Let’s hear it straight from the source…
The region’s annual checkpoint for assessing the state of its music ecosystem, XP Music Futures ’25, returns for its fifth edition, gathering leading creatives and industry practitioners. Through workshops, panels, and evening performances, XP continues to map out the future of music in the Middle East.
Powered by the MDLBEAST Foundation, the three-day conference features a full daytime program of workshops and discussions led by influential figures and organizations across the sector. This year also includes an expanded night program, presenting a wide range of genre-spanning performances curated by regional labels and collectives such as GoodFellas, Beatroot Records, Peachez, Wall of Sound, Dance Battle, Museland, Cloud 9 x Input/Output, Dhamma Collective, One Day at a Time, and Sama Abdulhadi & Friends.
Bringing these creatives together in one place remains a rare opportunity, designed to accelerate the development of the Middle East’s music infrastructure. XP serves as a meeting point for artists, executives, and innovators, offering space for talent development, ecosystem-building, and cultural exchange.
With overlapping schedules and multiple arenas running simultaneously, we’ve curated a list of artists to keep an eye out for, the ones we’ll be moving between stages to catch.
Note: This list is not ranked; it’s arranged alphabetically and does not indicate priority.
Ayed
Artist
Ayed 2025: The Sound of a New Saudi Generation
Day 1 | 06:30 PM – 07:15 PM
Saudi singer Ayed has become a notable figure within the Khaleeji music landscape, known for blending traditional Gulf melodic forms with contemporary production. Born in Riyadh, he continues to play a key role in shaping the region’s evolving sound.
BADER
Artist, Founder of SAWNA Records & Yalla Worldwide Collective
Collaboration in Practice: Music Collectives Roundtable
Day 3 | 05:30 PM – 06:30 PM
Belgium-based Syrian–Libyan artist Bader Shashit, a Radio Alhara resident, is a multidisciplinary musician and the founder of Yalla Worldwide and Sawna Records.
Baloo
Artist, CCO MDLBEAST
XP2025 Day Opening Ceremony
Day 1 | 03:00 PM – 03:30 PM
Top Tips: Getting Booked on Regional & International Stages
Day 2 | 04:30 PM – 05:15 PM
Ahmed Al-Ammary, known as Baloo, has become closely associated with the expansion of Saudi Arabia’s electronic music scene. A longtime DJ and former creative strategist, he now serves as MDLBEAST’s Chief Creative Officer, applying his experience to the Kingdom’s growing cultural sector.
Cheb Runner
Producer
Modern Heritage: Archiving, Sampling & Reimagining Heritage Through Sound
Day 1 | 05:45 PM – 07:00 PM
Moroccan producer Cheb Runner works between analog and digital processes, drawing from a personal archive of field recordings and traditional instruments. His sound reflects multiple influences and a fluid movement between musical eras.
Firas Abou Fakher
Artist, Composer, VP at Universal Music MENA
AI – Protecting the Creative Economy & The Future of Music Creation
Day 1 | 06:45 PM – 07:30 PM
Firas Abou Fakher is a BAFTA-winning composer, artist, and music executive, and a founding member of the Lebanese band Mashrou’ Leila. He has composed for award-winning projects across Netflix, Film4, PBS, and the BBC.
Gigi Arabia
Artist, CEO & Founder of Heavy Arabia Entertainment
Saudi Music Managers Forum
Day 1 | 04:30 PM – 05:15 PM
Guitar Renaissance in MENA: Powering a New Music Generation
Day 1 | 09:00 PM – 09:45 PM
Gigi Arabia is the Founding President of the Saudi Music Managers Forum and the founder of Heavy Arabia Entertainment, the country’s first dedicated metal promotion company. Her work spans artist management, live production, regional touring, international bookings, and educational initiatives for emerging metal bands.
Gus G.
Guitarist
Guitar Renaissance in MENA: Powering a New Music Generation
Day 1 | 09:00 PM – 09:45 PM
Grammy-nominated guitarist Gus G.—formerly of Ozzy Osbourne’s band—has released solo albums including I Am the Fire (2014), Brand New Revolution (2015), and Quantum Leap (2021).
Hani Dajani
Podcaster at Yalla! Let’s Talk
Defining the Music Market: A&R Role & Responsibilities
Day 3 | 04:00 PM – 04:45 PM
Host and creator of Yalla! Let’s Talk, Hani Dajani has featured leading Arab voices from the diaspora, curating conversations with artists, cultural figures, and global changemakers around identity and creativity.
