The What's Hot in UAE guide

Music

Plug into the rhythm of the UAE with our Music category. About this section

Plug into the rhythm of the UAE with our Music category. We cover festivals, new releases, club nights, and artist interviews across the Emirates. Whether it’s local beats or international tours hitting Dubai and Abu Dhabi, this is your backstage pass to the region’s thriving music culture. If you live life by the bassline — start scrolling.

19 stories in this category

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Music

Drake releases ‘Quebec’ single and FOMO music videos on YouTube

1 Oct

Drake drops his new single ‘Quebec’ and a suite of ‘FOMO’ music videos on YouTube. Discover the full tracklist and the luxury details in the new visuals.

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Two men in a dim hallway; the foreground man raises his hand toward the camera while the other wears sunglasses and a suit

Music

Saint Levant’s AFANDI: Reimagining the Golden Era of Arab Pop

21 Sept

Discover how Saint Levant’s new album AFANDI blends modern rap with the golden era of Arab pop, from Palestinian dabke to Lebanese pop influences.

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Six people in colorful robes and headwraps stand together in a desert, holding guitars and looking at the camera

Music

The best new MENA music releases to soundtrack your summer 2026

30 Jul

Discover the best new MENA music releases of 2026. From Sherine’s comeback to Tul8te’s jazz sessions, we review the tracks defining the summer sound.

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A man in a tan coat stands beside a large ice sculpture of a car outdoors at night

Music

Drake’s F1 Ice Sculpture: The McLaren and Iceman Connection

7 Jun

The story behind Drake’s McLaren-inspired ice sculpture, its link to Kimi Räikkönen’s 2006 Monaco moment, and what the reported credits actually establish.

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A person in a suit stands at a microphone on stage with two Jay-Z album covers, "The Blueprint" and "Reasonable Doubt," in the background.

Music

JAY-Z Celebrates The Anniversaries of ‘Reasonable Doubt’ and ‘The Blueprint’

1 Apr

Discover JAY-Z’s historic Yankee Stadium return, honouring 30 years of ‘Reasonable Doubt’ & 25 of ‘The Blueprint’. UAE fans, explore his unparalleled legacy now!

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A person in a shearling jacket leans against a railing, overlooking a city street with tall buildings.

Music

Drake’s Unrivalled Spotify Reign: 130 Billion Streams and His Global & UAE Music Dominance

28 Mar

Discover how Drake shattered records with 130 billion Spotify streams, becoming the highest streamed artist. Unpack his global dominance & unique resonance in the UAE music scene. Learn more!

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Two individuals in futuristic helmets and leather jackets stand on a neon-lit street at night.

Music

Daft Punk Reveal New ‘Human After All’ Visual: The Enduring Legacy Five Years Post-Split

13 Mar

Essential: Daft Punk’s ‘Human After All’ visual, 5 years post-split. Uncover its ‘Electroma’ origins & enduring legacy. Explore their creative genius now, UAE!

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Three men are gathered closely, with the central figure wearing a navy cap and jacket, standing in front of a wall with logos.

Music

Oliver ‘Power’ Grant: Wu-Tang Clan Founding Member Dead at 52

12 Mar

Recognise Oliver ‘Power’ Grant’s genius. The unseen architect behind Wu-Tang Clan’s global empire, who passed at 52. Unpack his pioneering hip-hop legacy, felt even in the UAE.

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A man singing and playing an electric guitar on stage with colorful lights and smoke effects in the background.

Music

Arijit Singh’s Bold New Chapter: From Bollywood Playback Icon to Independent Global Artist

28 Jan

The news sent shockwaves through the Indian music industry and left millions of fans heartbroken: Arijit Singh, the voice that defined a generation of romantic ballads and soulful anthems, appeared to be “retiring” from Bollywood playback singing. Confusion, sadness, and uncertainty about his future plans spread rapidly across social media and fan forums. But what…

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Music

Tawsen’s Comeback: Reclaiming Moroccan Identity & Authenticity

8 Jan

For nearly three years, the vibrant voice of Moroccan artist Tawsen fell silent, a perplexing disappearance from a burgeoning global music scene. What lay behind this unexpected hiatus? More than just a break, Tawsen’s absence was a battle fought behind closed doors, a struggle against the restrictive grip of a music label that threatened to…

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A woman wearing dark makeup and a black off-shoulder top holds a black rose against her chest, set against a dark background with dramatic lighting highlighting her face and hand.

Music

The AI Music Revolution: How Xania Monet’s Billboard Debut is Redefining the Industry

8 Nov

In the summer of 2025, the music industry encountered a milestone that was both inevitable and unsettling. An artist named Xania Monet debuted on a Billboard radio chart, an achievement thousands of human musicians strive for their entire careers. But Xania Monet isn’t human. She is an AI music singer, and her arrival on the…

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A man on the left holds several Grammy awards, dressed in denim with a backdrop of a cemetery. Another man on the right, wearing a camouflage coat and necklace, stands near a tombstone with the inscription 'HIP-HOP IS DEAD?' with trees and a church visible in the background.

Music

The 2025 Rap Drought: Why Hip-Hop Vanished From The Billboard Charts (And Why It’s Not Dead)

6 Nov

If you glanced at the Billboard Hot 100 chart in late October 2025, you might have felt a seismic shift in the music world. For the first time since 1990, the Top 40 was completely devoid of rap songs. The headlines practically wrote themselves, sparking concern and confusion among fans and industry watchers alike. Is…

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