With global megastar performers and legions of devoted fans the world over, K-pop is a genre that is experiencing a rapid increase in popularity that extends far outside of its South Korean origins. One country that has developed a particular affinity with the genre is Saudi Arabia, with the Kingdom welcoming several high-profile acts including the likes of BTS and BLACKPINK, and even hosting conventions and festivals devoted entirely to K-pop culture. Experiential agency sweetwater KSA has been the driving force behind many of Saudi Arabia’s most successful K-pop shows – including last year’s Saranghae KSA (TPMEA #38) – and…
Author: Peter Iantorno
Founded in Dubai in 2018, Pitchblack started life as a specialist draping rental company aiming to fill a gap in the market. “There were companies selling fabric, but when clients wanted to drape a ballroom, they would often have to buy the drape. It became so expensive that it was cost prohibitive for a lot of clients,” recalled Founder and Technical Director, Mark Hammond. “I also found that whilst some companies did own drape, it tended to be an afterthought and stocks were poorly maintained.” In response to this, Hammond, who was working as a freelancer rigger at the time,…
Kuwait warmed up for its National Day and Liberation Day celebrations with a series of stunning drone shows taking place over eight evenings in the lead up to the big night. Zain Kuwait and the Touristic Enterprises Company invited AO Multimedia & Drones to provide the spectacular shows, which featured a fleet of 2,000 LED drones swarming above Green Island. “We have been a leading partner for innovative event technology all over the Middle East for many years. Our multimedia shows – including the world-famous FALCON searchlights – have made major impacts in illuminating many capitals since 2000,” commented AO…
NMK Electronics celebrated the start of event season across the GCC with a spectacular Season Kick-off Party on 6 September at Hard Rock Café, Dubai. Dedicated to NMK’s partners and peers, the evening was a celebration of the camaraderie among the region’s event industry, providing an opportunity for everyone to connect, play, and win in a series of engaging games and activitieswith a range of prizes on offer, including thrilling skydiving experiences, gourmet brunch vouchers, and luxurious staycations. On the night, NMK showcased live demonstrations of the latest market solutions from the likes of Shure, Epson, Bose, Chauvet, Avid, Allen…
“Sustainability across the Middle East events and exhibitions industry is fast gaining attention and importance. Increasingly, businesses in the region are recognising the need to adopt more sustainable practices to reduce environmental impact, promote social responsibility, and ensure long-term economic viability. “This is especially prescient with the UAE declaring 2023 as the Year of Sustainability, alongside being the host country for COP28. Now the events industry, often seen as unavoidably wasteful and excessive, needs to show the world that it can lead the way in sustainable design, waste disposal, sourcing, and recycling. It also has an incredible story to tell…
Honouring the best in the Indian film industry, the 23rd International Indian Film Academy Awards saw some of Bollywood’s biggest stars descend on Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Arena for a weekend of glitz and glamour, featuring unforgettable performances from the likes of Salman Khan, Varun Dhawan, Kriti Sanon, Nora Fatehi, and Rakul Preet Singh. With the COVID-19 pandemic forcing the previous two years of the awards to be cancelled, this year the organisers were determined to deliver an audio-visual treat to the live and broadcast audience. Aiming to deliver on this brief was SLS Production, which was tasked with providing video,…
A full-service live events agency with over 20 years of experience in delivering high-end events around the world, from COP26 to the G7 and NATO Summits, Identity is a bona fide big player on the global live events market. With the UK-headquartered firm widely regarded as a market leader, when the company announced its much-anticipated formal expansion into the Middle East with the opening of offices in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, it was no surprise to see the wave of optimism that spread throughout the UAE. Heading up the Middle East operation is General Manager Ryan Perkins, who brings more…
India’s Event Equipment Services Association (EESA) has always promoted initiatives that empower its members with knowledge and resources to raise the standards of not just individual businesses, but the entire events industry. Recognising the alarming increase in accidents at events due to negligence and a disregard for safety standards and protocols, the organisation decided to take action, planning and commissioning a comprehensive line-up of educational endeavours aiming to raise the safety standards of across the disciplines of rigging and trussing in the country. The starting point was the organisation of India’s first ever internationally recognised rigging certification masterclass, aiming to…
While the summer usually provides some much-needed respite and an opportunity for most people working in the Middle East’s live events industry to take a holiday, for Ginger Owl Productions’ Founders Julie Chennells and Nancy Skipper, that couldn’t be further from the truth. When TPiMEA caught up with the duo in July, the company was coming off the back of one of its busiest ever weekends, supplying its services to some of the UK’s biggest shows and festivals. “It seems like every park in London has had a show this weekend!” Chennells quipped. “Our previous record was seven events in…
Pre-match shows in football are a notoriously difficult nut to crack. With an extremely limited time slot, heavily restricted access to the pitch and an audience both in the stadium and watching the live broadcast that is focused firmly on the football, there’s no doubt that it is one of the more challenging gigs in the world of live events. The UEFA Champions League Final 2023 Kick Off Show presented by Pepsi faced all these challenges, yet through close collaboration and negotiation with multiple stakeholders, a resourceful event team pulled out all the stops to ensure a spectacular production in…
National days are big business in the Middle East, with GCC countries especially pulling out all the stops to celebrate their history and convey their national pride. Of course, with any major celebration, a large-scale production tends to follow – a fact that has seen the likes of the UAE and Saudi Arabia hosting some of the most eye-catching and innovative shows taking place anywhere in the world. Another country that is not afraid to push the envelope when it comes to its National Day celebrations is Kuwait, and with its 2023 event being the first full-scale celebration since the…
Taking place at Abu Dhabi’s Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium on 28 April, the President’s Cup Final saw holders Sharjah retain their title, winning a dramatic penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw with Al Ain. Preceding the match, an innovative opening ceremony set the scene, with projection mapping covering the entire field of play, an eye catching and innovative light show, and an uplifted PA system helping to get the crowd pumped up for the biggest match on the UAE football calendar. Heavily involved from the outset, People was charged with producing the opening ceremony, sports presentation, full stadium branding and…
