Celebrating outstanding achievements in the fields of music, television, and film, the Joy Awards has garnered a reputation as the Middle East’s answer to the Grammys, Emmys, and Oscars rolled into one. Now in its fourth year, the awards saw the very best in Arab talent joined by a packed roster of global A-listers – including Christina Aguilera, who performed a spectacular opening set – for a star-studded ceremony at Riyadh’s anb arena. With the show produced by MBC in collaboration with Done+Dusted, STUFISH Entertainment Architects was entrusted with a multifaceted role on the project. As well as overseeing the…
Author: Peter Iantorno
Having taken place in Diriyah for the past six years, the Saudi Arabian round of Formula E moved to Jeddah for the first time in 2025. Naturally, SELA and the Ministry of Sport (MOS) were keen to ensure that the event’s Jeddah debut made a big impression, and they tasked Groupe F with coming up with a spectacle befitting the occasion. “They were aiming very high, meaning that we needed to propose something that had never been seen before in Jeddah – or anywhere else for that matter,” recalled Groupe F’s Deputy Managing Director, Nicolas Chavance. The resulting show comprised…
Dubai is no stranger to tall towers nor glitzy opening ceremonies, but even by UAE standards, the launch party for the soon-to-be world’s second tallest tower, Burj Azizi, was quite the spectacle. Welcoming some 15,000 people to the Coca-Cola Arena, the event combined ceremonial storytelling with a headline performance from Jennifer Lopez, all backed by a cutting-edge technical production. Entrusted to bring Azizi Developments’ vision to life was Creative Factory, under the creative direction of Vibhore Khandelwal and Sabina Gulati and guided by Viraf Sarkari, alongside Wizcraft ME Global, led by Allister Mascarenhas. They in turn engaged mediaPro International to…
The UAE has hosted some outstanding concerts over the years, but from the moment that Coldplay announced that they would be bringing their Music of the Spheres World Tour to Abu Dhabi, there was never any doubt that the bar would be raised, and records would be smashed. With Coldplay fever sweeping through the UAE and beyond, what was initially billed as a one-off show soon grew into a four-night extravaganza with more than 200,000 fans descending on Abu Dhabi’s Zayed Sports City Stadium for by far the largest concert series the country has ever seen. “As the largest concert…
Throughout the year, the labyrinthine streets of Al Balad are a beguiling maze, with examples of ancient architecture, traditional souks, and the area’s famous resident cats found around every corner. Packed with history, the UNESCO World Heritage site is the polar opposite to what generally constitutes a suitable location for a music festival. Yet, for one weekend a year at the end of January, the site plays host to two days of mind-blowing music and dazzling projection mapping, with over 70 artists performing across four unique stages. Brought to life by MDLBEAST – whose flagship festival, Soundstorm, smashed the Guinness…
Johannesburg-based rental and production company MGG has made a significant investment in new Robe moving lights, taking delivery of the 76 new fixtures, including the first iFORTE and iFORTE LTXs and the first SVB1 luminaires on the continent of Africa. The total order comprised 24 iFORTEs, 48 SVB1s, and four iFORTE LTXs, which are for use with the four RoboSpot BaseStations the company already owns. Celebrating 25 years in business this year, MGG started as a small company when owner and Managing Director Mark Gaylard was still at school and running mobile discos. It has grown steadily and now become…
Maestra has been acquired by leading global temporary infrastructure solutions provider, Arena Group. An established premium fabrication partner known for delivering world-class scenic builds for luxury brand experiences and large-scale live events, Maestra brings its vast expertise to Arena Group. Tom Clements, Founder and CEO of Maestra, will continue to lead the company, ensuring continuity for Maestra’s clients and staff while benefiting from Arena Group’s global infrastructure and resources. “This acquisition marks an exciting new chapter for Maestra,” Clements commented. “With Arena’s global infrastructure capabilities, we can now offer our clients a broader range of integrated solutions while maintaining the…
What are the main features of the Arolla Aqua series? The Claypaky Arolla Aqua family is a series of high-performance, water-resistant LED moving lights engineered specifically for both indoor and outdoor applications, with an IP66 protection rating. Designed to meet the increasing demand for rugged, weatherproof fixtures, the Arolla Aqua range ensures exceptional performance in even the most challenging environments, all without compromising on light quality. What products are in the range? The Arolla Aqua LT is designed for long-throw applications with pinpoint accuracy. Its centre-weighted beam ensures consistent illumination, while proprietary optics deliver exceptionally sharp beams and crisp projections,…
NMK Electronics, a Midwich Group company, hosted an exclusive industry event in collaboration with Shure. Held at 777DXB on February 25, 2025, Pro Sound Playoff brought together top industry professionals, sound engineers, and media representatives for an immersive, hands-on experience with Shure’s groundbreaking product lineup. Shure’s brand-new releases, distributed by NMK Electronics in the region, took centre stage at the event, including the Axient Digital PSM, SLXD4Q+ Quad Channel Receiver, SM39 cardioid singing headset microphone, KSM11 WIRED cardioid condenser vocal microphone, and NEXADYNE INSTRUMENT microphone. Attendees had the chance to test Shure’s innovations in a hands-on setting, network with fellow…
Optocore has awarded Thomsun Trading, its long-term partner in the Middle East, with its Best Distributor Award, in respect of outstanding performance over the past 12 months. Although Thomsun has been Optocore’s distributor right across the GCC region for over 15 years, “the relationship between Optocore and Thomsun continues to grow,” according to Optocore sales manager, RadhaMohan Rajani. “As the Middle East region sees continued growth, so Thomsun, who have offices around the region, are perfectly placed to continue representing us well, providing quality support locally. Their experience with our solutions makes them a perfect partner. “[Senior Marketing Manager] Jose…
With the Indian events markets growing in strength over the past year, more A-list artists are starting to add the country to their touring schedules. The latest act to visiting was Maroon 5 who put on a set at the Mahalaxmi Racecourse, Mumbai, at the tail end of 2024. With 20,000 delighted fans eagerly awaiting the band’s first time in the country, local audio expert Mega Sound was brought in to supply the audio infrastructure for the show. “This concert was a true turning point for India’s live sound industry,” enthused Mega Sound’s Siddharth Chauhan, making it clear how important…
Abu Dhabi F1 Grand Prix weekend has always been one of the most exciting dates on the calendar for the UAE, with the on-track action and After Race Concerts providing world-class entertainment for race fans and music lovers alike. The weekend got even better in 2024 with the addition of Afterlife Abu Dhabi – a spectacular showcase of cutting-edge entertainment technology, keeping audiences captivated through the night and into the early hours of the morning. “Afterlife Abu Dhabi was an innovative addition to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend, setting a new standard for the After Race Concerts,” stated Live…
