Must-Attend Talks at Beatport Presents IMS Dubai 2025 Nov 13th-14th

Beatport Presents International Music Summit (IMS), Ibiza's renowned electronic music conference, has announced the full program for its second MENA edition in Dubai, taking place on November 14th and November 15th at the 25hours Hotel One Central.

This year, IMS Dubai is setting the stage for some of the most urgent conversations at the crossroads of music, culture, finance and tech, with the artists, agents and industry leaders shaping the region's nightlife, identity and creative ecosystems, from underground movements to global main stages. As the night falls, the summit will then spill into Dubai's nightlife scene with a five-day partying takeover across some of the city's top venues and clubs.

Ahead of IMS Dubai 2025, we have compiled a list of the top talks from the summit's packed agenda that you shouldn't miss; for the full schedule and ticket booking, head to internationalmusicsummit.com.

Going Against the Grain: Trailblazers of SWANA’s Underground Sound

A celebration of the pioneers redefining what 'underground' means across the region, this discussion will uncover the side of the SWANA music scene that some may not even know exists, where artists and industry leaders challenge the conventional way of partying. Moderated by Saudi DJ and IMS Dubai 2025 co-host, Nooriyah, the talk features Dimitri Khater (Founder & CEO, Hide Doha), Emile Houkayem (Founder & CEO, Aegis Festival), Keena (Artist), and Sarah Hardan (Co-Founder, The Good Trip) as speakers.

The Story Behind the Song of the Summer: Vanco ft. AYA ‘Ma Tnsani’

Remember that 'Ahla leila ahla nas' hook that followed you all summer? In this talk, renowned South African DJ/producer Vanco and vocalist AYA will unpack the making of that afro-house smash hit (which is actually called 'Ma Tnsani' by the way) that had electronic heads across the globe belting out the verse at every occasion like they actually knew what it meant. The duo will also reflect on identity, cross-cultural sound and what makes a track connect with audience globally.

The Importance & Impact of Homegrown Festivals

This talk will analyse how homegrown festivals across the MENA region serve as powerful cultural anchors, shaping identity and nurturing talent, while fuelling local economies. Moderated by Yasmine Rasool (Founder, WAASTAA & Let's Play Yellow), and featuring on the speakers' roster, Ahmed Hameed (Co-founder, Soundscapes & Noctuary), Jean Hajjar (Director of Entertainment, Brag), Moulay-Abdeslam Alaoui (Artistic Director & Head of Booking, MOGA Festival), Oana Radu (Festival Manager, UNTOLD Festival), Tito El Kachab (Founder & CEO, Nacelle), the talk will trace the role of these festivals in building sustainable creative ecosystems, fostering community and influencing the global perception of the electronic scene in the region.

Leading by Example: The Power of Female Role Models in Music, Presented by Little Pink Book

Moderated by Roberta Hickey (Director of Middle East & North Africa, Beatport), this session will bring together female heavyweights from the region's music industry to share their experiences, insights and advice for the next generation of talents. The panel will feature Amira Guetif (Project Manager, Sole DXB), Celina Aoun (Artist Manager, Tete a Tete Lab), Hadeel Hmaidi (Senior Manager - Integrated Campaigns, TikTok), and Lara Kays (Senior Events and Production Manager).

Mahraganat: From the Streets to the Mainstream Presented by Believe

This talk will trace the birth of Egyptian mahraganat as a genre, touching on the crucial role of technology, local communities and global platforms in catapulting it as one of the most influential music movements. The talk features Egyptian mahraganat heavyweight Eslam Kabonga, along with Mohamed Allam (Founder & CEO, Cube Music), Nouran Hassan (Head of Communication (MENAP), Spotify), and Sarah Kamal (Label & Artist Manager, Believe Music), with Liliana Adbulado (Head of Label and Artist Solutions, Believe) as the moderator.

The Pyramids Playbook: Staging Monumental Electronic Music Experiences Presented by Venture Lifestyle & P+US

Over the past few years, Egyptian events giant Venture Lifestyle has been consistently organising some of the most spectacular electronic shows by global artists at the Pyramids, such as Anyma, Francis Mercier and more, redefining what's possible at the historic Giza plateau. In this talk, Rabih Mokabel (Founder & CEO, Venture Lifestyle) will unpack how such large-scale productions come together, uncovering the technical challenges and his approach to navigating heritage site restrictions.

