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The Middle East has always been a hotbed for music and art. The music and entertainment scene has been thriving across the region in recent years. We’ve seen different genres such as hip-hop, electronic, and dance music experience never seen before growth, which in turn gave birth to many talented DJs who are rocking shows worldwide. In this article, we will be highlighting the top 8 DJs from the Middle East to keep an eye on in 2023.
DJ Bliss
Emarati DJ Marwan Al-Awadhi AKA DJ Bliss is considered to be a pioneer in the music and entertainment scene in the UAE. After developing a love for music in his early years, he started to experiment with DJing and decided to take it seriously and make a career out of it. His first gig took place in a theme park where he taught himself how to use the equipment on the job. From that point on, he built a prosperous career as a DJ, recording artist, and entertainer performing alongside artists like Nicki Minaj, 50 Cent, and Kanye West, performing in some of the world’s biggest venues such as Boa Dubai and Liv Miami, as well as hosting and appearing on hit TV shows such as ‘That’s Entertainment’ on the Dubai One channel and Netflix’s Dubai Bling.
Cosmicat
Cosmicat is an electronic music DJ and producer from Saudi Arabia. Being born in Saudi at a time when having a career in music was looked at as taboo, especially for women. So she built a name for herself in the underground scene, DJing at house parties and private gatherings. When Saudi Arabia opened up its music and entertainment industries, Cosmicat’s name was already ringing bells and she was able to DJ in large-scale music festivals such as Soundstorm, Exit Festival, and Tomorrowland. She also participated in globally recognized performances such as Boiler Room TV and World Cup dance events.
DJ Mocity
DJ MoCity is an award-winning Iraqi DJ, promoter, and co-founder of South Asia’s first online community radio – Boxout.fm. Mo grew up in New Delhi and was exposed to hip-hop culture from a young age. As he grew more and more fond of music, he decided to take part in being a tastemaker and curator of music, which led to him being a DJ. From being the founder of Reggae Rajahs (India’s first Reggae sound) to creating and running a series of successful club nights (Delitronica, The Future, Imported Go(o)ds) to creating and programming stages at major festivals such as the NH7 Weekender & Sunburn Festival, Mohammed has achieved a remarkable amount in a few short years. Mo City currently resides in Dubai and continues to make moves as a trailblazing music entrepreneur and international A&R.
Karrouhat
Basil Alhadi who goes by the stage name DJ Karrouhat is a DJ and multi-disciplinary artist from Amman, Jordan. His love for music started at a young age, he even formed a band in Amman in 2008. Eventually, he made his way to Dubai where he quickly became one of the city’s most sought-after DJs. He gained popularity thanks to the unique sound he plays, he is one of the first DJs to fuse Arabic music and Reggae. Karrouhat also has a passion for fashion as he models and collaborates with major fashion labels.
Simi And Haze
Saudi/Palestinian DJ duo Simi And Haze are representing their Arab heritage around the world through their international DJ gigs and their work as models for international fashion houses. The twins were raised between Saudi, Dubai, and London, which gave them exposure to music from all over the world. Their love for music developed into a glamorous DJ career where they were DJing, and partying with celebs like Kylie Jenner, Bella Hadid, and Hailey Bieber. Simi and Haze are also the owners of a successful LA-based skincare line by the name of SIMIHAZEBEAUTY.
Nicole Moudaber
Nicole Moudaber is a prominent British/Lebanese DJ, producer, and label owner. She fell in love with music while growing up in Nigeria and started to explore her passion for music after moving to London. From that point on, she has had a legendary run playing incredible DJ sets, promoting events, and establishing her record label MOOD, a highly influential record label, and global party brand. She also hosts a popular radio show, has a back catalog of incendiary techno releases, and oversees a range of philanthropic endeavors. Through sheer hard work and relentless ambition, Moudaber has become one of the techno world’s most iconic and hardworking contemporary artists.
R3HAB
Fadil El Ghoul better known by his stage name R3hab is a Moroccan Dutch DJ who helped pave the way for EDM in the early 2010s and ended up developing his signature dance-fueled pop sound. His legendary career includes breakthrough remixes for Rihanna, Drake, Taylor Swift, and Calvin Harris, as well as anthems such as Platinum-certified “All Around The World (La La La)” and “Lullaby,” to his collaborations with the likes of Ava Max, ZAYN, Luis Fonsi, Sean Paul, and more. R3HAB continues to evolve and diversify his sound by working with artists around the globe, pushing the boundaries of dance music as he collaborates across genres and languages.
Sama’ Abdulhadi
Known as the “queen of the Palestinian techno scene”, Sama’ Abdulhadi became internationally recognized as a powerful force in dance music. Her rise to becoming one of the first DJs to emerge internationally from Palestine can be traced back to Beirut, where she immersed herself in the emerging local techno scene. After returning to her birthplace Ramallah, she connected with the local hip-hop scene and started to build a community around music which greatly contributed to her passion for music. She went on to study Audio Engineering at SAE Institute London and started DJing at small gigs, which was the beginning of her astronomical run as a DJ. In 2018, she performed at Germany’s Fusion Festival and Hungary’s Sziget Festival, Her Boiler Room set, was viewed nearly 3 million times and she completed her first Essential Mix for BBC Radio 1, opening it with a binaural recording from London’s Kings Cross train station to Paris. This is only a glimpse of her numerous achievements, Sama’s persistent drive shows that there is no sign of her stopping anytime soon.
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