Layla Ghaleb
Director & Choreographer
Behind the Movement: Dance as a Driving Force in Music Performance
Day 1 | 04:45 PM – 05:30 PM
Director and choreographer Layla Ghaleb recently helmed the viral FIFA Arab Cup song visual. Her credits include choreography for the FIFA World Cup 2022 official music video and halftime final show, the AFC Asian Cup 2023 opening ceremony, and projects with Dior, CAF, NBA Africa, Adidas, Samsung, Wegz, and Balqees.
Liliane Chlela
Artist, Co-founder of Jidariyya Collective
HUNNA: The Gathering
Day 2 | 05:30 PM – 07:15 PM
Beyond the Beat: The Role of Modern-Day Producers
Day 3 | 04:30 PM – 05:15 PM
Beirut-born and Montréal-based, Liliane Chlela is a composer, DJ, performer, and mentor whose career began within Lebanon’s experimental scene. Following early work with projects such as The DnB Project and Hezbel Taleta, she developed an independent solo practice with releases including Lullaby for Monsters, Malign/Benign, Safala, and Anatomy of a Jerk. She co-founded the Jidariyya collective and has mentored young women producers across the region.
Lina Makoul
Singer
HUNNA: The Gathering
Day 2 | 05:30 PM – 07:15 PM
Palestinian singer-songwriter and multidisciplinary artist Lina Makoul blends Arabic lyricism with contemporary pop and global influences. She has toured internationally and shared stages with 6lack, Saint Levant, Queen + Adam Lambert, and Little Mix.
Noise Diva
Artist, Co-founder of KLAB & SALWA Foundation
Noise Diva: The Re-Composition Remix
Day 2 | 03:30 PM – 04:45 PM
Amsterdam-based producer and DJ Noise Diva is a Garage Noord resident and co-founder of KLAB. Her work spans Moroccan trap, Egyptian R&B, French drill, dancehall, and UK garage.
Retro Cassetta
Artist, Cassette Collector
Modern Heritage: Archiving, Sampling & Reimagining Heritage Through Sound
Day 1 | 05:45 PM – 07:00 PM
Cassette collector and DJ Badreddine Haoutar—also known as Snoopy—has amassed an archive of more than 20,000 tapes, with a focus on North African music. He creates mixes that draw from chaâbi, raï, rap, and gnawa traditions.
Sahera
Artist
5 Years XChange Riyadh & XP Zine
Day 3 | 04:00 PM – 05:00 PM
Qatari-American independent artist Sahera explores identity and creative expression within the diaspora. Her breakout single “Khaleeji” charted at #3 in Saudi Arabia, resonating with a new generation of Gulf listeners.
Sama’ Abdulhadi
Artist
Fabric at 25: Legacy, Resistance & the Future of Club Culture
Day 1 | 03:45 PM – 04:30 PM
DJ Workshop — with Sama
Day 1 | 06:00 PM – 07:00 PM
Ramallah-born DJ and producer Sama’ Abdulhadi gained international attention following her 2018 Boiler Room appearance featured in the documentary Palestine Underground. Her career has since continued through a consistent run of global performances.
Shadi Megallaa
Artist, Record Label Owner & Record Shop Owner
Selector Culture: Music Curation as a Form of Cultural Preservation
Day 3 | 06:30 PM – 07:15 PM
Shadi Megallaa began DJing in 1999 and became one of the early contributors to Dubai’s electronic music scene in the 2000s. He founded the Ark to Ashes label in 2013 and later opened The Flip Side in 2017, the city’s first record shop in a decade.
Tamtam
Artist, Founder of Goast Flower
Goastflower Presents: SaMuC (Saudi Music Community)
Day 1 | 04:30 PM – 05:30 PM
Tamtam works across Arabic and English, drawing from pop, R&B, and cinematic influences. She founded the Saudi Music Community through her creative hub Goast Flower, supporting collaboration and professional development for artists in the region. She performed the official Coca-Cola anthem for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Wegz
Artist
Wegz and the Evolution of Arab Hip-Hop
Day 2 | 06:45 PM – 07:30 PM
Alexandria-born rapper Wegz has played a central role in shaping contemporary Arab hip-hop through his blend of trap and mahraganat. Since his 2017 breakthrough, he has released hits such as “TNT,” “Dorak Gai,” and “El-Bakht.” His recent performances include Wireless Festival Abu Dhabi, the 2022 FIFA World Cup halftime show, and the large-scale Wegz Experience in Cairo.
Zeyne
Artist
YouTube Music Presents: Visual Storytelling with Zeyne
Day 1 | 04:30 PM – 05:15 PM
Jordanian-Palestinian artist Zeyne combines Arabic musical elements with contemporary production. Since her 2021 debut Minni Ana, she has accumulated over 58 million streams. Her single Asli Ana reinterprets Arab traditions through a modern lens, and her performances on Ed Sheeran’s Mathematics Tour and at OffLimits Festival mark her growing international presence.
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