The Challenge

Balad Beast required reimagining one mile of Jeddah’s historic Old Town, Al Balad, into the backdrop for a two-day music and art festival.

The challenge lay in delivering a high-energy, contemporary event while maintaining full respect for the area’s designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Solution

We mobilised quickly alongside our partners, building strong working relationships with the Ministry of Culture, whose offices are located in Al Balad itself.

From the outset, our Event Safety team approached Balad Beast with the sensitivity and respect it demanded.

Planning and delivering an EDM festival within such a historically significant setting was both an honour and a serious responsibility.

The site presented unique challenges. Structural considerations were paramount, from protecting centuries-old architecture to assessing the potential impact of amplified music reaching upwards of 105dB.

While we have experience working in other UNESCO sites, the particular fabric and scale of Al Balad required bespoke solutions to safeguard both people and place.

The Result

Over 25,000 people attended Balad Beast across two days, experiencing a festival unlike any other.

Sets from world-class artists were enhanced by custom projection-mapping, which transformed Al Balad’s architecture into a living canvas of light and sound.

The fusion of cutting-edge music production with the heritage of Jeddah’s Old Town created an atmosphere that celebrated both history and modern creativity.

Audiences left having experienced a festival that could only happen in this unique location – five performance venues interwoven into the tapestry of Al Balad’s streets and stories.

Balad Beast has quickly earned its place as one of the most breathtaking festival experiences in the world.

Our Part

Balad Beast is now a fixture in the annual MDLBEAST calendar, and we have supported its safe delivery twice to date.

Services we provide include:

  • Presence on the Masterplanning Team
  • Event Safety planning tailored to a UNESCO World Heritage site
  • Structural and acoustic impact assessments on historic buildings
  • Health & Safety Strategy development
  • Crowd & Event Safety consultancy
  • Safety by Design consultancy
  • Civil Defense / Ministry of Culture liaison
  • Operational Team deployment
  • Tactical Command provision
  • Stakeholder management
  • Vendor management