International Music Summit expands to the UAE with debut of IMS Dubai

International Music Summit (IMS) has officially announced the debut of IMS Dubai.

For the past 17 years, IMS has brought together the global electronic music industry in Ibiza to address emerging trends, innovations and key challenges. Now, with the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region growing as an important hub for both culture and industry, IMS is expanding its presence to Dubai, recognising the region's increasing influence on the global stage.

Scheduled for November 14-15 at W Hotel Dubai - Mina Seyahi, IMS Dubai will be supported by AlphaTheta and Beatport. The two-day summit will gather pioneering artists, thought leaders and key industry stakeholders to explore the intersection of music, finance and culture in the MENA region. Focusing on investment, entrepreneurship, and business development, the summit aims to provide a platform for professionals and artists to tap into new opportunities, while celebrating the cultural and musical innovation that the region has to offer.

The speaker lineup includes Maha ElNabawi (Billboard Arabia; Managing Editor), who will deliver the opening keynote, and Aloki Batra (Five Hospitality & The Pacha Group; CEO), who will address ‘Culture Tourism: Dubai & Ibiza Duality’. Additional speakers include Janet Ashak (YouTube, Head of Music MENA) and Karima Damir (Warner Music ME; Director of A&R MENA), while Salam Kmeid (Anghami; Head of Content Marketing) will represent Anghami, the first legal music streaming service in the Arab world.

Regional experts such as Philipp Straub (Soho Garden; Network Artists; Consultant), Deian Markov (The Artist Network / Groove On The Grass, Founder & MD), and Marjana Jaidi (Oasis Festival, Founder & Creative Director) will provide insights into the local event landscape. Additionally, Jenn Getz (House of Queens; Co-Founder / DJ) will join discussions on the region’s evolving music ecosystem.

Artist speakers include Deep Dish, the iconic Iranian-born house duo returning to the scene after a long hiatus, alongside Abdell Rahman of Egyptian duo Gawdat. British-Lebanese DJ and producer Saliah, Egyptian talent Yasmeen Selectress, and rising French-Iranian artist Parvané will also share their insights, while US-based Pakistani-born star producer Stryv will engage in a discussion with IMS co-founder Pete Tong, reflecting on his groundbreaking production style and the success of his track ‘Move’ with Adam Port and Keinemusik.

International brands are also set to participate, with Tomorrowland presenting their Terra Solis venture in Dubai, and Nathan Jordan (Defected Records, Head of Inclusion) sharing insights on Defected’s regional entry and the associated challenges. Amir Ahmad (Reed Smith; Partner) from leading law firm Reed Smith will offer an overview of investment in the region, and Sophia Kearney (HE.SHE.THEY./The Weird & The Wonderful; CEO) will participate in key discussions. Additionally, Finlay Johnson (AFEM: Association for Electronic Music; COO) will lead a MENA-focused conversation on AFEM’s ‘Get Played, Get Paid’ campaign, highlighting rights and royalty issues in the region.

Check out the complete lineup of speakers here.

A diverse range of industry leaders from across the MENA region, including representatives from Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the UAE, will participate in panel discussions covering topics such as:

● 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 Scene Noise
● 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 summit's daytime programming, IMS Dubai will also host a series of evening events featuring local and international talent. The summit kicks off with a party hosted by Duck Soup at Farrago, W Dubai - Mina Seyahi, followed by an after-party at Soho Garden’s Playroom, showcasing leading female artists from the region. The event will culminate with a closing celebration at Hive, Soho Garden, featuring a lineup of dance music artists from Dubai and beyond.

The founders of IMS comment: “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.”

Badges for IMS Dubai will be available from Thursday 19 September, starting at dh435, with discounted rates for full-time students, under-27s, and People of Determination, starting from d215. A portion of badge and sponsor income will be donated to IMS charity climate action partner, EarthPercent.

For further details and to submit applications, visit the official IMS Dubai website here. For further details about the summit, head here, and to join the IMS Dubai mailing list, sign up here.