The International Music Summit is expanding to Dubai, its organizers revealed today.
Held annually in Ibiza, the storied summit has grown into one of the electronic music industry’s most influential gatherings, serving as a seedbed for innovation and growth over the course of its 17-year history. From major label executives to emerging DJs, IMS attracts a diverse range of attendees who come together to discuss industry trends, explore new technologies and celebrate the culture on a global scale.
Hosted by Pete Tong, the inaugural IMS Dubai is scheduled for November 14-15 at W Hotel – Mina Seyahi in partnership with AlphaTheta and Beatport. The event is said to focus on “investment, entrepreneurship and business growth” while “celebrating the innovative music and rich cultural heritage of the MENA region, spotlighting the artists, collectives and visionaries driving its evolution.”
IMS won’t receive government incentives or funding to execute its expansion into the region, according to its founders.
“Our goal is to inspire continued growth, support and investment while addressing the unique cultural challenges musicians and startups face,” the summit’s founders said in a press release. “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.”
Fueled by a spate of high-profile acquisitions and venue openings, Dubai’s nightlife sector is flourishing. The proprietors of the iconic Tomorrowland festival in 2022 opened a palatial desert resort, Terra Solis, billed as “a unique glamping experience in the Arabian Dunes.” Dubai-based hospitality titan FIVE in 2023 acquired Pacha Group, one of Ibiza’s most illustrious nightlife institutions, in a deal valued at $330 million.
A few months later, the organizers of Romania’s massive UNTOLD Festival launched an offshoot in Dubai, which they called the city’s “first mega-festival.” A new open-air “superclub,” WHITE, also opened in the Dubai Harbor by virtue of a momentous show headlined by South African dance music icon Black Coffee.
Speakers confirmed for the first IMS Dubai include Aloki Batra, CEO of FIVE Hospitality and Pacha Group; Janet Ashak, Head of YouTube Music for MENA; Karima Damir, A&R Director for Warner Music Middle East; and Maha ElNabawi, Managing Editor of Billboard Arabia, the lattermost of whom will deliver the opening keynote.
Representatives from a bevy of renowned electronic music brands will also appear at the summit, like Tomorrowland, HE.SHE.THEY., Defected Records and the Association for Electronic Music. On the artist side, speakers include Deep Dish, Stryv, Cosmicat, Yasmeen Selectress and Parvané, among others.
Badges for IMS Dubai are set to go on sale Thursday, September 19th. You can find out more via the summit’s website.