The Middle East has long had a reputation for leading the way when it comes to fireworks, drone shows and aerial effects. With a constant drive for development backed by the resources and a demand from end clients to break world records and deliver bigger and better, the region is often cited as best-in-class for aerial displays. One company that has played a significant role in the Middle East’s development in the sector is Groupe F. Having been involved in some of the world’s biggest sporting events, since the Barcelona Olympic Games back in 1992, the company has more recently…
Author: Peter Iantorno
The 2026 King’s Cup Final was staged under the direction of the Ministry of Sport, the client and custodian of Saudi Arabian football’s flagship domestic knockout competition. Overseeing the ceremony on the Ministry’s behalf were Deputy Minister of Sport & Youth, Abdulaziz Almasaed; Project Director, Bader M. Almusleh; and Operations Manager, Ibrahim Almozan, who together set the ambition for a spectacle worthy of the occasion at Jeddah’s King Abdullah Sport City Stadium. For the Ministry of Sport, the King’s Cup Final represented far more than a title decider. It was an opportunity to celebrate the game’s central place in Saudi…
Held over three days from 30 June to 2 July, this year’s Mediatech Africa saw a huge return to form for the popular tradeshow. With the previous Mediatech Africa having taken place in 2019, it’s been a long wait for South Africa’s live events, AV and broadcast sectors to get a local show of their own. And while final visitor numbers weren’t available at the time of writing, the show floor seemed busy throughout each of the three days, with a range of visitors primarily from South Africa but also from elsewhere on the continent ensuring that the atmosphere in…
Why was now the right time to double down on your presence in the Middle East? Disguise has been part of the Middle East’s immersive landscape for years. Partners and customers across the region have been choosing the platform for their most ambitious projects, from landmark permanent installations to some of the world’s largest live events. Throughout that time we’ve supported customers through our global 24/7 services and remote teams, but as the scale and complexity of what the region is delivering has grown, we recognised that remote support simply isn’t enough. For a market that is building at this…
Where does the MCM system sit within Neumann’s range of microphones? While Neumann is widely known for its studio microphones, small-diaphragm condensers, and stage vocal microphones, the MCM system sits within Neumann’s live sound portfolio as its dedicated miniature clip microphone solution for close-mic’ing acoustic instruments on stage. The system is modular, with dedicated mounting options for strings, brass, woodwinds, percussion, guitar, piano, and other acoustic instruments, making it highly adaptable across orchestral, theatrical, broadcast, and live event applications. What are the main features? The main benefit of the MCM 114 is that it gives users Neumann sound quality in…
How has the site at Banban evolved since the early days of Soundstorm? Banban has evolved significantly from the early editions of Soundstorm. In the beginning, it was primarily activated as a large-scale festival site, with much of the infrastructure being built around the immediate needs of each edition. Over time, MDLBEAST has approached Banban more strategically. The site has increasingly become a long-term entertainment platform rather than a temporary event location. We have invested in understanding the site’s operational requirements, audience flows, production needs, supplier access, artist logistics, safety protocols, and guest experience. Each edition has allowed us to…
From the Rumble in the Jungle to the Thrilla in Manila, boxing has a long history of holding bouts in previously unheralded locations, which go on to become iconic. In something of a twist to this tried-and-tested formula, Glory in Giza brought world heavyweight boxing to one of the world’s best-known historical sites, as Giza Plateau staged its first ever professional boxing card, with the Pyramids forming a remarkable backdrop. Promoted by Matchroom with The Ring, Riyadh Season, the General Entertainment Authority, and Sela, the event saw undisputed world champion Oleksandr Usyk defend his WBC heavyweight title against kickboxing legend…
Leadership can take many different forms, from being a role model always ready to muck in with the team, to being a master strategist maintaining an overview and deploying the right people in the right positions. For ES:ME Group CEO Alex Wuerfel, leadership has never been about titles or hierarchy. Having spent more than two decades working across almost every discipline of the industry – from security and crowd management to rigging, technical direction and business ownership – he has built his approach around leading by example. “I’m still a very hands-on leader,” he tells TPiMEA. “I don’t push the…
On 25 May 2026, Jordan celebrated the 80th anniversary of its independence from British rule. To mark the momentous occasion, a grand celebration was held at Al Husseiniya Palace in Amman, with a VIP audience including His Majesty King Abdullah II, Queen Rania and other high-ranking members of the royal family in attendance. While the event was a chance for the entire country to mark its most important cultural celebration, it also served as a major milestone for Jordan’s live events industry, as event technology specialist TriTec AV deployed the country’s first ever d&b audiotechnik XSL system for the occasion.…
There are plenty of unknowns in the world of live events, with everything from inclement weather or unexpected VIP attendance to transport issues and equipment failure all considered run-of-the-mill challenges to the seasoned live events professional. In normal circumstances, one of the few factors that can be safely set in stone is where the event will take place. However, in the case of the Roshn Saudi League (RSL) Closing Ceremony, even this was left uncertain until just moments before the show was due to start. “Projects of this scale are normally planned around fixed dates, venues and schedules that are…
UAE-based STARAS Electronic Equipment Rental has expanded its rental inventory with a major investment in more than 400 Martin Professional entertainment lighting fixtures. The substantial order strengthens STARAS’ rental inventory and technical capabilities to support live events, touring productions, corporate experiences and entertainment projects throughout the UAE and the broader Middle East region. The investment includes a significant portfolio of Martin Professional fixtures, including the MAC One and MAC One Beam, the MAC Aura PXL, and Atomic 3000 LED fixtures. Together, these products significantly increase STARAS’ stock profile with one of the region’s more notable commitments to high performance rental…
The celebration for the opening of Abu Dhabi’s stunning new Zayed National Museum was a hugely prestigious event, and for multiple reasons. MA Lighting’s grandMA3 control system played a central role, in the experienced hands of programmers Max Narula and Aria Hailey, in achieving the spectacular vision of lighting designer Bruno Poet. A Triple Celebration The Zayed National Museum, designed by Foster + Partners and named in memory of the UAE’s founding father Sheikh Zayed, is a spectacular edifice in its own right. With its five distinctive ‘sails’ – each a solar thermal tower designed to draw cool air through…
