With the aim of ‘connecting minds and creating the future through sustainability, mobility and opportunity’, the remit for Expo 2020 Dubai is both ambitious and far-reaching. As well as original and innovative pavilions offering immersive cultural experiences from each of the 192 participating nations, the Expo site is also flush with events and entertainment areas, showcasing everything from opera and theatre to national day celebrations, parades, and concerts from A-list stars. The main performance areas on the Expo site are Al Wasl Plaza, which hosted the Opening Ceremony; the Jubilee Stage, which is tailored towards music-based shows or festivals; and the Dubai Millennium Amphitheatre (DMA), which is geared towards theatre and dance performances. When it came…
Author: Peter Iantorno
Riyadh Season kicked off in style with a grand Opening Ceremony featuring an eclectic line-up including Cuban-American rapper, Pitbull and WWE star, The Undertaker, as well as an extravagant opening parade – complete with a display of more than 2,760 drones – witnessed by a bumper in-person audience. MediaPro International was appointed by SELA to deliver a full turnkey production for the main stage, as well as the overall technical AV production elements of the parade route. The first task of the delivery revolved around the main stage, which will be active for the duration of Riyadh Season, hosting multiple international performances and remaining in situ until February 2022. https://issuu.com/mondiale/docs/tpmea33_digitallr/40 Photos: MediaPro…
Dubai has a new landmark and, in typical UAE fashion, it’s another record-breaker. Standing at a staggering 250m tall, Ain Dubai is the world’s largest and tallest observation wheel. Located on Bluewaters Island – a feat of engineering in its own right, having been built from reclaimed land off the coast of JBR – Ain Dubai opened its doors to the public to much fanfare on 21 October. Y Solutions – the event management team behind Yas Marina Circuit – was entrusted with the delivery of the opening weekend, which included a dazzling light and fireworks show, as well as…
Having worked with some of the biggest artists in the world including Metallica, Kylie Minogue, Muse, Katy Perry, and many more, ER Productions is a well-known name within the live events sphere, specialising in lasers and special effects. It’s a name that most from the Middle East will also be familiar with, with the company working on numerous large-scale events in the region, including the Dubai Canal Opening, The Dubai World Cup and MDL Beast in Saudi Arabia. Seeking to cement its presence in the region, the company has now put down roots, opening a permanent base in Riyadh, Saudi…
Historically, the live events industry in the Middle East has not been known for its wealth of homegrown talent, with incoming international acts and even locally based production houses hitherto tending to employ technical crew who learned their craft elsewhere. However, looking to change that is Sharjah Performing Arts Academy (SPAA) – the only dedicated performing arts academy of its kind in the Middle East, aiming to produce the next generation of talent, both on stage and behind the scenes. SPAA offers a range of undergraduate courses, including BA Production Arts – a four-year programme that aims to prepare the…
Hosting more than 3,000 performances over six months, the events and entertainment spaces at Expo 2020 are built to withstand the kind of rigorous schedule that would put even the world’s busiest arenas to shame. As well as a state-of-the-art technical setup and support from some of the best suppliers in the business, the purpose-built spaces benefit from an expert in-house technical team, charged with providing outstanding facilities and support to enable world-class shows to take place at Expo 2020 day after day. Tareq Ghosheh, Chief Events and Entertainment Officer at Expo 2020, is the man charged with overseeing all these elements and more. Here, he shares some insights from his journey so far, talks about the inner workings of Expo’s…
“In 2020, we saw a new event type rise out of the ashes caused by COVID-19 – the new, fast-growing market of virtual events. In 2021, hybrid events were added to cater for a mix of in-person and remote speakers and audiences, continuing the growth albeit at a slightly slower pace. However, what will happen in the years to come? https://issuu.com/mondiale/docs/tpmea33_digitallr/56 Photo: 3Monkeys www.3monkeys.net
As online shopping continues to dominate in the UAE, Shure has announced the launch of its new online store, offering customers direct access to purchase Shure products online. As of today, customers in the UAE can buy a wide variety of Shure audio products including headphones, earphones, and wired and wireless microphones through a reliable and easy-to-use platform. “The new Shure shop is a platform that will bring Shure even closer to its customers here in the United Arab Emirates,” said Chicco Hiranandani, Director at Shure in Middle East and Africa. “We are excited to launch this new e-commerce site…
The UAE Pro League held its 2020/2021 season awards ceremony on 16 August at Emirates Palace Auditorium, with 200 VIP guests in attendance as well as a large TV and social media following tuning in live to celebrate the achievements of the league’s top teams, players, and managers. Sharjah-based No1 Events provided the technical production for the event, with MediaPro International supplying the video solution. No1 Events’ remit for the project was extensive and varied, comprising everything from creating a system to simplify the entry process, to a showstopping reception area and the main show. Project Director, Mirco Resta explained that the first task was to create a high-tech entry system, which would…
DWR Distribution has added Jaques Pretorius to its technical support and training team. “I’ve seen Jaques at work over the past 10 years, and he is always someone with a lovely nature while being clued up on the technical side,” commented Duncan Riley of DWR Distribution. “We are very glad to welcome him to the team and hope that he will enjoy a long and happy stay.” Taking over the role of Jannie de Jager, who recently left the company to pursue a new career, Pretorius will focus on MA Lighting support, head the training department, present training courses, play…
Tyler Davis-Smith has never been one to back down from a challenge. Having launched his new company last year at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Energie Entertainment Founder and CEO has battled the odds to build an entertainment agency that has delivered events at some of the UAE’s most prestigious locations, including Coca-Cola Arena, Etihad Arena and Dubai World Trade Centre. However, for perfectionist Davis-Smith, there is always room for improvement. “Are we where I wanted and expected us to be? No,” he stated, honestly. “We launched in August 2020 and hit our peak in November and December. Ideally things would have continued in the same vein, but as soon as…
PRG was appointed by Pico to deliver the engineering of 2,000 customised LED tiles for the UK Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. A mesmerising cone-shaped structure, the UK Pavilion boasts a 25m-high circular façade integrated into the wooden sculpture, which was created by world-renowned designer Es Devlin. The UK Pavilion uses an advanced AI learning algorithm developed in collaboration with Google Arts & Culture, which allows visitors to add their word to a continuously changing Collective Message from humanity to the universe displayed on the LED modules. The LED tiles were supplied by PRG’s Projects team, sourcing the bespoke LED…
