Taking place on 9 March, just before Ramadan got underway, the Formula One Saudi Arabian Grand Prix saw hordes of excited racing fans descend on Jeddah Corniche Circuit to witness Champion Max Verstappen continue his title defence with another dominant victory, before filtering down the road to the nearby purpose-built concert site and partying the night away. Earlier in the day before the race got underway, TPiMEA was on site at the concert venue to catch up with some of the key players behind the production, with MDLBEAST’s Production Director Andy Head generously sparing a few minutes from his busy…
Author: Peter Iantorno
On 10 April, award-winning Egyptian singer, composer and actor Amr Diab took to the stage at El Gouna’s Cubix venue to kick off Eid celebrations in style. Tasked by event organiser Venture Lifestyle with creating an ambitious production that lived up to the star’s energetic performance, Hilights Group pulled out all the stops. “The primary objective of the stage setup was to create an immersive and visually captivating environment that seamlessly complemented Amr Diab’s performance,” commented Hamed Arafa, Founder and Chairman of Hilights Group, giving his insight into the spectacle. “Our role encompassed the meticulous implementation of the provided design,…
This April saw a spectacle of unity and sport and the strengthening of relationships between Qatar and the UAE with not one but two football matches, played out between four of the leading clubs from both nations. On 12 April, Qatar’s Amir Cup champions, Al Arabi, faced off against the UAE’s President’s Cup winners, Sharjah, for the Qatar-UAE Super Cup in Doha. The excitement didn’t end there, as the following day the UAE-Qatar Super Shield saw 2023 ADNOC Pro League champions, Shabab Al Ahli, go head-to-head with 2023 Qatar Stars League winners, Al Duhail, in Dubai. As the official organising…
Returning for its 13th year, Sharjah Light Festival showcases the history, heritage and architecture of the eponymous emirate, inviting internationally renowned artists to celebrate the city’s built and natural environment. For the 2024 event, Dubai-based video-mapping specialist Artabesk once again enlisted its extensive Digital Projection inventory, including to create its signature visual experiences – including a 300m by 50m projection on the side of a mountain beside Al Rafisah Dam. Entitled The Jewel of Al Rafisah Dam, the 3D projection mapping show was inspired by the ‘Golden Age of Sharjah’, focusing on the ancient history of the city of Khorfakkan…
The UAE has never been a country to shy away from the grand and spectacular, so when Abu Dhabi International Airport was renamed Zayed International Airport, the occasion was always going to attract some fanfare. Tasked with creating an entertainment production to mark the launch on both a local and international scale, People produced a spectacular, technically challenging filmed showcase that featured a swarm of 1,750 drones, which formed a three-dimensional A380 aeroplane that ‘landed on the airport’s north runway. “Emphasising aviation excellence and engaging with a largely aviation-focused audience while launching the new airport name impactfully were our key…
What do you do when you want to host a concert, but you can’t quite find the perfect space with the right facilities for it? For most companies, the solution would be to compromise somewhere – perhaps with a lower capacity or smaller production values. However, for MDLBEAST, an organisation that has always danced to the beat of its own drum – the word ‘compromise’ is not part of the vocabulary. “We looked around some beautiful venues but nothing in Jeddah was equipped for the calibre of show we wanted, so we thought why not create our own arena that…
The UAE has made no secret of its desire to push the envelope with its approach to emerging technology, and the country further bolstered its credentials in the field recently with an all-new extreme racing series that saw eight AI-powered cars race around Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina Circuit, roared on by a crowd of more than 10,000 in person and 600,000 online. Conceived by ASPIRE – part of the UAE’s Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC) – and brought together by the tireless efforts of engineers, scientists, and programmers, the inaugural Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League (A2RL) saw teams from educational…
While it became clear during the COVID-19 pandemic that nothing can truly replicate the buzz of live, in-person experiences, the success and subsequent proliferation of livestreamed music events that occurred during the period proved that there remains a place for these types of productions even now the live events industry is thankfully back up to full strength. One artist who fully embraced the format is David Guetta, with the DJ producing several special sets that were premiered on YouTube, performing from spectacular settings such as the Louvre Abu Dhabi and the helipad on Dubai’s Burj Al Arab. “Of course, we…
Since kicking off his tour in Dublin in April 2022, Ed Sheeran has taken his + – = ÷ x (Mathematics) Tourto more than 100 cities around the world, wowing millions of fans along the way with his now-iconic one-man, in-the-round production. The English singer-songwriter wrapped up the Middle East and Asia leg of the tour in March at Mumbai’s Mahalaxmi Racecourse, with his production team linking up with Major Tom and Meyer Sound, along with India-based distributor Sun Infonet, and sound equipment suppliers, Total Multimedia, Phoenix Networks, Friends of Shiva, and PP Sound, to deliver an unforgettable sonic experience.…
It’s often said that the events industry is one that chooses you, rather than you choosing it – and this is certainly something that rings true when it comes to Al Laith’s Director of Operations, Michael Clark. Born in Cairo, brought up in Dubai and educated in the UK and Australia, Clark is the poster boy for the benefits of a truly international outlook on life and, as he explains in this interview, he was bitten by the events bug right from the start. With Al Laith turning 30 next year and Clark having been with the company for 14…
The frequent transportation and assembly of rental LED displays often leads to damage and increased maintenance costs, posing challenges for rental clients. Unilumin’s rental solutions address these issues with its innovative U-shield technology. This tech significantly reduces lamp-fall rates and maintenance needs by 90% while boosting turnover rates fivefold. Its durable lamps offer superior thrust, saving clients on maintenance and replacement costs. Additionally, the technology ensures a wide viewing angle with no specular reflection, offering clear images from any angle. Plus high-brightness chips and all-black frames provide high contrast and vivid colors, ideal for HDR display. The ideal choice for…
Following the landmark success of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, the country was once again in the spotlight as it hosted the 18th edition of the AFC Asian Cup in January 2024. With expectations set sky high, the organisers were looking for an Opening Ceremony that defied the conventions of traditional pre-match entertainment and set the tone for the tournament. Tasked with meeting this mammoth challenge was Qatar-based Katara Studios, with Shannon Gobell appointed to the role of Technical Director for the project. “I received the call from Katara back in late July 2023,” he told TPiMEA, recalling how…
