UAE Vinyl Revival: How a Small Community Is Reclaiming Music Ownership

In Dubai, a vinyl renaissance is quietly unfolding. A handful of musicians and entrepreneurs have turned the analog format into a statement of ownership and a tactile listening experience.

The movement began with Jayesh Veralkar, a former Sony Music executive who relocated to the UAE nine years ago. During the pandemic he co‑founded Vinyl Souq, a community platform aimed at countering what he saw as a superficial mainstream scene and a fragmented underground. Together with his wife, Sarina, the pair launched the venture to promote music discovery, host in‑person events, and sell vinyl records. Their focus is on full albums rather than individual tracks, encouraging listeners to engage with the work as a cohesive whole.

What started as a modest record fair—bringing together local shops such as The Flip Side, Raw Music Store, and later Metal East Records—has expanded into a network that hosts more than 50 curated experiences. In 2023 the group organized a 700‑person mini‑festival that activated six venues across Dubai simultaneously, demonstrating the scale the community can reach.

To provide a tangible product, Vinyl Souq launched its own imprint, Vinyl Souq Records. The imprint’s flagship project is the “Made in the Emirates” compilation series. Volume 1, released in January 2025, featured nine artists from over 15 nationalities, spanning jazz, funk, and fusion. All 500 pressed copies sold out within the UAE, and the artists received royalties for the first time from the sale of their original music.

Because the UAE lacks a local pressing plant, the production chain for Volume 1 was international. Mastering took place in London, the stamper was cut in the Netherlands, and the discs were pressed in Mumbai at a plant that had been reopened after four decades.

Volume 2, curated by Shadi Megallaa—the founder of The Flip Side record shop at Alserkal Avenue—shifts focus to the UAE’s electronic music scene. The eight‑track, ten‑artist compilation was distributed by Word And Sound, a Hamburg‑based distributor that has been operating since the 1990s. It is now stocked in more than 30 countries, including the United States, Australia, Japan, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Germany, and Denmark. Each double LP retails for AED 200 and includes a download card for Vinyl Souq’s Bandcamp page; the compilations are not available on streaming platforms.

Megallaa, who has worked as a DJ for roughly three decades, says vinyl has never disappeared from the UAE. He views the format as a way to counter the limitations of streaming and the rise of AI‑generated tracks. “People don’t own music anymore—owning something real is a good thing,” he said.

Australian DJ and producer Megadon Betamax—who moved to Dubai 18 years ago and founded the label Voyeurhythm before the global financial crisis—also supports the vinyl revival. He notes that vinyl sales have risen as more people press records and manufacture turntables. He describes vinyl as a “point of difference” that signals commitment to a project.

The three men agree that vinyl offers a counterpoint to an industry that rewards volume over intention. They see the physical format as a way to keep listeners rooted and mindful, especially as AI‑generated content becomes more common on streaming services.

While the UAE’s independent scene has faced challenges—DIY parties and clubs largely ceased before or during the pandemic—Vinyl Souq and other local promoters have helped revive a DIY culture. The community now has a platform that supports local artists, provides a revenue stream through physical sales, and connects the UAE to international distributors.

At present, Vinyl Souq Records continues to produce new compilations and to expand its network of local shops and collectors. The next steps involve maintaining the supply chain across multiple countries and exploring additional distribution channels, but the current focus remains on delivering high‑quality vinyl releases that give UAE artists a tangible product and a new source of royalties.