364C.
What The Food returns to Alserkal Avenue on 25–26 October with a clear stance: challenge the way we think about how food is grown, made and shared. Running 10 am to 10 pm both days in Al Quoz, the 2025 edition, “Disrupting the Table,” is built around talks, experiences and learning, with artists, chefs, farmers and innovators in the mix. It’s less about chasing trends and more about systems, stories and survival.
What is What The Food?
- Connects chefs, farmers, artists, thinkers and innovators
- Blends critical conversations with curated experiences
- Treats food as cultural, environmental and creative urgency
What The Food by Alserkal frames food as a lens to examine bigger issues. It brings together people who work with food and through food to probe how supply, knowledge and values shape the plates in front of us. This year, the programme leans into contradiction and critique while still keeping room for joy.
Dates, times and where it’s happening
- Dates: Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 October 2025
- Times: 10:00 to 22:00 daily (GST)
- Venue: Alserkal Avenue, Al Quoz 1
Clear your weekend. The hours are built for daytime talks and evening activations across the Avenue’s warehouses and courtyards. If you’re mapping the day, treat the mornings for sessions and the late afternoon for installations and pop-ups. All of it is set within Alserkal Avenue, Dubai’s independent arts and culture district in Al Quoz.
Theme: “Disrupting the Table”
- Rethinks systems, values and assumptions around food
- Puts critique next to celebration and tradition
- Focus on who holds knowledge and what counts as innovation
“Disrupting the Table” is not foodie wordplay. It’s a push to examine power, provenance and practice. The edition positions What The Food 2025 as a space to ask harder questions: who gets to define progress, which stories we prioritise and how food can adapt to a rapidly shifting world. Expect sessions that treat supply chains, waste, climate and community with the seriousness they deserve.
Getting there and parking
Make your route easy, especially at peak times
- Metro: Onpassive (M1). It’s a short taxi ride or bus hop
- Bus: RTA route 110 runs from Al Safa Bus Terminus to Alserkal
- Driving: enter via 17th St, 6A St or First Al Khail St; use RTA code 364C for parking
- Arrivals: there are 500+ RTA spaces around the Avenue
Alserkal Avenue sits in Al Quoz 1 and is simple to reach. From the metro, you can jump on the RTA’s dedicated 110 shuttle that loops from Al Safa/Onpassive to the Avenue. Driving in? Use the RTA parking around the cluster and don’t forget to top up with code 364C. It’s busier from late afternoon, so plan buffer time if you’ve booked sessions.
Who’s backing it and why that helps
- Supported by Dubai Calendar
- Partners: Emirates NBD, Jumeirah, Wisk, Rikas, Stellantis
Partnerships matter because they shape what can happen on the ground. With support from Dubai Calendar and brands across finance, hospitality and mobility, the festival can stage a wider programme and keep the focus on content rather than spon-speak. It’s a decent signal of momentum behind a more thoughtful food conversation in Dubai.
What are the dates and times for What The Food 2025?
25–26 October, 10 am to 10 pm both days at Alserkal Avenue, Al Quoz.
What’s the main focus this year?
“Disrupting the Table” looks at the systems and values behind what we eat, putting critique next to celebration to rethink assumptions and innovation.
How do I get there by public transport?
Take the M1 to Onpassive Station, then the RTA 110 bus or a short taxi. Several other bus lines stop within a 7–10-minute walk.
Is there parking?
Yes. Use surrounding RTA spaces and pay with code 364C. On-site parking is restricted to keep the Avenue pedestrian-friendly.
Where can I read more about Alserkal Avenue and nearby eats?
See our recent round-up of Alserkal Avenue’s September lineup for venue context, our guide to the best coffee in Dubai featuring Nightjar at Alserkal, and for another big F&B weekend on the calendar, here’s Taste of Abu Dhabi 2025.
