Done Events acquires Dubai Jazz Festival

UAE promoter Done Events has acquired Dubai Jazz Festival, cementing its status as the largest organiser of live events in the region.

As of 2019, Dubai-based Done – part of Arab Media Group (AMG) – will organise, manage and operate the popular festival, which returns for its 17th edition on 20–22 February 2019. The event, which takes place at the 15,000-capacity Dubai Media City Amphitheatre, was formerly owned by Chillout Productions.

Done Events also promotes popular rock/pop events RedFestDXB and Blended, the Filipino-focused TagFest and comedy festival DXBLaughs.

“The Emirates Airline Dubai Jazz Festival further enhances Done Events’ presence as the region’s largest event organiser,” says AMG CEO Mohammed Sharaf.

Artists who have performed at past Dubai Jazz Festivals include Sting, Jamie Cullum, OneRepublic, Carlos Santana, David Gray and John Legend. More than 500,000 tickets have been sold for the festival since 2003.

“We are confident that under Done Events’ stewardship, the festival will continue to grow”

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“We are extremely excited for the next edition of the Emirates Airline Dubai Jazz Festival, and we will be announcing the artists that will perform there within the next few days,” comments Girish Bhat, managing director of Done Events.

Antony Younes, CEO of Chillout Productions, adds: “The collaboration between Done Events and Chillout Productions commenced a few years ago as both our events, RedFestDXB, organised by Done Events, and the Emirates Airline Dubai Jazz Festival, organised by Chillout Productions, ran back to back. Done Events have a track record of delivering on major shows such as the Emirates Airline Dubai Jazz Festival, and we strongly believe they will maintain the high standards that our loyal audience and sponsors are accustomed to.

“We are confident that under Done Events’ stewardship, the Emirates Airline Dubai Jazz Festival will continue to grow and flourish.

Snow Patrol have been announced as the first headliner for 20 February. “We can’t wait to welcome the guys back to Dubai for their huge following, not just in the UAE but also the wider GCC [Gulf Cooperation Council],” says Bhat.

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