Fatima | MINOVA

The next wave of UAE artistry as soulful storyteller Fatima and viral indie star MINOVA deliver an evening of deeply personal, genre-blurring performances.

Experience a powerful convergence of Arabian jazz-inflected soul and electronic indie-folk as two of the UAE’s most compelling rising stars take the stage for a double bill of profound emotional depth. Fatima explores the veiled essence of the self through an elegant blend of Arabian jazz and R&B, offering a sonic journey toward inner peace. Complementing this expressive vision, viral indie-star MINOVA brings her raw, melancholic storytelling to life, bridging the gap between intimate bedroom recordings and global electronic pop appeal.

Fatima

Fatima Bin Safwan, better known as FAFA, is an artist from Abu Dhabi with roots in both the UAE and Honduras. Her artistry centers on upliftment and the empowerment of self. Through sonic storytelling that weaves R&B and soul with an Arabian jazz blend, she guides listeners toward truth and peace from within.

Her current project, The Veiled Essence, is a journey of unraveling the shame, guilt, and traumas built over years – the layers that shape who we become and keep parts of us hidden out of protection. The intention behind the work is to leave the listener feeling lighter, more self-assured, and closer to who they truly are. 

MINOVA

MINOVA’s self-produced debut single I Miss You So (2023) was an instant breakthrough - raw, emotional, and entirely her own. Written and recorded in her bedroom, the track resonated deeply with listeners, earning her a spot as the cover of Spotify’s Fresh Finds Indie, and over 12 million streams to date. Vulnerable yet self-assured, she proved that a 19-year-old could reach hearts around the world by doing it all by herself. Her follow-up single If You Were Mine, struck a similar chord and helped build a loyal fan base, especially across North America. The success of both singles led to a signing with New York label Thrice Cooked (Pink Sweat$, Kirby), with whom she released a series of songs that were later compiled into her collection It’s Too Quiet in 2024.

Over the past year, she has performed in Vienna, Milan, and Dubai, developing a stripped-down acoustic set that brings her songwriting even closer to the audience. She also opened for emerging Canadian pop star Alexander Stewart and appeared at the international festival SOLE DXB. She’s currently working on new songs, some of which are drawn from these live acoustic moments, while others continue the melancholic style she’s known for.