Ali Maarrawi Dabbah’s love for music is on full display upon entering his Jumeirah Beach Residence apartment in Dubai. The walls are completely lined with shelves holding nearly 12,000 vinyl records, CDs, and an array of music memorabilia collected over decades. According to the 46-year-old Spanish expatriate, independent appraisals have valued this immense collection at over Dh1 million, a testament to both his deep-rooted passion and discerning eye for finding rare musical treasures.
Dabbah’s journey with music began from a very young age, with memories of listening to his mother’s record collection while still in the womb. He grew up in a musically-inclined family in Syria, with many relatives playing instruments.
This early exposure helped foster a lifelong appreciation for different genres and artists. As a child, he began amassing CDs in Saudi Arabia, choosing albums based solely on their visual artwork and covers. This collection served as an escape during his formative years.
Music became both a personal pastime as well as Dabbah’s professional path. In Jeddah, he taught guitar lessons to over 600 students, helping to cultivate the next generation of musicians in the country. Some of his former pupils have gone on to perform in acclaimed Saudi rock bands. Even after relocating to Dubai in 2010, Dabbah remains a well-known figure in the local record collecting community and at vinyl pop-ups around town.
However, it was truly beginning in 2014 after discovering the marketplace Discogs that Dabbah was able to exponentially expand his vinyl collection. Being able to source rare and out-of-print records from around the world through online marketplaces was a “saving and destroying” experience, in his words. Individual albums could take on great sentimental value, from a special Queen “Innuendo” release holding memories of first guitar lessons, to a signed Ghost album now among his most prized possessions.
Walking through Dabbah’s home is like browsing the shelves of a reverent music library. Every wall is adorned with additions organized by genre, from classic rock to jazz. Original pressings and special edition vinyls sit alongside standard releases.
The monetary worth of such a unique assemblage is significant, but for Dabbah the true riches lie in the musical memories and community that his collection represents after years of discovery in record stores from the Middle East to Europe. As a melting pot for cultures, Dubai has further enriched his appreciation of varied artists and styles. Through his passion, Dabbah continues to celebrate the universal language of music.
