( About Vinyl Souk )
The UAE’s community platform for alternative music and vinyl culture
Since April 2023, our curated events and activations have connected subcultures, emerging artists and local audiences.
In numbers
-
10,100+
Event attendees
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240+
Artists booked
-
50+
Curated experiences
-
20+
Venues activated
Figures as of July 2026.
Mission and vision
(Vision)
Build the SWANA region’s first scalable platform for vinyl culture and independent music.
(Mission)
Build the infrastructure for independent music through our own IPs across live experiences, education and recorded music.
The journey
-
2023
- Launched Vinyl Souk, the UAE’s first music-focused marketplace, as a monthly series in Dubai and Abu Dhabi
-
2024
- Featured in What’s On’s Cool Culture Collectives
- Nominated for Best Promoter Night at What’s On’s Nightlife Awards
- Launched Mini Festival
-
2025
- Vinyl Souk Records’ debut, Made in the Emirates Vol. 1, sold out
- Vinyl Souk’s debut in Bangalore, India
- Mini Festival 2nd edition
-
2026
- Released Made in the Emirates Vol. 2
- Mini Festival 3rd edition
- Commissioned to press vinyl for the UAE National Orchestra
- Mini Festival nominated Best Homegrown Event at the Mixmag UAE Nightlife Awards
- Discovery over algorithms
- Community first
- Independence over trends
- Depth over virality
- Cross-generational by design
- Sound as storytelling
What we do
-
Vinyl Souk Records
An independent label documenting and releasing music from the UAE through its compilation series, Made in the Emirates.
-
Souk Lab
Our learning and exchange space for workshops, talks, screenings and creative experiments around music, culture and community.
-
Mini Festival
Our flagship: a multi-venue, cross-generational festival of regional sounds, live acts, DJs, workshops, film and community, at 25hours Hotel One Central.
-
Souk Sessions
A curated series of listening sessions, DJ sets, live performances and record fairs, spotlighting selectors, artists and sounds from the region and beyond.
Community and brand partners
In the press
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(Gulf News - 2 Aug 2026)
“People don’t own music anymore”: inside UAE’s vinyl revival and the business behind it
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(Scene Noise - 18 May 2026)
How Vinyl Souk keeps Dubai’s underground spinning
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(Discogs - 25 Apr 2025)
Vinylogue: Vinyl Souk, bringing record culture to Dubai
Every other write-up, in a box you can scroll.
(Interviews and features)
- Khaleej TimesDubai: Step aside, Spotify; why some Gen-Zers are opting for vinyl records over music streaming (opens in a new tab)
- Khamsa5Interview with Jayesh Veralkar, Founder of Vinyl Souk DXB (opens in a new tab)
- Time Out DubaiWhere to listen to vinyl in Dubai (opens in a new tab)
- What’s On17 unique culture collectives in Dubai doing the most for the community (opens in a new tab)
- Cosmopolitan MEWe refuse to gatekeep these underground music scenes in DXB (opens in a new tab)
- Esquire MEDubai’s 25hours Hotel One Central offers a stay less ordinary (opens in a new tab)
- The Sandy TimesLet everyone play vinyl! Interview with Jayesh, co-founder of Vinyl Souk (opens in a new tab)
- Dubai Eye 103.8 FMDubai’s home-grown Vinyl Souk turns one! (opens in a new tab)
- What’s OnWhat’s On Nightlife Awards 2024: Vinyl Souk nominated for Best Promoter Night (opens in a new tab)
- Time Out Dubai7 home-grown brands that will give you your culture fix in Dubai (opens in a new tab)
- The Sandy TimesWhere to buy vinyl in Dubai: Jayesh’s picks (opens in a new tab)
- The World (PRX)The vinyl collecting scene in Dubai (opens in a new tab)
- Dubai Eye 103.8 FMThe Vinyl Souk story (opens in a new tab)
- Mille WorldThis is the platform behind Dubai’s vinyl revival (opens in a new tab)
- Scene NowVinyl Souk DXB debuts VA compilation ‘Made in The Emirates Vol. 1’ (opens in a new tab)
