International Music Summit announces expansion to IMS Dubai in November

The International Music Summit has announced its inaugural event in Dubai, set to take place at the W Hotel – Mina Seyahi in November.

In a historic announcement, the International Music Summit has announced the first edition of IMS Dubai at the W Hotel – Mina Seyahi on November 14th and 15th. The event will focus on the intersection of music, culture, finance, and technology by featuring speakers from YouTube, Warner Music Group, Anghami, Billboard Arabia, Believe, Pop Arabia, and Reed Smith. IMS Dubai will also have buyers and experts from Soho Garden, Groove On The Grass, Oasis Festival, and Factory People.

International Music Summit is the initiative that brings together the global electronic scene and explores data in the industry, such as trends, innovations and challenges. IMS has staked its claim solely in Ibiza for the last 17 years, but as the Middle East North Africa region continues to grow, IMS will now be expanding to the United Arab Emirates. The two-day event will be in partnership with AlphaTheta and Beatport as they focus on investment, entrepreneurship, and business growth in the region. According to the press release, “[the] 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.”

So far, the confirmed speakers are Managing Editor of Billboard Arabia Maha ElNabawi, Five Hospitality & The Pacha Group CEO Aloki Batra, Head of Music MENA at YouTube Janet Ashak, and Director of A&R MENA at Warner Music ME Karima Damir. Artists that are confirmed to be speakers are Iranian house duo Deep Dish, Abdell Rahman, who is part of the Egyptian do Gawdat, British-Lebanese producer Saliah, Yasmeen Selectress from Egypt, rising French/Iranian artist Parvané, and Pakistani-born producer Stryv.

Along with speakers will come some of the biggest international brands in the world, including Tomorrowland, CA, WME, Defected, He.She.They., & AFEM: Association for Electronic Music. The event will be hosted by IMS co-founder, Pete Tong.

“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 Founders, Press Release

You can find more information regarding IMS Dubai at the W Hotel – Mina Seyahi on November 14th and 15th here.