News

Middle East Tech Enthusiasts Prepare For Step Conference 2023

The highly-anticipated 11th edition of the popular tech festival takes place in Dubai Internet City between February 22nd-23rd, 2023.

Published

4 years ago

January 25, 2023

Nour Nasir

middle east tech enthusiasts prepare for step conference 2023

Step Conference is a much-anticipated event in the calendar of every tech enthusiast and startup visionary in the Middle East. This year, the event is set to return to Dubai with a retro-futurism-themed lineup of events. From the DTC Hub and 1-on-1 investor meetings to major tech reveals, workshops, and entertainment, the expo is shaping up to be a highlight of this year’s conference circuit.

As well as offering the opportunity to mix with top entrepreneurs and gain insights from industry leaders, Step Conference will explore the latest trends across 6 content tracks:

Learn from global influencers in the tech and startup scene with the Start Track, covering success stories, growth, fundraising, and more.
Dive into the latest financial technology trends with the Fintech Track, including blockchain, digital currencies, and cashless payments.
Explore the future of transport, smart cities, and AI with the Future Track, featuring industry leaders in autonomous tech.
Uncover the latest trends in digital marketing, advertising tech, and more with the Digital Track.
Discover the latest lifestyle and well-being tech with the Wellness Track.
Join the Earth Track to explore Greentech, sustainability, and environmental impact.

As well as a packed schedule of events, Step 2023 hosts a packed lineup of industry leaders and innovators. This year’s roster of speakers includes representatives from Morning Brew, Pattern, Velocity Global, and Hotjar.

If you’re a budding startup entrepreneur or simply want to hear about the latest from the world of technology, don’t miss out on Step Conference 2023. Tickets are still available through the official website, where entering code DSC-FZM3 will help you out with a special Early Bird price!

News

Samsung And Spotify Offer Free Premium Deal In MENA

Nearly seven in ten streams in the region come from 18-to-34-year-olds — the audience Samsung is hoping to entice into its ecosystem.

Published

6 days ago

August 7, 2026

Nour Nasir

Samsung

Samsung has announced a partnership with Spotify spanning the Middle East, North Africa, and Türkiye, bundling Spotify Premium with select devices across its ecosystem. The headline offer — up to four months of Premium for free — is a first for the region.

Customers in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Türkiye who buy any OLED or 98-inch television, or any Galaxy S or Z series mobile device, get four months of Spotify Premium. The offer, tiered by market and device, is available at retail and on Samsung.com, and redeemed through the Samsung Promotion and Samsung Members apps.

For Samsung, the strategy is less about free music than about lock-in. The Korean tech giant’s pitch is continuity: a track starts on a Galaxy smartphone through Galaxy Buds on the commute, moves to a Samsung TV and soundbar in the living room, and stays controllable from a Galaxy Watch. The more seamlessly music travels between those devices, the harder it becomes to swap any one of them for a rival’s.

“Technology should bring people closer to the things they love, and few things connect people the way music does,” said Omar Saheb, Regional VP of Marketing and Online Business at Samsung Electronics MENA. The partnership, he added, gives customers “a genuine reason to choose Samsung for the experience, not only the product”.

Also Read: Shokz OpenFit Pro Review: Open-Ear Audio Finally Grows Up

For subscribers, Premium brings the usual package: ad-free listening, offline downloads, richer audio quality on Galaxy Buds and Samsung sound devices, and Jam, which lets friends build a shared queue.

“At Spotify, we are always working to make every listening moment feel more personal, meaningful, and worth it,” said Rami Jamal, Head of Partnerships at Spotify for South Asia, Middle East, and Africa.

The demographics go a long way to explaining the strategy. Across MENA, Türkiye, and Pakistan, nearly seven in ten Spotify streams come from listeners aged 18 to 34, according to the company — precisely the audience Samsung wants inside its hardware ecosystem before buying habits harden.