A Thousand And One 2025
Music + Stories - 1001 Beats
In this world, every participant is the hero of their own story. As their journey through an Arabian dreamscape, from stage to stage - each one paying homage to our legends. From the lush gardens of Bustan to the radiance of Sahaab, these are our stories.
DATES: 24-25 April 2025
DURATION: 2 Days, Over A Single Weeked
CITY: Riyadh
LOCATION: BANBAN SITE, Underground Area
Capacity
TOTAL CAPACITY - 24,000
GA TOTAL CAPACITY - 20,200
VIB TOTAL CAPACITY - 3,800
HER Zones
TOTAL CAPACITY 1,180
Stages:
QAFILAH
A caravan on an endless voyage towards the never-ending beat of music, Qafilah is a stage that has been captured in motion as it sails through golden dunes. Colorfully vibrant ships with traditional patterns, their bows adorned with camel heads carrying a DJ that keeps the caravan alive.
SAHAAB
Drifting between reality and fantasy, Sahaab brings the magic carpet to life—a stage suspended in motion, wrapped in a sea of woven patterns. This space is covered by a vast, traditional carpets that drape the containers, shimmering with LED lights that dance to the rhythm of the night. A massive screen is behind the DJ stage giving people a portal to see the land of dreams with flowing visuals of a journey through the sands.
BIZARRE BAZAAR
Is it a cave, a vault, or a souq? Dahab is where you'll find jars of gold coins everywhere and in every form. The DJ booth sits by gold bars, and golden lanterns. Every surface–from the floor to the ceiling–gleams, glows, and radiates…
BUSTAN
Step into Bustan, a surreal oasis where music weaves through otherworldly trees and a lush canopy encloses the space. The treehouse DJ booth sits above vines and floral installations,creating a surreal jungle. LED fireflies flicker across the branches, pulsing in sync with the music, casting a soft, hypnotic glow through the forest.
QASR
Welcome to Qasr, where the pages of the Sultan’s ballroom unfold into a larger- than-life spectacle. This palace sits atop a pop-up book. Towering stacks of books surround the space, making every dancer feel like a character in a tale too grand to be real.
Balad Beast 2025 Fact Sheet
Balad Beast is an annual music festival that celebrates the diversity of musical genres while showcasing the rich cultural tapestry of Saudi Arabia. With a commitment to providing an unforgettable experience for attendees, Balad Beast brings together international and local talent on one stage, creating a vibrant and inclusive celebration of music and culture.
General facts and highlights
● Balad Beast 2025 is the 3rd edition of the festival
● 15,000 Weekend visitors across two days in 2025
● Over 70 artists performed across the two days
● 4 stages spread out across the UNESCO World Heritage Site
● The full line up can be found here
Stages
Balad Beast 2025 saw the Bab, Omda, Souq and Roshan stages joined together in the historical Balad neighbourhood of Jeddah. By far one of the most unique and beautiful festival sites on the planet is helping spread and grow the music scene in the MENA Region. As well as electronic music, hip hop and R&B. The diverse range of genres has come to show what the MENA region can do in a wide range of musical styles.
On-site radio
MDLBEAST Radio, showcases a diverse range of music genres, such as house, techno and hip-hop, curated by renowned local and international artists. With a 24/7 stream of carefully selected tracks, live DJ sets, and exclusive mixes, MDLBEAST’s radio station aims to offer music enthusiasts worldwide a dynamic and immersive sonic experience. At this year's Balad Beast, MDLBEAST radio was set up on site broadcasting from the middle of the festival.
- SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY -
MDLBEAST Foundation
OUR VISION
Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration and impact for better music tomorrow.
OUR MISSION
Fortify the infrastructure of the music ecosystem in the region through talent incubation, policy development, community empowerment, and sustainable practices - anchored in research and advocacy.
