International Music Summit announces the debut of IMS Dubai

12 September 2024 - Press release

International Music Summit (IMS), the thought-leadership platform at the heart of culture, education, industry, and wellness in electronic music, announces today the inaugural edition of IMS Dubai. For seventeen years IMS has united the global electronic music community annually in Ibiza to explore industry trends, innovations, and the challenges our diverse community faces. Now, in response to the growing importance of the Middle East North Africa (MENA)region as a cultural and industry hub, IMS is expanding its presence to the United Arab Emirates and a region driving investment, culture and innovation in electronic music.

Supported by partners AlphaTheta and Beatport, IMS Dubai is set to take place on November 14-15 at W Hotel Dubai - Mina Seyahi.

The two-day summit will bring together pioneering artists, thought leaders and key industry stakeholders to explore the intersection of music, finance, culture and technology in the MENA region. With a focus on investment, entrepreneurship, and business growth, IMS Dubai will serve as a forum for professionals and artists to explore emerging trends and capitalise on new opportunities, while celebrating the innovative music and rich cultural heritage of the MENA region, spotlighting the artists, collectives, and visionaries driving its evolution.

The choice of Dubai as the host city is a testament to the region's growing influence in the global music scene. As a vibrant cultural hub, Dubai is renowned for its rich tapestry of traditions and its dynamic, forward-thinking approach to the arts. The city's thriving nightlife and burgeoning DJ scene make it a natural fit for IMS. This move highlights Dubai’s unique position at the crossroads of East and West, making it an ideal location to foster cross-cultural exchanges and inspire new collaborations within the electronic music community.

The first confirmed speakers include Maha ElNabawi (Billboard Arabia; Managing Editor), who will deliver the opening keynote. Aloki Batra (Five Hospitality & The Pacha Group; CEO), will discuss ‘Culture Tourism: Dubai & Ibiza Duality’. Janet Ashak, (YouTube, Head of Music MENA) and Karima Damir (Warner Music ME; Director of A&R MENA) will also be speaking. Anghami, the first legal music streaming platform and digital distribution company in the Arab World, will be represented by Salam Kmeid(Anghami; Head of Content Marketing). Timmy Mowafi (SceneNoise & MO4 Network; Co-Founder) will moderate a discussion with the key players in one of the leading markets in MENA for electronic music, in Market Focus: Egypt presented by SceneNoise.

Key regional talent buyers and event experts who will provide insight into how the region works include Philipp Straub (Soho Garden; Network Artists; Consultant); Deian Markov (The Artist Network / Groove On The Grass, Founder & MD), who produces events in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, Marjana Jaidi (Oasis Festival, Founder & Creative Director); Wassim Bou Malham (Factory People & Gharam Electric; Co-Founder & Composer) and prominent UAE-based industry figure Jenn Getz (House of Queens; Co-Founder / DJ).

International brands will also feature at the summit, with Tomorrowland presenting their stunning Terra Solis venture in Dubai, while Nathan Jordan (Defected Records, Head of Inclusion) will share insights on Defected’s successful entry into the region and the challenges they faced. Leading law firm in music, IP and technology, Reed Smith, will participate via Amir Ahmad (Reed Smith; Partner) on an overview of Investment in the region. Sophia Kearney (HE.SHE.THEY./The Weird & The Wonderful; CEO) will also participate, and Finlay Johnson (AFEM: Association for Electronic Music; COO) will lead a MENA-focused discussion on AFEM’s flagship ‘Get Played, Get Paid’ campaign, addressing rights & royalty challenges in the region.

Artist speakers include Deep Dish, the pioneering Iranian-born house music duo, returning to the scene after a long hiatus. Abdell Rahman, one-half of Egyptian duo Gawdat, will also share insights, along with the dynamic British-Lebanese DJ and producer Saliah, emerging Egyptian talent Yasmeen Selectress, and rising French / Iranian artist Parvané. Additionally, US-based Pakistani-born superstar producer Stryvwill be interviewed by IMS co-founder Pete Tong, discussing his genre-defining production style, as his hit ‘Move’ with Adam Port and Keinemusik continues to gain traction both in the region and globally.

Industry leaders from countries across the MENA region, including but not limited to, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the UAE, will join international speakers in discussing the following first announced topics:

● Navigating the Music Industry in the MENA region
● Culture Tourism: Dubai & Ibiza Duality
● Meet the Investors in the MENA region
● Meet the Talent Buyers of the MENA region
● The Growth of Labels & Streaming in the MENA Region
● Discovering Dubai's Underground Scene & Culture
● Market Focus: Egypt presented by SceneNoise
● Keynote Interview: Deep Dish
● Defining A Sound: The Sound of A Region with Stryv
● Evolving IP in the Music Industry: The Next Growth Engine
● MENA Women In Music presented by Little Pink Book
● Get Played, Get Paid: Royalties in the Middle East presented by AFEM: Association for Electronic Music
● Taking Arabic Artists to the Global Stage

In addition to the dynamic daytime agenda, IMS Dubai will host a series of exclusive evening events featuring the best local and international talent. The Thursday night will be hosted by local underground collective Duck Soup at Farrago, W Dubai - Mina Seyahi bringing exciting local talent Mo Ezabyy (Egypt) & Zenim (Jordan) to the decks, followed by an after party showcasing the most exciting female talent from the region at Soho Garden’s Playroom. The summit will culminate with a closing celebration at leading Dubai venue Hive, Soho Garden, showcasing electronic music artists from Dubai and beyond.