The Past, Present & Future Of MENA Nightlife Presented By SceneNoise

SceneNoise will bring together trailblazing creators from the region's nightlife scene, many of whom carry decades of hands-on experience in the industry to traverse the arc of the region's dance music history. The session will touch on creative tension, commerce, identity, access, evolving norms, and how to hold on to the radical inclusivity of the early rave scene, even as scale and sophistication escalate. The panel features Ahmed El Ganzoury (CEO & Founder, GNK Group), Baloo (Chief Creative Officer, MDLBEAST), DJ/Producer Megatronic, and Wassim Bou Malham (Co-Founder, Factory People), with Timmy Mowafi (Founder, SceneNoise) as moderator.

Is the DJ Booth the New Runway? Exploring the Intersection of Electronic Music & Fashion Presented by Istituto Marangoni Dubai

Negin Baradari (Industry Relations, Career & Alumni Manager, Istituto Marangoni Dubai) will give a keynote on how today's DJs are setting trends, influencing everything from streetwear to high fashion runways, analysing partnerships with fashion houses and music icons, and how style became an extension of a DJ performance.

Market Focus: Lebanon

Lebanese electronic industry leaders Cynthia Nasr (Artist & Co-Founder, Minab Studios), Jade (DJ/Producer & Founder, Factory People), James Khoury (Co-Founder, Hot Axis), and Patrick Nakhle (Co-founder, Freehand Worldwide) will reflect on Lebanon's music landscape and how it has become a beacon for forward-thinking sound and artistic expression. Moderated by Cynthia Jreige (Founder, Editor-In-Chief & Creative Director, JDEED Magazine), the talk will dive deep into how the country's nightlife and dance floors continue to overcome conflicts, offering a vital escape from ongoing challenges, and fostering a community that is deeply rooted in local identity but also globally connected.

The Habibification of House Music: Navigating the Line Between Appreciation & Appropriation

This talk will explore how Arab culture became aestheticised and appropriated in global house music, diving into the phenomenon of borrowing Middle Eastern sounds and symbols for club tracks and desert raves. The panel will be moderated by journalist Mai El Mokadem, with DJ Habibeats, Fady Nageeb (Content Director, Dazed Middle East), Laura Wozniak (Head of Streaming, MDLBEAST Records), and Misty (Artist & Label Owner) as speakers.

Get Played, Get Paid Part 2: Royalties in the Middle East Presented by AFEM

Aisha Salem-Howey (General Counsel, Music Nation), Babel Sadek (A&R Manager, Sony Music Publishing MENA), Gregor Pryer (Managing Partner (EME) Reed Smith LLP), and Pierre Carnet (Managing Director MENA, MassiveMusic), along with Rasha Khalifa Al Mubarak (Chairwoman, Music Nation), will explore the question of fair remuneration for artists and producers and how it is currently more urgent as the industry grows even bigger. Moderated by Finlay Johnson (CEO, Association for Electronic Music), the talk will explore the partnerships and technologies needed to ensure music creators are paid when their music is played, examining the path toward a transparent, equitable ecosystem that supports local and international talent alike.

How Visual Arts Shape Sound, Space and Cultural Identity in Electronic Music Presented by Groove Atelier

Yara Temsah (Head of Production and Art Direction, Hot Axis) will talk with Onur Ates (Co-Founder & EIC, Managing Director, Groove Atelier/ Mixmag MENA) about the crucial role of visual arts in electronic music immersive experience.

No Scene Without the Scene: Investing in Grassroots for Long-Term Impact

Featuring Ghita Khaldi (Founder, AFRIKAYNA), Hamdi Ryder (Artist, Label Owner & Promoter, Downtown Vibes), Mayssa Karaa (Artist & Artistic Director, Berklee Abu Dhabi), Nada Alhelabi (General Manager, MDLBEAST Foundation), and Rajat Malhotra (Partner, Sole DXB), the talk will explore the role of strong grassroots foundations, emerging talents and community spaces in the cultural and economic growth of SWANA's electronic scene. Moderated by Nasri Atallah (Editor, TN Magazine), the panel will discuss what it takes to create to ecosystem where creativity flourishes from the ground up.

Diaspora: Arab Music Around the World

Moderated by Nooriyah, the talk will feature Adam Smith (Head of Music, UNation), Egyptian DJ/producer duo Gawdat and Suhel Nafar (Head, Empire WANA), who will take an in-depth look at how the Arab diaspora amplifies regional sounds on global stages. The panel will touch on that form of cultural exchange between the diaspora and the home electronic scene, and its impact in offering a powerful feedback loop that elevates SWANA's presence worldwide.