What Went Down at the Dazed MENA 2025 End of Year Party

You might have seen the stories by now: a red neon-lit warehouse, Jordanian legendary singer Ahmad Al Aly mumbling his way through Reel 2 Real’s I Like to Move It, and a giant inflatable gorilla busting a move smack dab in the middle of IASC’s set. Last night could have been mistaken for bad AI or a fever dream. In fairness, it felt like one—it was also the perfect celebration for one year of Dazed MENA: late into the night, surrounded by community.

The Dazed MENA fam pulled through

Johannesburg native and New York-based DJ and producer Zano kicked off the night with her signature mix of amapiano and afrohouse, all while the best of the region’s creative industry trickled into Room #3 at 25h Hotel. Doors opened at 9 pm, and by 9.30 it was nearly packed, with everyone from friends, family and close collaborators like Bilal Al Kadhi to many of this year’s Dazed 100 talen,t including Karim El Atrache, Zein Jaouni, Marcellina, Noor Alazzawi and Dana Dawud. Even global stars like Pa Salieu made a surprise appearance.

Secta made sure it was a PRODUCTION

This year, we teamed up with the one and only Secta collective, who had invited us to their biggest open-air rager yet just weeks earlier. Bringing their signature custom-made sound system and scaff design into the space, they created the perfect environment for the madness that ensued last night.

Ahmad Al Aly was just as iconic as we thought

Inviting Ahmad Al Aly, suggested by our very own Dazed 100 alumnus Omar Sha3, was the best decision we could have made. A journey of voice notes across group chats with his manager, me and our creative producer, Fatima, trying to communicate in an Egyptian-Lebanese-Jordanian mishmash, and attempting to understand what his tech rider actually was, it was a saga for sure. But it paid off the minute Ahmad took the stage.

The term “crowd control” gets thrown around a lot, but watching this man walk straight into the middle of a 500-strong crowd, many of whom had never heard of him before, and then get everyone on the floor and jumping with him multiple times was nothing short of iconic. Oh, and did we mention the drummers?

Suntory Global Spirits had the bar stocked to the brim

Not only was the bar stocked with Suntory’s finest spirits — Haku Vodka, Roku Gin, Roku Sakura Gin, Toki Suntory Whisky and Laphroaig — but the Dazed team also got to customise their own signature cocktails to mark the occasion. From Ahmad’s Post-Modern Old Fashioned to Sarra’s Internet Soda and Chndy’s Crash Course, the cocktail menu was just like us: editorially curated, and with something for everyone. 

IASC closed out the night in style with a taste of Cairo

Lana and Aly from the Committee flew in for the gig, missing third member  Noor, who had important Committee business to attend to in Nigeria. By the time they took to the stage, Ahmad Al Aly had left the crowd in a frenzy; an appetite for sing-along bangers was filling the room.

The Committee delivered a set packed with everything from shaabi classics to Arabic 2000s pop breakbeat mashups. But there was one surprise left: the inflatable gorilla. The same one that has become synonymous with Egypt, and our Dazed MENA launch film by Chndy. A full dance circle erupted around our inflatable friend, and so did our hearts, filled with love and pride, as we looked back at everything we’ve built in just 12 months of Dazed MENA. As our small team looked around at the crowds of contributors, friends and family, we were beaming with gratitude. 

Thank you!