A new festival championing the regional electronic music scene is set to light up the UAE desert, as Shams Festival prepares for its inaugural edition on November 8th at The Dunes, Ras Al Khaimah.
The festival brings together three of the MENA region’s most influential curators Analog Room, Boogie Box and SceneNoise for a collaborative effort that comes as a celebration of the electronic music landscape that they have helped build and nurture.
Shams - the Arabic word for sun, a unifying symbol used and understood throughout the entire Arabic-speaking world - has been conceived as a day-to-sunrise festival that will spotlight some of SWANA’s top electronic acts whilst uniting scenes from across the region. Located amidst a stunning backdrop of golden dunes, the event is set to transform the scenic Al Wadi Desert with a two-stage setup that will offer non-stop house, techno, bass and more from 2PM to 7AM.
The heavy-hitting lineup includes the likes of Netherlands-based Syrian selector, Fafi Abdel Nour, a Dekmental regular who recently received the acclaim of Mixmag’s top 25 breakthrough DJs of ‘24, Lebanese veteran and Somewhere… founder Ronin, Saudi trailblazer, Biirdperson, UAE-based Egypt native, Fayyad, and Zeina founder of female-focused Unfamiliar series; a scene builder and international selector who recently made her Houghton debut.
“The idea is to do a music festival, specifically focused on celebrating our own regional electronic dance music industry, artists and the club culture developments. A presentation of the quality that SWANA has achieved in the past 15-20 years and has to offer. Where we can develop more and present ourselves to the world. Something to take out of the region. We think RAK is just the first Stop. We have a lot to celebrate” Mehdi Ansari, Founder Analog Room
“Shams is a celebration of the amazing array of artists and DJs we have across the SWANA region. We came together to find a way to showcase the diverse range of talent from our part of the world, with the idea of taking the festival on the road across the region, popping up in a different city for each edition with the same belief and ethos of celebrating and showcasing Dance Music from our region” Hassan Alwan, Founder Boogie Box
“For over a decade, SceneNoise has documented and developed the region’s electronic music ecosystem. Shams is the natural next step - a platform that not only positions SWANA artists as headliners, but also connects dancefloors across the region” Timmy Mowafi, Founder SceneNoise
Beyond the music, expect a curated food market, stalls from favorite local brands, and the chance to sleep under the stars at The Dunes’ desert camping village, a full experience immersive as the line-up.
The festival's programming is a testament to its mission, serving up an eclectic mix of SWANA talent.
