Music focussed marketplace & music discovery platform Dubai

Our Story

Vinyl Souk, established in April 2023, is the UAE’s premier community platform for alternative music and vinyl culture. Through curated events and activations, it connects subcultures, emerging artists, and local audiences, celebrating the region’s vibrant creative spirit.

Souk Sessions

A curated series of listening sessions, DJ sets, live performances, record fairs spotlighting selectors, artists and sounds from the region and beyond.

Souk Lab

Our learning and exchange space for workshops, talks, screenings and creative experiments around music, culture and community.

Vinyl Souk Records

An independent label documenting and releasing music from the UAE through its compilation series, Made in the Emirates.

UAE Independent Music Archive 2026

Last year, we tracked 30+ independent music releases coming out of the UAE through this archive. From bedroom recordings and self-released EPs to club records, ambient experiments, indie bands, rap projects, and everything in between. The scene is growing in every direction and this archive is our small attempt to spotlight, and celebrate independent music from the UAE.

If you released music in 2026 or planning to release - we want to hear it. Add your release to the archive through this link.

This archive is built for the community, by the community.

Souk Lab

This music fair is quietly changing UAE's culture

In this episode, Jayesh Veralkar shares the story behind Vinyl Souk. From a community vinyl fair to an independent record label documenting and championing the UAE's thriving alternative music scene. We discuss vinyl culture, building creative communities, and the vision for supporting the region's next generation of artists.

Hosted by Daryush - Dr.Head Podcast Studio.

Sikka Speaks Panel: From Crates to Culture - Vinyl Stores Shaping the UAE Scene

A focussed conversation on independent, owner-run record stores in Dubai and their role in shaping vinyl culture in the UAE. The panel looks at how these spaces function beyond retail-as sites of discovery, learning, community, and archiving in a digital age.

Panelists: Shadi Megallaa (The Flip Side), Hakim Abderrazek (Raw Music Store), Assaad Lakkis (Bull Funk Zoo).

Moderated by Jayesh Veralkar - Vinyl Souk

Local Frequencies: Tuning into the Grassroots Music Culture

Panel conversation moderated by Tarik Omar spotlighting the role of community radios from UAE & beyond with panelists Bu Fari (MiZa Radio), Mohammed Abood (boxout.fm), Remon (ARABICBYNIGHT.RADIO), and Salah Sadeq (The Crate Radio) as part of Vinyl Souk takeover of Manarat Al Saadiyat (MAS).

Interview with Bill Brewster by Megadon Betamax

Vinyl Souk at 25hours Hotel One Central

Souk Sessions

Kira aka Mira at 25hours Hotel One Central

Kira, also known as Mira, made her debut as a vinyl selector at Souk Sessions. Kira has an eclectic taste, collecting and playing a diverse array of music genres and vibes. From the avant-garde realms of experimental and ambient sounds to the rich, soulful tones of jazz, her sets are a sonic journey.

Pawel Blot at 25hours Hotel One Central

Pawel Blot, a vinyl warrior and collector, a true eclectic DJ, for the past 15 years member of the Dutch Intergalactic FM scene, promoting quality electronic dance music. Pawel relocated back to Poland where he co-founded Italo Kochando, a DJ collective responsible for recurring cosmic/disco events all over Poland. His sets bring a fresh and modern perspective to synthesizer inspired Italo disco music as well as 80s/90s esthetics mixed with nostalgic electro, funk and dark-wave.

Roland Ragi at 25hours Hotel One Central

Roland Ragi has been an active DJ on the Beirut night circuit for 20 years, playing in bars and clubs, and exploring an uninhibited array of sounds and musical genres. His vinyl sets as Back From The Crate mostly cover Electro Funk, Soul, Disco, Post Punk, Synth Pop, Lebanese Pop and, Belly Dance.

Cheb Mimo at Manarat Al Saadiyat (MAS)

Mohamed Bel Hadj, better known as Cheb Mimo, is a dynamic and dedicated selector, music researcher, resident Radio host on NTS radio, curator, and writer, with a specialisation in North African music.

Documented by: Bu Fari

Visuals by: Memoryall