Imad leads Government Affairs for Spotify in the Middle East and Africa and works closely with governments and culture-sector partners to shape policies that support innovation, digital growth, and artistic expression. He is passionate about strengthening the region’s creative industries and helping local artists and creators share their work with the world.
Prior to joining Spotify, Imad held senior positions at Siemens and spent more than a decade before that in consulting, advising clients in technology, telecommunications, energy, and mining on market entry strategies and policy advocacy throughout the MEA region. His insights on political and economic developments have been featured by the BBC, Reuters, and the Financial Times, and he has contributed expert testimony to UK parliamentary committees on foreign policy.
Imad holds an MSc in International Public Policy from University College London (UCL) and is fluent in Arabic, English, French, and Spanish.
At a time when words divide and algorithms amplify differences, music remains one of the world’s last true bridges, uniting billions through shared rhythms and emotion. This session’s focus is on music’s enduring role as a global connector, exploring how sound becomes story, how emotion becomes economy, and how artists become ambassadors of something greater than entertainment. Audience members learn how data, digital platforms, and live experiences can bring us closer rather than further apart. Music may be an industry, but it is also a common language. It’s one that still has the power to rebuild trust, empathy, and belonging in a fractured age.
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“A landmark gathering that will unite media professionals, policymakers, cultural creators, and global influencers.”
“A gateway for knowledge exchange.”
“A game‑changer for the global media industry”
“We are proud to take part in the inaugural edition of BRIDGE Summit”
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