INFiLED technology helped transform Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Park into an immersive AV spectacle for the inaugural OFFLIMITS Music Festival.
Billed as the UAE’s first open-format music festival (i.e. one featuring multiple genres of music), OFFLIMITS welcomed global artists including Ed Sheeran, OneRepublic and Kaiser Chiefs across four stages purpose-built on Yas Island for the trailblazing event, held on 26 April 2025.
Technical production across all four stages – T11 (main), Head, Meteor and Club X – was managed by regional event technology powerhouse SLS Production. The team was responsible for delivering audio, video and lighting to global touring standards, ensuring a premium experience for the international artist lineup. One of the standout visual features of the festival was found on the Meteor stage, where a 910m² LED wall – built using INFiLED GX4.6 outdoor panels – provided a high-impact, daylight-resilient backdrop for acts including Kaiser Chiefs, Faithless and Fun Lovin’ Criminals.
SLS specified INFiLED’s GX4.6 outdoor LED panels for the project, opting for the high brightness, fine pixel pitch (4.63mm) and robust performance in outdoor conditions offered by the GX Series of displays. The panels were configured into a custom, curved layout using specially engineered mounting plates, creating a bold panoramic display that wrapped around the stage to maximise impact from all audience perspectives.
The ambitious scale of the install came with logistical challenges, as Shafeeq Bin Shereef, SLS’s senior video engineer for the event, explained: “The tilted LED design required elevated installation using boom lifts, which was time-consuming and logistically complex. Additionally, the signal and patching of the extensive LED system took longer than expected.”
Despite these issues, the SLS team completed the installation on schedule through coordinated efforts and round-the-clock work to meet the tight deadline, he added.
INFiLED also provided crucial remote support during set-up, helping to resolve a technical issue with configuration files quickly and without disruption to the event timeline. “The collaboration with the INFiLED team was excellent,” continued Bin Shereef. “They responded swiftly, provided remote and technical assistance, and helped us resolve the issue without affecting the show timeline. Their panels performed reliably, and their technical backing added great value to the success of the Meteor stage.”
Bin Shereef also praises the versatility of the GX4.6 system, which supported seamless real-time playback and fast switching between media sources, showcasing a mix of live visuals, real-time content, and animated videos synchronised with the performances.
The Meteor stage, with its tilted LED wall, proved to be one of the most memorable visual elements of the festival, according to the engineer: “We received overwhelmingly positive feedback from both the organizers and the audience. The Meteor stage LED set-up was particularly praised for its visual impact, clarity, and immersive design, solidifying its role as one of the most visually impressive elements of the festival.”
“Despite the engineering challenges, it stood out as a visual centrepiece of the festival and set a new benchmark for stage design in the region,” he concluded.
Organised by Dubai-based Theory Eleven Entertainment, OFFLIMITS Music Festival will return in 2026.