The IMS founders state: “For almost two decades, International Music Summit (IMS) has united the global electronic music community annually in Ibiza to explore industry trends, innovations, and the challenges our diverse community faces. To make a global impact, IMS seeks to be where change is happening, which is why we’ve also hosted three editions of IMS Asia Pacific in Shanghai and one in Singapore, five IMS Engage events in Los Angeles, and three IMS College events in Malta. IMS Dubai will debut in the United Arab Emirates, marking a strategic expansion into the Middle East and North Africa. IMS, majority owned by Beatport, will not receive government or cultural funding or incentives for this initiative.

Our goal is to inspire continued growth, support, and investment while addressing the unique cultural challenges musicians and start-ups face.

Electronic music culture is built on long standing principles of bringing people together from diverse backgrounds on the dancefloor. Music has the power to unify and we all have a part to play in creating safer spaces for all; a principle that IMS and Beatport proudly stand behind.”

IMS has a long international history of hosting international summits, with previous events hosted in Los Angeles (IMS Engage), Shanghai and Singapore (IMS China and IMS Asia-Pacific) and Malta (IMS College). This year, IMS Ibiza hosted 1,500 delegates from 54 countries across its three-day event, alongside 159 speakers and 208 press attendees at an event hosted by BBC Radio 1 broadcasters Pete Tong and Jaguar.

Badges for IMS Dubai will go on sale on Thursday 19 September priced from dh435 with discounted badges available for full time students, under 27s and People of Determination priced from d215. 1% of all delegate badge and sponsor income from this event will be donated to IMS charity climate action partner EarthPercent.

IMS Dubai encourages the community to submit speaker and session applications. For more information and to submit applications, visit https://www.internationalmusicsummit.com/dubai/faq
For more information on the summit visit: https://www.internationalmusicsummit.com/dubai

To sign up to the IMS Dubai mailing list visit: https://www.internationalmusicsummit.com/dubai/sign-up

Follow IMS Dubai on Instagram: @internationalmusicsummitdubai

IMS Dubai Speakers A-Z Brackets denote country of origin.

Abdel Rahman Gawdat - DancIN’ Music Records, Realm Events, Gawdat; Founder & DJ (Egypt)
Aloki Batra - Five Hospitality & The Pacha Group; CEO (India)
Amir Ahmad - Reed Smith; Partner (Netherlands)
Bader Assery - MDLBEAST; Sr. Project Manager, Strategy & Special Projects (Saudi Arabia)
Cosmicat - Artist (Saudi Arabia)
Declan McGlynn - Voice-Swap / Future Filter; Co-founder / Founder and CEO (Ireland)
Deep Dish - Artists (Iran / USA)
Deian Markov - The Artist Network / Groove On The Grass; Founder & MD (Bulgaria)
Dimitrios Khater; HIDE CLUB, Doha; Founder & CEO (Lebanon / Greece)
Elia Mssawir - Talent+; Head of Entertainment (Lebanon)
Finlay Johnson - AFEM: Association for Electronic Music; COO (UK)
Janet Ashak - YouTube; Head of Music MENA (Egypt)
Jawad Al-Dogum - Overground; Founder & Creative Director (Jordan)
Jenn Getz - House of Queens; Co-Founder / DJ (UK)
Kalim Hachem / KayteK - Surf Club; Music Director (Lebanon)
Karam Toubba - DJ, Curator, Consultant in Arts & Culture, Turkey
Karima Damir - Warner Music ME; A&R Director MENA
Khaled Chilwan - Techno Bahrain / Flow Parties; Founder / Promoter /DJ (Bahrain)
Liliana Abudalo - Believe; Head of Labels & Artists Solutions MENA (Jordan / Poland)
Maha ElNabawi - Billboard Arabia; Managing Editor (Egypt)
Marjana Jaidi - Oasis Festival; Founder / Creative Director (Morocco)
Nathan Jordan - Defected; Head of Inclusion (UK)
Nicholas Parasram - Thin Ice Entertainment; Co-Founder (USA)
Omar Gamal - Hence Management & Duck Soup; Founder / Partner (Egypt)
Onur Ates - Mixmag MENA; Managing Director (Turkey)
Parvané Barret - Creative Consultant & DJ (France / Iran)
Pete Tong - Broadcaster & Artist (UK)
Philipp Straub - Soho Garden, Network Artists; Consultant (Austria)
Ramez Moufid - Red Bull; Culture Marketing Manager (Egypt)
Roberta Hickey - Little Pink Book & MAC Global; Founder / Head of Talent Booking (UK)
Salam Kmeid - Anghami; Head of Content Marketing (Lebanon)
Saliah - DJ / Producer & Creative Director for Social Change (UK / Lebanon)
Salma Elshami - Thuraya Agency; Artist Manager (Palestine / Austria)
Shadi Megalla - Flip Side Record Shop & Ark To Ashes; Owner, DJ & Producer (Egypt)
Sofia Ilyas - Beatport; Chief Community Officer (UK)
Spek - Founder/CEO; PopArabia/ESMAA; Executive Vice President, International & Emerging Markets (Canada)
Stryv; Artist (USA)
Theo Makris - Pure ibiza 94.7 Dubai; CEO (UK)
Timmy Mowafi - SceneNoise & MO4 Network; Co-Founder (Egypt)
Wassim Bou Malham - Factory People & Gharam Electric; Cofounder & Composer (Lebanon)
Yas Meen Selectress - Dhamma Collective; Co-Founder & DJ (Egypt)