OUR OBJECTIVES
1. Cultivate a Vibrant & Diverse Music Ecosystem
2. Prioritise Health and Safety for Artists & Fans Alike
3. Bridge Connections Among Artists and Professionals
4. Foster Sustainable Interactive Spaces to Inspire & Uplift Talents
5. Forge Strategic Partnerships and Collaborations for Greater Impact
Hearful Foundation
The Hearful Foundation is a homegrown initiative that aims to raise awareness about tinnitus. Tinnitus is a form of permanent ear damage that leads to what is commonly described as a ringing in the ear. This condition can impact performers, industry professionals, and music lovers equally. Tinnitus varies in severity and can be bothersome for some, and downright unbearable for others. Luckily, tinnitus can be prevented through safe hearing practices such as wearing earplugs to gigs, keeping a safe distance from the speakers, and keeping an eye on the decibels (measurement of how loud a sound is).
Earplugs are a preventative measure for hearing loss and other hearing conditions. For that reason, we only carry the most protective earplugs at our events and encourage our partygoers to purchase and wear them. We conveniently offer our earplugs onsite at XP and Soundstorm.
Social safety and Code of Conduct
MDLBEAST is dedicated to creating a safe, entertainment space, where guests’ behaviour is respectful and allows everyone to fully participate in the MDLBEAST experience. Our efforts are particularly focused on ensuring that every person can enjoy the event without fear of harassment or unwanted approach or contact.
Read our full Code of Conduct here.
XP Music Futures Conference 2024
XP Music Futures was established to accelerate the growth of MENA’s music industry – launching with an annual 3 day music conference in Riyadh - 2021. Featuring workshops, panel discussions, and networking opportunities, along with distinct DAY and NITE programming, XP is dedicated to opening new pathways for music industry professionals from all backgrounds.
Official Name: XP Music Futures
Organizer: MDLBEAST, a leading Saudi entertainment company.
Location: Jax District, Riyadh.
Past Editions:
- Inaugural Edition: Launched in December, 2021, in Jax District, Diriyah, spanning three days.
- Second Edition: Held in November, 2022, in the Jax District, Diriyah, under the patronage of the Saudi Music Commission. The event was rebranded as XP Music Futures.
- Third Edition: Took place in December, 2023, in partnership with the Saudi Music Commission.
XP Music Futures 2024:
Official Slogan: “Flourish”
Main Theme: Showcasing Saudi talent.
Date: December 5–7, 2024.
Agenda:
XP DAY: A unique daytime program that brings together talents from the music industry through inspirational sessions led by diverse speakers and attended by the growing music community.
XP NITE: A nighttime activation where regional party brands, promoters, and record labels take over, showcasing emerging talents from the MENA region and beyond.
Sessions:
Fishbowl: A distinctive, barrier-free setup that fosters interactive and standout discussions between speakers and the audience.
The Arena: A dynamic space for diverse discussions catering to different interests, aimed at uniting music professionals and equipping them to better understand and navigate the industry.
Theatre: A platform for creatives and talents, featuring a rich program encompassing various music genres and styles.
- Healing Oasis: An immersive space designed as a serene forest with interactive art installations using light and sound to provide a multi-sensory experience.
- Demo Lab: A cutting-edge area where attendees can explore the latest technology and emerging brands in the music scene.
- X1: Main stage that hosted the (opening ceremony)
- Youth club: The Little Maestro's Youth Club is a special space for the youth to gather, learn, and explore their interest in music and the arts.
Workshops and activities:
- Workshops: Designed to provide practical insights into the music industry. Such as:
The Saudi Music Commission: Past, Present & Future Direction.
Clubbing in KSA, The Evolution Of An Emerging Scene.
Saudi Musicians Spotlight: Graduating From Bedroom Musician To The Stage.
Moja 2.0: Music Commission and Anghami's Partnership in Search for Saudi talents.
MDLBEAST: 5 Years Of Building A Future Where Creatives Can Flourish.
-Networking Events: Including IHG Meetups, offering attendees exclusive opportunities to connect with industry leaders, music experts, favorite song producers, booking agents, and event organizers.
- Activities:
Merwas - Interactive Sampler Pad.
Majlis, a performance This performance showcases iconic Arabic songs, provided by couplet.
HUNNA: The Gathering and many more.