- The Sandy TimesVinyls and the stories behind them (opens in a new tab)
- The Sandy Times (radio)Your must-listen: Made in the Emirates by Vinyl Souk & 25hours Hotel (opens in a new tab)
- Groove AtelierKhalid Mezaina creates iconic artwork for Vinyl Souk Records’ latest VA compilation (opens in a new tab)
- Emirates Woman8 places to go to in Dubai to connect with like-minded people (opens in a new tab)
- Art in the MiddleJayesh Veralkar on building Vinyl Souk and collaborating with 25hours Hotel One Central (opens in a new tab)
- The NationalThe throwback Dubai video shop where customers can rewind to the days before digital (opens in a new tab)
- The Sandy TimesMENA local heroes: listen now to Made in the Emirates Vol. II (opens in a new tab)
- Scene NoiseVinyl Souk releases volume two of VA album ‘Made in the Emirates’ (opens in a new tab)
- Mixmag UAEVinyl Souk Records announces ‘Made in the Emirates’ – Volume 2 (opens in a new tab)
(Event listings and guides)
- Gulf BuzzDubai is hosting a free music event & after-party on June 24th & everyone’s invited! (opens in a new tab)
- The NationalThings to do in the UAE this week, September 2023 (opens in a new tab)
- Mixmag MENAVinyl Souk celebrates first anniversary in Dubai on April 26 (opens in a new tab)
- Cairo SceneVinyl Souk DXB to host Beirut Groove Collective, 25th November (opens in a new tab)
- Cairo SceneVinyl Souk throws two-year anniversary with Bordello A Parigi showcase (opens in a new tab)
- Savoir FlairTune in to Vinyl Souk’s Shabab edition (opens in a new tab)
- The Sandy TimesMeet Kazdoura: the duo turning pain and memory into music (opens in a new tab)
- TbreakQuoz Arts Festival: your guide to the music
- Fact MagazineVinyl Souk debuts in Abu Dhabi with a cool cultural event (opens in a new tab)
- Yalla Abu DhabiVinyl Souk takes over Abu Dhabi this weekend (opens in a new tab)
- DSCVR.AEVolume 15 of Vinyl Souk is coming to 25hours Hotel next week (opens in a new tab)
- Mille WorldEverything not to miss at the 2026 Al Quoz Arts Fest (opens in a new tab)
- The Sandy TimesHassan Abou Alam, music producer and DJ: “I thought about quitting many times” (opens in a new tab)
(Mini Festival)
- Mixmag UAEMixmag UAE Nightlife Awards 2026: Vinyl Souk Mini Festival nominated for Best Homegrown Event
- Gulf BuzzDiscover Dubai’s alternative music scene at the Vinyl Souk Mini Festival this Sunday (opens in a new tab)
- Arte & LussoVinyl Souk Mini Festival set to ignite the UAE’s alternative music scene this November (opens in a new tab)
- Time Out DubaiVinyl Souk Mini Festival, 1st edition (opens in a new tab)
- MagpieVinyl Souk Mini Festival, 1st edition (opens in a new tab)
- Scene NoiseDubai’s Vinyl Souk to host Mini Festival, November 24th (opens in a new tab)
- Savoir FlairVinyl Souk Mini Festival, 3rd edition (opens in a new tab)
- Fact MagazineVinyl Souk Mini Festival, 2nd edition (opens in a new tab)
- Yalla DubaiVinyl Souk Mini Festival, 2nd edition (opens in a new tab)
- Scene NoiseVinyl Souk reveals line-up for Mini Festival in Dubai on February 1st (opens in a new tab)
- STR Radio / The Sandy TimesVinyl Souk Mini Festival x STR special (opens in a new tab)
- Mixmag UAEVinyl Souk’s Mini Festival returns to Dubai this February (opens in a new tab)
- Dubai NightJameson x Vinyl Souk’s Mini Festival Dubai (opens in a new tab)
- The Gulf IndependentVinyl Souk reveals full artist lineup for upcoming festival at 25hours Hotel Dubai (opens in a new tab)
Work with us
Cultural equity, not just logo placement.
Every partnership is built together and shaped around your brand, with the option to carry it across several editions.
(Partners align with)
- Authentic grassroots culture
- Tastemaker audiences
- Slow-burn brand engagement
- Content-rich environments, in sound and picture
(Opportunities include)
- Venue takeovers
- Secret venue hosting
- Branded listening moments
- Co-curated programming
- Content and post-event storytelling