The Untold Story Behind Dubai's Inaugural Mega Festival

Untold Festival has built a reputation as one of Europe’s most electrifying dance music events. Since its inception in 2015, this annual celebration in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, has hosted top-tier artists from Armin van Buuren to Tiësto, and garnered prestigious awards such as the Best Major Festival title at the 2015 European Festival Awards.

Just last month, the festival expanded to the UAE with a four-day extravaganza that featured global sensations like Ellie Goulding and Bebe Rexha. Dinogo had the chance to sit down with co-founder Edy Chereji.

The following interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.

Dinogo: Can you share more about Untold Festival and your experience here in Dubai?

Edy Chereji: This is our first time in Dubai, and we've launched the city's very first mega festival. It's a huge honor for us to be here after a decade of success in Europe, where we pioneered the original Untold festival in Romania, which has grown into one of the largest festivals in the world.

Over the years, Untold Festival has hosted some of the biggest names in the music industry, including Armin van Buuren, David Guetta, Martin Garrix, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Steve Aoki, and Imagine Dragons. With such an impressive lineup, we realized it was time to expand. While the festival will continue in Romania, we’re excited to introduce a new home here in Dubai—a global hub where people from all over the world travel, and now we give them another great reason to visit.

Dinogo: Can you tell me about some of the artists who performed over the weekend?

Edy Chereji: We aim to feature a diverse range of artists across four stages, representing all generations. From big names in commercial and electronic dance music like Armin van Buuren and Hardwell, who are adored here in Dubai, to live acts that appeal to various tastes, we strive to offer something for everyone.

We also make sure to cater to the diverse communities in Dubai. For instance, on Friday, we brought in Badshah for the Indian and Pakistani crowd, and he rocked the stage for over an hour. We also welcomed PSY, a beloved figure in Asian communities worldwide, best known for his iconic “Gangnam Style.” Our goal is to showcase all genres at the festival, reflecting Dubai's unique multicultural blend, with over 150 nationalities living here.

Dinogo: Will you be returning to Dubai in the future?

Edy Chereji: Absolutely! Over the past two decades, Dubai has given birth to some of the world's most iconic landmarks. From the Burj Al Arab, which has become a symbol of luxury hospitality, to the Burj Khalifa, the tallest structure on Earth. Our commitment is to contribute to this legacy by creating something just as iconic in Dubai, something that will last for the long term.