For more info, please visit https://mdlbeast.com/events/xp-music-futures-24
Soundstorm 2023 Fact Sheet
SOUNDSTORM
In its first edition, SOUNDSTORM 2019
Brought together 400K+ attendees, 80 artists, and 6 stages
Contributed to 16,000 direct and indirect jobs
Injected $118.5m into the Saudi economy
Saw 86% of young Saudis say they were prouder of the creativity and culture in Saudi Arabia as a result to the festival
In its second edition, SOUNDSTORM 2021
Brought together 730K+ attendees, 184 artists and 8 stages as well as 28 non-music acts, reinforcing that it’s the biggest music festival in the Middle East
SOUNDSTORM demonstrated the ability to contribute back to the local economy – festival goers generated an estimated spend of $105m outside of SOUNDSTORM ‘21 during the festival period.
Almost half of the talent was homegrown and from the region with a 47.3% split in comparison to international artists.
89% of young Saudi artists and musicians see MDLBEAST as an opportunity to grow, develop and empower the Kingdom’s art and music talents.
Witnessed a total of 20 nationalities come together, with 10 Saudi female artists taking the stage
The Big Beast stage hosted a diverse set of artists including
International DJs such as David Guetta, Steve Aoki, Afrojack
Global Hip Hop and Pop superstars including Jason Derulo and Future
Arab pop stars Amro Diab, Nancy Ajram and Elissa
Regional artists such as Vinyl Mode, Hats and Klaps and Dish Dash
Celebrated 2 new GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ titles:
The Tallest stage (temporary) with 41 meters and 268 centimeters (135 ft 5 in)
The most LED lights in a display with 60,053,376 LED lights.
In its third edition, SOUNDSTORM 2022
For 3 nights, crowd will come together for 260+ hours of live music, on a site with a total area of 5,533,985 SQ meters, SOUNDSTORM is together 200 artists to rock 7 stages (BIG BEAST, DOWN BEAST, DANCE BEAST, and 4 UNDERGROUND stages).
SOUNDSTORM this year brings a variety of music genres including: EDM, hip hop, R&B and newly added indie.
SOUNDSTORM this year maintains its GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS ™ titles:
Tallest temporary stage, measuring 41.268M.
The most LED lights on display with 60,053,376.
Interestingly this year, also breaks a new GUINNESS WORLD RECORD: 4,000 SQ meters of LED surface area on BIG BEAST, where size of this stage alone is 200+ meters wide.
o The Big Beast stage is set to host a diverse set of artists including Bruno Mars, DJ Khalid & friends, David Guetta, Saudi female DJ Cosmicat and more!
o As part of its ongoing efforts to improve the festival experience, SOUNDSTORM provides 100+ food and beverage vendors for the food & beverage area, enough for 12,000 people.
In its fourth edition, SOUNDSTORM 2023
For 3 nights, 200+ artists, 8 stages (BIG BEAST, DOWN BEAST, Dance Tent, and 4 UNDERGROUND stages).
SOUNDSTORM this year brings a variety of music genres including: EDM, hip hop, R&B and indie.
SOUNDSTORM this year maintains its GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS ™ titles:
Tallest temporary stage, measuring 41.268M.
The most LED lights on display with 60,053,376.
Interestingly this year, also breaks a new GUINNESS WORLD RECORD: 4,000 SQ meters of LED surface area on BIG BEAST, where size of this stage alone is 200+ meters wide.
o The Big Beast stage will showcase a variety of artists, such as Chris Brown, Metallica, Chris Brown, Dived Gutta, going Soundstorة to be the greatest event in the MENA region
o SOUNDSTORM has lined up over 100 food and drink stalls for everyone to enjoy. That should be enough to satisfy the hunger of all 12,000 attendees
Talent quotes:
“I never expected to have a festival this big here in Saudi, all of us had one purpose, to make this a success. Leveling up from house parties to a festival like SOUNDSTORM, it is truly history in the writing.” –Dish Dash
“We’ve had a thriving underground music community in Saudi for so long. Today, we can pursue our dreams in Saudi, grow our talent through industry events and connect with the wider regional music scene and professionals. Thanks to MDLBEAST, we’re getting the recognition and support we need to grow our careers.” –Cosmicat
“I never thought we could make it this far! It was only a dream to perform in Saudi Arabia, as it was to perform in any other music-capital city around the world. And now, we’re bringing this home. This is what MDLBEAST is about – an authentic movement grown from the local underground scene and why I’m happy to be working with them.” –Vinyl Mode