International Music Summit announces first IMS Dubai 2024
By Alexandre Trochut
As electronic music scene in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is rapidly evolving, IMS partners with AlphaTheta and Beatport to launch IMS Dubai aiming to connect pioneering artists, thought leaders, and industry stakeholders in order to explore the intersection of music and finance, cultural trends, or the role of technology in shaping the future of electronic music.
First MENA Electronic Music Summit
IMS Dubai will focus on investment, entrepreneurship, and business growth within the electronic music sector, offering a platform for professionals and artists to discuss emerging trends and capitalize on new opportunities and the summit will also highlight the expanding role of women and minority groups in the industry and celebrate the rich cultural heritage and innovative music of the MENA region.
Dubai’s selection as the host city underscores its growing influence in the global music scene while Industry leaders from across the region, including Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the UAE, will participate in discussions alongside international experts. Strategically positioned at the crossroads of East and West, Dubai provides a unique backdrop for fostering cross-cultural collaboration within the electronic music community.
IMS Dubai as global expansion strategy
For nearly two decades, International Music Summit (IMS) has brought together the global electronic music community, focusing on industry trends and challenges globally with events held in locations like Ibiza, Shanghai, Singapore, Los Angeles, and Malta, seeking to make an impact where change were happening.
Mainly owned by Beatport, IMS debuts in the United Arab Emirates marks a strategic expansion into the Middle East and North Africa for the electronic music conference, specifying that IMS Dubai will be expanding into the MENA region without government funding, stating that their goal is to drive growth, support, and investment, addressing the cultural challenges faced by musicians and startups in the region.
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.
International Music Summit
IMS Dubai 2024 first speakers confirmed
The first confirmed speakers include representatives from Billboard Arabia, FIVE Hospitality, The Pacha Group, YouTube, Warner Music, Anghami, Reed Smith LLP, Soho Garden, Network Artists, The Artist Network, Groove On The Grass, Oasis Festival, Factory People, Gharam Electric, House of Queens, Tomorrowland / Terra Solis, Defected Records, SceneNoise, HE.SHE.THEY / The Weird & The Wonderful and AFEM: Association for Electronic Music.
Artist speakers confirmed so far include Deep Dish, Abdell Rahman (Gawdat), Cosmicat, Saliah, Yas Meen Selectress, Parvané, Stryv (interviewed by IMS co-founder Pete Tong) with more speakers to be announced.
IMS Dubai events powered by local scene artists
The summit will also feature exclusive evening events showcasing local and international talent, Thursday night will be hosted by local underground collective Duck Soup at Farrago, W Mina Seyahi bringing exciting local talent Mo Ezabyy and Zenim 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 CODE, Soho Garden, showcasing electronic music artists from Dubai and beyond. IMS Dubai is aiming to become a landmark event, driving the MENA region’s electronic music scene into a promising future. For more information on speakers and session applications, visit the official IMS Dubai website.
