The immersive festival brought together art, movement, storytelling, and interactive experiences, reflecting City Gate, by Qatari Diar Egypt’s vision of building a vibrant community destination beyond residential living.
City Gate, by Qatari Diar Egypt, New Cairo came alive on June 26th as Qatari Diar Egypt, in partnership with Society of Play (SOP), hosted the first edition of the Play Festival by Society of Play, transforming the development into an immersive destination where creativity, movement, and human connection took center stage. The event brought together residents, families, creatives, and visitors from across the city for a day designed around one simple idea: that play has a place in everyday life, no matter your age.
From the moment guests arrived, the experience invited them to step out of routine and into a world of discovery. Interactive installations, live performances, creative workshops, and playful activations unfolded across City Gate, by Qatari Diar Egypt, encouraging visitors to explore, engage, and connect with one another. Rather than simply attending an event, guests became part of it, moving through spaces designed to spark curiosity, spontaneity, and shared moments.
At the heart of the festival was “Alive in Play,” an immersive experience created by Design Avenue, where oversized geometric structures, dynamic lighting, and interactive artistic elements reimagined the landscape of City Gate, by Qatari Diar Egypt. Throughout the day, improv performances, a cappella sessions, self-running games, movement activities, and creative workshops created an ever-changing rhythm, while the Create Zone, curated by Sync, offered visitors the chance to capture and create their own stories through hands-on content and photography experiences. Additional activations by Tin n Co added to the festival’s distinctive visual identity and playful spirit, with KYME Toys showcasing its signature gigantic Dippo installation throughout the festival.
Commenting on the event, Taleb Al-Athba, Chief Development & Project Delivery Officer – Asia & Africa, said: “At City Gate, we believe thriving communities are built through shared experiences. The SOP Play Festival reflects our commitment to creating spaces that encourage creativity, connection, and participation, while bringing our ‘Come Alive’ vision to life in a meaningful and engaging way.”
Built around SOP’s philosophy that play is essential to a balanced and fulfilling life, the festival was designed to encourage adults to reconnect with their creativity and embrace a sense of wonder often left behind in childhood. The collaboration between City Gate, by Qatari Diar Egypt, and SOP united experts in design, storytelling, art, and interactive experiences to create a destination where participation mattered more than observation, and where the community itself became part of the experience.
Ramez Youssef, Founder & Chief Play Officer of Society of Play, added: “At SOP, we believe play is not something people outgrow. It remains one of the most powerful tools for creativity, wellbeing, and human connection. This partnership allowed us to create an environment where people could reconnect with that sense of curiosity and experience it together.”
The SOP Play Festival marked another milestone in City Gate, by Qatari Diar Egypt’s “Come Alive” journey, demonstrating how culture, creativity, and community engagement can transform everyday spaces into meaningful experiences and further strengthening City Gate, by Qatari Diar Egypt’s position as one of New Cairo’s leading lifestyle destinations.
