Born into the glamorous world of Saint Tropez, in the South of France, Stephane has DJ’ed all
over the world, including Paris, London, Ibiza and Bali. He first came to Dubai 12 years ago as a
guest DJ and, after working between the UAE and France for a while, he then found a
permanent residency as part of the opening team of Media One Hotel. After this, he rotated
between playing at some of Dubai’s hottest venues, doing bi-weekly sets at Sho Cho, VIP
Room, Zuma, and also appearing at W Doha and Bali, twice a month.
Next, after starting with the newly opened COYA Dubai as a guest DJ in 2014, the team quickly
reconized that he was a natural fit for the brand. It wasn’t long before he was persuaded to
swap his freelance lifestyle for a permanent role as COYA Global Music Director. Stephane was
soon travelling the world with COYA to oversee new openings and activations, play at major
events for the brand and also to recruit new DJs and bands. Until the pandemic hit, he’d spent
the last few years flitting between London, Monte Carlo, Mykonos, Paris, Doha, Abu Dhabi and
Dubai, and also the pop-up activations in New York, Porto Cervo, Gstaad and Jeddah, all the
while making sure that every branch was fitting with the COYA musical DNA that he had
created.
Interview with Stephane Petit, Global Music Director, Coya
Stephane, what role does music play in creating the atmosphere and cultural experience at COYA?
Music is a very big part of COYA. It’s one of the core elements of the brand. In 2018, we created the COYA Music label to promote our resident DJs and local artists. The music is carefully curated to complement the entire dining experience, evolving with the night, pairing with the food, design, drinks, and overall ambiance.
Will there be any Omani or Middle Eastern influences in the music here?
We’ve received a lot of interest from local DJs, which was a pleasant surprise. The brand is well-known across the Middle East, and many of the DJs here were already familiar with COYA Music, our podcasts, releases, and events. It made the opening process in Oman incredibly smooth.
How do you guide the DJs to ensure they capture the COYA experience?
The brand has developed its own music identity over the past 10 years, so most DJs already understand what COYA Music is about. We give direction and ensure they align with our DNA, but they generally grasp the concept and can execute it naturally.
Are there any noteworthy music events planned in Oman?
We’re currently exploring how the concept is being received in Muscat. The feedback has been very positive, especially on weekends. We’re in discussions with a few promoters and are open to the idea of taking COYA Music to other venues in Oman. No dates yet, but we’re excited to see how things evolve.