After operating in Ibiza for 17 years, IMS is expanding into the Middle East.
The annual electronic music conference announced on Thursday (September 12) that it will host the inaugural IMS Dubai on November 14 and 15 at W Hotel Dubai – Mina Seyahi.
The two-day event will feature speakers from across the MENA region including YouTube, Warner Music Group, Anghami, Believe and more, as well as artists and organizations from regional events such as Oasis Music Festival in Morocco, Soho Garden and Groove on the Grass in Dubai and Factory Beirut who.
In addition, speakers from outside the Middle East will represent companies and brands, including Tomorrowland, Defected Records, CAA, WME, He.She. They and Association For Electronic Music.
The opening keynote speech will be given by Maha Enabaeditor-in-chief Arabic advertising billboard. Other speakers will include Heder BatraCEO of The Pacha Group and Five Hospitality; Janet AshakYouTube’s head of music in the region; and more. Artistic participants include Iranian producer Deep Dish and Saudi Arabian producer Cosmicat. As with the Ibiza event, IMS Dubai will be hosted by BBC Radio pittangwho is also the co-founder of IMS.
The two-day conference will feature 13 panel discussions on topics including the development of the music industry in the MENA region; cultural tourism with a focus on Ibiza and Dubai; MENA investors; regional talent buyers; record labels in the region Growth of the company and streaming; Dubai’s underground scene; focus on the Egyptian market; women in music in the MENA region; and more.
Passes for the event will go on sale on September 19th.
“For nearly two decades, the International Music Summit has brought together the global electronic music community in Ibiza every year to discuss industry trends, innovations and the challenges facing our diverse community,” IMS founders said in a joint statement. To make a global impact, IMS seeks to be where change is happening, which is why we have also held three IMS Asia Pacific events in Shanghai, one in Singapore, five IMS Engage events in Los Angeles, and three IMS College event in Malta. IMS Dubai will make its debut in the United Arab Emirates, marking its strategic expansion into the Middle East and North Africa.
Organizers noted that the conference “will not receive government or cultural funding or incentives for this initiative.” Digital download platform Beatport acquired a majority stake in IMS in 2023, and support for the event also comes from AlphaTheta, owner of Pioneer DJ.
“Our goal is to inspire continued growth, support and investment while solving the unique cultural challenges faced by musicians and startups,” the statement continued. “Electronic music culture is built on long-standing principles of bringing people of all backgrounds together on the dance floor. Above. Music has the power to unite, and we all have a responsibility to create safer spaces for all; IMS and Beatport proudly support this principle.
The Middle East and North Africa region is indeed a booming market for things like electronic music right now. The 2024 IFPI Global Report found that total MENA revenue grew by 14.4% in 2023, following a 26.8% increase in 2022.
