If you’re looking for some great beats, these top DJs in the Middle East are the ones spinning the tracks that get people on their feet. From established dance floor fillers to crossover kings (and queens), forward-thinking producers to young artists just setting out on their journey, the regional clubbing scene is absolutely thriving.
top DJs in the Middle East that should be headlining your to-see list.
Adam Rahman
As a DJ, promoter, label owner and festival co-ordinator, Adam Rahman’s impact on developing the dance music scene in the Middle East has been massive. Credited with being one of the DJs who brought forward-thinking techo and electronica to the region pre-Millennium, he launched his WARPED nights at a time when the underground music landscape was very much in its infancy.
This guy has longevity: to add to his accomplishments, he’s played a number of international gigs, is a headline name in his native India and an integral part of the Groove on the Grass team.
instagram.com/adam rahman03.
Ahmad Almalki
Anchored-in-the-Middle East music entertainment company MDLBEAST sets out to amplify the status of emerging local talent and they did so to stunning effect at music, art and culture festival SOUNDSTORM 21 in Riyadh at the tail end of last year. One of the breakout stars of the event (and MDLBeast signing) was Jeddah-based DJ/producer Ahmad Almalki, also known as Malkin, who, despite this being his first ever live performance, took the crowd by storm and is making a name for himself as a rising star on the EDM music scene.
instagram.com/malkinmusic.
Basil Al Hadi
Well before he established himself as one of the most sought-after DJs, songwriters and producers in the UAE, Kuwaiti-born Basil Al-Hadi (stage name: Karrouhat), started his music career as the lead singer of a reggae band. Those early influences proved pivotal; these days he blends international reggae hits with classic Arab tunes to crowd-pleasing effect.
A true champion of Arab music and an ardent advocate for bringing it into the mainstream, Al Hadi is well known for his creative vision, unique style and fashion nous (he has appeared on the catwalk at Paris Fashion Week and starred in campaigns for Burberry). His infectious energy and original sound mean that he continues to be not just one of the most reliable party-starting spinners around, but a DJ that will keep the people moving all night long.
instagram.com/karrouhat.
Biirdperson
Having launched her on-stage persona Biirdperson in 2018, Lujain Albishi is making waves in KSA’s fast developing underground music culture movement.
Part of this success is due to her refusal to be pigeonholed. While she has a long-term love for electronic music, the self-taught DJ stands out for her refusal to focus on one sound, mixing house, groove and soul into her eclectic mixes. Her experience as an established filmmaker is meanwhile reflected in the way she tell stories with her sets, evoking emotions and often a strong sense of nostalgia to heart-string tugging effect.
Having recently partnered with Adidas as part of their ‘playground of possibilities’ series and with gigs lined up in Zanzibar for early February, 2022 looks set to be the year that Biirdperson really starts to fly.
Cosmicat
Saudi-born and raised Nouf Sufyani, aka Cosmicat, is regarded as the Kingdom’s first and foremost female DJ and producer. Over the last few years she made serious steps in forcing the industry to become more inclusive, paving the way for numerous other women to do the same.
A self-taught DJ, Cosmicat’s music selections reflect both her passion for electronic music and the influences of the sounds that she grew up listening to– pop, disco, R&B and hip-hop among them. On stage, she’s known for the diversity of her approach, using vocal riffs and samples from the ‘90s and early 2000s mixed with techno to bold-yet-melodic, crowd-pleasing effect.
instagram.com/cosmicatx.
Deian
One of the most prolific movers and shakers in the UAE music industry and a real champion of local talent, Deian has been instrumental in growing the music scene across the Emirates. As the founder of both the hugely popular Groove on the Grass festival and global media events and talent agency The Artists Network he has attracted international big hitters to the region helping establish the UAE as a music destination on a global level, while simultaneously giving local artists the chance to showcase their skills to these industry leaders at the same time.
A talented DJ and producer, he continues to fly the flag for the region, recently sharing his views and insights on the growth and essence of the MENA music scene at the inaugural XP Music Conference in Riyadh by day and thrilling fans with his performance at XP Nite in the evening.
Deian shows no signs of stopping and is part of the both the organisation and line-up for the much-anticipated return of Groove on the Grass with Desert Groove which will place at the Dunes Resort in Ras Al Khaimah from the February 11-13 (headline acts include Behrouz, Unders and WhoMadeWho).
instagram.com/deian__.
Dish Dash
Keeping it in the family, Saudi-born brothers Hassan and Abbas Ghazzawi – known collectively as Dish Dash – are two of the most up-and-coming DJs in the Kingdom, with their explosive closing set on day two of Sandstorm 2021 garnering them a host of new fans and international appreciation. Renowned for fusing melodic house with powerful techno vibes, as well as their punchy, unique setlists, these guys are on every clubbing aficionados ‘to watch’ list. Look out for them spinning the decks in clubbing hotspots around the world, from London to Bahrain, Miami to Abu Dhabi in 2022.
instagram.com/dishdash_music.
Jack Sleiman
As well as being an iconic, award-winning DJ and legend of Beirut’s competitive clubbing scene (no mean feat), Jack Sleiman has collaborated with industry greats, including of course Sean Kingston and Karl Wolf (the feel-good track ‘Remember’ being one of the sounds of summer 2019).
He’s also a talented producer, in-demand radio host and general cool dude to boot. If you’re lucky you might catch him delighting an enthralled party-ready crowd at SKY 2.0 DXB.
instagram.com/jacksleiman.
Natalie Brogan
With a reputation as one of the Middle East’s top spinners, Natalie Brogan has been doing her thing in the UAE and beyond for almost a decade. In that time, she’s won numerous nightlife awards, played sets around the world – Ibiza, Egypt, the UK, India and Jordan included –, and has featured on line-ups alongside industry greats (Fat Boy Slim, MK, Eric Morillo and David Guetta included).
Brogan continues to thrill revellers with her banging beats and uplifting energy; in Dubai she has a long-term residency at trendy beach club Zero Gravity and can also be found on the decks at cool rooftop poolside bar Paros.
instagram.com/djnataliebrogan.
Roger Saad ‘Rodge’
One of the biggest – if not the biggest – DJs in Lebanon, Roger Saad is known for his feel-good electronic dance mixes and innate ability to get the party started. Having opened for world-famous artists (Jason Derulo, Chris Brown, Justin Bieber, Ed Sheeran, David Guetta amongst others) in Dubai, Egypt and Lebanon, his status in the Middle East clubbing world borders on the legendary.
To add to the accolades (and his talents), Rodge launched Mix FM in 1996; as well as being hugely popular, the radio station is credited with shaping and developing Lebanon’s music scene. His first single, Done Looking for Love, has been downloaded some 2.5million times on Anghami, making it the streaming app’s biggest track ever released by a regional DJ.
instagram.com/rodgemix.
SONYA
Currently ranked as the No.10 DJ in the Middle East and one of the top 100 female DJs in the world, the appreciation keeps on coming for Polish-born, Dubai-based SONYA. And rightly so. After a breakthrough moment opening for Bruno Mars at the DU Arena in Abu Dubai on NYE 2019 she’s barely stopped since, performing at some of the hottest clubs around the world, securing residences in both Dubai and Las Vegas and establishing herself as a favourite among the fashion industry set.
With an upbeat signature style that seamlessly mixes hip hop, R&B, soul and funk with Afrobeats and classic dancefloor tunes, SONYA is quite rightly renowned getting the good times rolling and people throwing shapes.
instagram.com/s.o.n.y.aofficial.
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