It’s a question heard frequently from curious new arrivals to the region: does the Middle East have an independent music scene?
While it’s easy to roll your eyes in response, the ignorance is often unintentional.
With the Arab world bereft of radio channels and television programmes dedicated to underground artists, the various scenes – from rock and hip-hop to electronic music – took matters into their own hands with members launching Instagram accounts full of revelatory information.
From new releases by the next big thing or tributes to vintage artists from the past, these pages have grown to become an indispensable source of information for the thriving music community bubbling beneath the surface.
Here are 10 Instagram accounts you need to follow to know what’s cooking in the Arab indie music scene:
1. Arab Sounds
An offshoot of its website, this is a vibrant and informative account focusing on popular and independent Arabic music.
As well as posting snippets of new releases, Arab Sounds also crunches streaming figures to present a weekly top 5 Arab music chart.
2. Scene Noise
An excellent portal focusing on electronic music and independent acts from the Mena region.
From bite-sized reviews and information about new releases to announcements about virtual gigs, Scene Noise doesn't skip a beat.
3. Rap Scene
With about 200,000 followers, Rap Scene could perhaps be the "No. 1 Hip Hop Community in the Middle East".
The site provides a strong lowdown of the region's thriving hip-hop community, with news of latest releases and what's trending on social media.
4. Mena Heat
The place to go to find out which burgeoning talent or tune is popping on TikTok and social media.
Fun and quirky, Mena Heat provides a great insight into the next generation of musicians and content creators.
5. Saudi Musicians
Think of this as an online jam session. The account already features more than 700 Saudi artists, from guitarists and oud players to rappers, sopranos and classical musicians.
Altogether, the account provides an evocative snapshot of the kingdom's creative community.
6. Alternative Arabic Music
Full of mini profiles, reviews, competitions and home performances, this account is a superb starting point for those wanting to discover independent artists from the Levant.
7. Palestine Music Expo
The account may be linked to the annual event in Ramallah, but between festivals it provides valuable insights into the Palestinian music community.
In addition to highlighting new music, the site is also home to interesting facts – such as the most-streamed Palestinian song on YouTube – and webinars on the scene.
8. Moroccan Rap Memes
It's common knowledge that Morocco's hip-hop community is a regional leader. But for an indication of the depth of talent out there, you can't go past this account.
Don't let the name fool you – the page is not full of funny memes. Instead, it is home to some serious knowledge on the Moroccan rap scene.
9. Habibi Funk
While it may have started as the account for Habibi Funk, a boutique German label specialising in vintage Arabic and jazz releases from forgotten Arab acts, the page is now a haven for those looking to discover the golden sounds of the past from previous generations of Middle Eastern indie acts.
10. Rap DXB
This is the new kid on the block. Launched at the start of this year, Rap DXB is already forging a path to becoming a strong portal for the UAE indie music scene.
Featuring artist spotlights, a look at new videos and online gigs from Ras Al Khaimah, Rap DXB is proudly waving a flag for the local scene.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The biog
Job: Fitness entrepreneur, body-builder and trainer
Favourite superhero: Batman
Favourite quote: We must become the change we want to see, by Mahatma Gandhi.
Favourite car: Lamborghini
The stats
Ship name: MSC Bellissima
Ship class: Meraviglia Class
Delivery date: February 27, 2019
Gross tonnage: 171,598 GT
Passenger capacity: 5,686
Crew members: 1,536
Number of cabins: 2,217
Length: 315.3 metres
Maximum speed: 22.7 knots (42kph)
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
RESULTS
1.30pm Handicap (PA) Dh 50,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
Winner AF Almomayaz, Hugo Lebouc (jockey), Ali Rashid Al Raihe (trainer)
2pm Handicap (TB) Dh 84,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner Karaginsky, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar.
2.30pm Maiden (TB) Dh 60,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner Sadeedd, Ryan Curatolo, Nicholas Bachalard.
3pm Conditions (TB) Dh 100,000 (D) 1,950m
Winner Blue Sovereign, Clement Lecoeuvre, Erwan Charpy.
3.30pm Handicap (TB) Dh 76,000 (D) 1,800m
Winner Tailor’s Row, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.
4pm Maiden (TB) Dh 60,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner Bladesmith, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar.
4.30pm Handicap (TB) Dh 68,000 (D) 1,000m
Winner Shanaghai City, Fabrice Veron, Rashed Bouresly.
