The Dutch DJ is headlining at Dubai’s first sustainability driven festival this weekend…

The annual Sunsets Festival is making its return to Barasti Beach this weekend from Thursday October 25 to Saturday October 27.

Just like last year, there will be pop up bars, BBQ’s by the beach, and live music. This year, Show Me Love hitmaker Sam Feldt will headline on Thursday night, while on Friday, Nicky Romero will take up deck duty.

But unlike before, this year the festival takes on a sustainable theme. As well as a sustainable pop-up bar focusing on serving zero waste cocktails, there will be workshops, demonstrations, and an organic open-air gallery made entirely from bamboo.

Ahead of the festival, we caught up with award-winning DJ and sustainability advocate Sam Feldt to talk saving the planet and performing in Dubai.

What’s On: Sunset Festival is the first sustainability-driven festival happening in Dubai, what impact do you think that will have?

Sam Feldt: I’ve been very involved when it comes to sustainability since I made it my New Year’s resolution this year to be more sustainable. In the Netherlands where I’m from we already have quite a few sustainable festivals where they try to make everything circular and try to leave as little waste as possible so I’m very curious to see how a festival in a city like Dubai handles that.

WO: Why did sustainability become so important to you?

SF: Because I’m travelling so much I was able to see what’s happening to the planet, and I didn’t like it. Because I fly a lot I knew I was contributing to the problem so I decided to take this year to find out how I could reduce that. I work with GreenSeat, a company which is part of a Climate Neutral Group that offsets CO2 emissions you emit from flights into investing in projects like providing windmills in India and cooking stoves in Uganda. Personally, I’ve also traded in my car for a hybrid one, and there’s no plastic on my rider anymore.

WO: What is it you like about performing in Dubai?

SF: The Dubai crowd is always very responsive. I have quite a big following and fan base there and I love that it’s so diverse.

WO: If you’ve got any free time while you’re in Dubai, what will you be getting up to?

SF: I think I’ll arrive early morning so I might have the day to spend. Last time I was here we went into the desert in a jeep which was pretty cool, but there’s so much to do. I’m definitely going to make time for a good lunch, and maybe some sightseeing.

Barasti Beach, Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort, 10am to 3am Thurs Oct 25, 9am to 3am Fri Oct 26, 9am to 1.30am Sat Oct 27, free entry. Tel: (04) 399 3333. Facebook.com/Thisislivingdxb

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