
Word on the Street: Ibiza Global Radio 95.3 UAE Beach Festival Feedback
To say our first ever beach festival was good doesn’t hit the mark – it was epic! A heady cocktail of electric vibes and incredible music, the inaugural Ibiza Global Radio 95.3 UAE Beach Festival was off the scale. We provided the venue, the set-up and a hot-to-trot line-up of local and international DJs – and you lot added the magic. Generating a kinetic energy, 4000 up-for-it party people showed our headliners – Mattias Tanzmann, Mano Le Tough and Anja Schneider – how we rave here in Dubai. We raved long and we raved hard.
We return to Soul Beach, at JA The Resort, Jebel Ali, for the second Ibiza Global Radio 95.3 UAE Beach Festival, on Saturday 14th May. Still pumped up from our first event, we’re pulling out the stops to make our next festival even better. With first release tickets on sale now, you’d be mad to miss out. But don’t take our word for it. Here’s what some of those local DJs and party people have to say…
Alex Twin
The festival venue: The festival venue is absolutely amazing. The set-up was really well organised and Soul Beach is really stylish.
The vibe: Such great energy! People were dancing from the very first hour.
The crowd: One of the best crowds I have ever played for. The crowd was 100% engaged from the beginning until the end, which makes Ibiza Global Radio Beach Festival one of the most desirable festivals to play for in the UAE.
The music: Anja Schneider was absolutely fabulous. She always delivers quality.
Overall Ibiza Global Radio 95.3 UAE Beach Festival experience: One of the best festivals I’ve ever played for. I cannot wait to be back soon.
Catch the Alex Twin Live show every Wednesday, from 3 – 4pm, on Ibiza Global Radio 95.3 UAE.

Xavi Emparan
The festival venue: There’s no better location than Soul Beach at JA The Resort. Every time I go there, I get lost; it’s like stepping into an Ibiza venue. Soul Beach has wonderful surroundings – the beach, the sea, boats and yachts sailing around. It reminds me of pure Ibiza vibes.
The vibe: It’s hard to describe the vibe in words. There was a mutual outpouring of happiness and kindness; everyone was just into hearing and feeling the music and dancing on the sand. You need to live and feel this.
The crowd: The crowd was full of smiling faces, everyone dancing with their hands in the air, creating a perfect vibe.
The music: Totally on-point. When Mano Le Tough took control of the decks, I looked out onto a packed Soul Beach and saw a sea of hands in the air. The sight gave me goose pimples; it was an emotional moment. I turned to Theo Makris – our captain at the station – and we looked at each other, saying, “We did it! This is a slice of Ibiza in Dubai!”
Overall Ibiza Global Radio 95.3 UAE Beach Festival experience: Incredible! I can’t wait for the next one.
Tune into Xavi’s Day Break show, weekdays on Ibiza Global Radio 95.3 UAE.
Jay van Schie (Fizzo & Jay)
The festival venue: Walking down the strip towards Soul Beach, passing all the yachts, I felt like I was in a different country. Once inside, it wasn’t like any other beach event I have been to in Dubai.
The vibe: I sensed immediately that people were excited to let go and enjoy themselves in the sand. People came into the venue with a kind of urgency to set up their spots and get involved in the music as soon as possible.
The crowd: What a great crowd! Everyone was there for the right reason – to enjoy the music and not just to be seen. They danced front and centre from just after midday till close.
The music: The music was amazing! The local DJs built up the energy and excitement from the start, setting the vibe perfectly for the international DJs. Each DJ brought their own twist to the sound, keeping people engaged and dancing from start to finish. Mano Le Tough played some really interesting sounds and tracks in a way that made his set stand out for me.
Overall Ibiza Global Radio 95.3 UAE Beach Festival experience: The entire event was awesome; the hours flew by way too quickly! I honestly encourage everyone to come and experience an Ibiza Global Radio Beach Festival. It has something that most events here are missing and the only way to understand what I mean is by being there yourself.
Fizzo & Jay step up behind the decks at the next Ibiza Global Radio 95.3 UAE Beach Festival on Saturday 14th May. Catch their Fabrikated Junk show, every Wednesday, at 8pm.
Darko de Jan
The festival venue: Soul Beach is just perfect for this event. That sunset, along with the music, was just unbelievable!
The vibe: From the very start of the event, we all felt a great energy. With no masks or restrictions, it was beautiful to see the crowd back to the dancefloor properly with hands in the air.
The crowd: An early crowd full of smiley faces, which says everything you need to know about the event. No matter who was playing that day, people were just into the music and extremely happy.
The music: Everyone played a great set on the day. I thought the whole festival was special from the beginning until the very end.
Overall Ibiza Global Radio 95.3 UAE Beach Festival experience: The Ibiza Global Radio UAE team put on a great show. Can’t wait for the 2.0.
Lock into Darko’s Paparazzi show on Ibiza Global Radio 95.3 UAE, every Friday, from 1pm – 2pm.
Lee Tunnicliffe
The festival venue: Open air, sick sound system, easy access to the bar, and only 15 mins from Dubai Marina. I had butterflies walking into the venue.
The vibe: Soul Beach provided full-on beach festival vibes; it felt like pre-Covid times! The sunset was pretty special, with the sea glistening away in the background.
The crowd: I spotted many familiar faces from the Blue Marlin UAE days, which was awesome – lots of music heads! Everyone was up for a party!
The music: Totally mind-blowing, especially Anja Schneider, she was on a different level.
Overall Ibiza Global Radio 95.3 UAE Beach Festival experience: Seriously, this festival reminded me why I love electronic music so much. The atmosphere was unreal. A truly epic event, I look forward to loads more!
Conor Rainey
The festival venue: Soul Beach is a great location. It’s not far out of Dubai but far enough to feel like you’ve left the city behind.
The vibe: Great vibe! Everyone was there for music which added to the atmosphere.
The crowd: Lots of friendly, smiling, happy faces.
The music: Really good! From the local DJs to the headliners, everyone brought something to the table. From start to finish, the festival was really well programmed.
Overall Ibiza Global Radio 95.3 UAE Beach Festival experience: Superb. I will be back.