Smoke, kites, tomahawks: Meats & Mountains 2025

Meats & Mountains, Jebel Hafit Desert Park, Al Ain events, BBQ festival UAE, desert food festival, UAE outdoor events, family activities UAE, tickets

Meats & Mountains, the UAE’s open-air BBQ festival, returns to Jebel Hafit Desert Park across two Saturdays this winter. Expect tomahawks over flame, Emirati sweets, live music and a night sky worth staying up for. Tickets start at AED 360, with cheaper child pricing and an early-bird window that shuts on 15 November.   

What is Meats & Mountains?

A desert food festival that blends live-fire cooking, outdoor fun and local culture at the foot of Jebel Hafit in Al Ain. 

• Live-fire cooking stations and traditional treats
• Community vibe with home-grown music acts
• Premium proteins supported by Meat Avenue and Transmed 

This is not a mall pop-up. It’s a proper outdoor gathering with smoke, spice and a clear view of the mountains. The line-up mixes big, flame-kissed cuts with comfort snacks and sweets, soundtracked by local artists and centred on a shared love of good food. 

Dates, timings and location

Two Saturdays, one spectacular setting.

• Dates: 29 November and 20 December 2025
• Time: 3:30 pm till late
• Venue: Jebel Hafit Desert Park, Al Ain
• Tickets and info: the official Meats & Mountains page   

The festival takes place in a UNESCO-listed landscape that combines desert plains with a dramatic mountain ridge. Gates open mid-afternoon so you can catch the golden hour before the bonfires start glowing. It’s Al Ain, so expect cooler temperatures and a slower pace compared to the city. 

Food highlights: from tomahawks to lugaimat

Yes, the meat takes centre stage, but there’s a range for every appetite. 

• Hanging tomahawks and ribeye over open flames
• Smashed burgers and other live-fire stations
• Emirati favourites: lugaimat and karak tea 

You’ll find serious cuts sizzling over fire, casual eats like smashed burgers for the grazers, and classic Emirati sweets to finish. It’s built for groups who want to share plates and swap bites without overthinking the menu. If open-flame cooking is your thing, our look at smoked-meat spots in the city will be your next stop.

Entertainment and activities

Plenty to do between bites. 

• Live performances from home-grown musicians
• Kite flying and marshmallow roasting at communal bonfires
• Options to stay overnight: camping, glamping and hotel partners with special rates 

The programme is set up for families and groups. Kids can run off energy with kites before everyone circles the fire for marshmallows. If the sky is clear, staying overnight is an easy sell, and the park’s accommodation mix ranges from back-to-basics tents to bubble-style glamping.

Tickets, prices and early-bird window

Simple pricing with a family deal. 

• Adults: from AED 360
• Children under 12: AED 90
• Early-bird: buy before 15 November 2025 for the best price
• Book here: official ticket page 

Lock in your spot before the early-bird cut-off to save a bit, especially if you’re bringing the whole crew. The page also lists accommodation partners if you want to make a weekend of it.   

Related reads on Tbreak

In a meat mood after the fest? Here are our best burgers in Dubai. Read the guide. 

Planning tunes for your campfire? Check our quick list of portable party speakers for the UAE. (Deals change, but the picks hold up.) Best 11.11 audio deals in the UAE. 

FAQs