Festivals
Festival planning and production in the UAE and Saudi Arabia
A festival site has to work like a small town for as long as the gates are open. Brand X plans multi-day festivals end to end, from the first site layout to the final de-rig. Design, permits, production, crowd flow and on-ground operations sit in one plan with one team, so the programme, the crowd and the brand hold together from the first day to the last.
What we handle
- 01 Site design, zoning and layout plans
- 02 Permits, authority approvals and safety planning
- 03 Stages, structures and technical production
- 04 Crowd flow, entry points and wayfinding
- 05 Food, vendor and hospitality areas
- 06 Artist and programme scheduling
- 07 On-ground operations and site management
What the work covers
We start with the site. Where people arrive, where they queue, where they eat, and where they rest while the sun is still up. The layout drives everything after it: stage positions, power, back-of-house routes, emergency access and sightlines. From there we build the production plan, the supplier list and the permit applications, then run the site through the build, the show days and the de-rig.
How a festival project runs
A festival moves through four stages: concept and site plan, approvals and detailed design, build and rehearsal, then live operations. One producer leads from the first brief to the last truck out, with site, production and show teams working to a single schedule. During the festival, a daily briefing reviews the day before, from queue times to incidents, and adjusts the plan for the next.
Sponsors and partners on site
Most festivals carry sponsors, food partners and community groups, each wanting space and visibility. We plan their areas into the site from the start, so their activations add to the festival rather than crowd it, and every partner knows their build window, access route and operating hours.
Questions
How early should we brief you on a festival?
It depends on the site and the programme. A new festival on an unused site needs more lead time than a returning edition at a known venue. The main factors are permit timelines in the host city, artist and supplier availability, and how much has to be built. Send us the dates, the location and the expected audience, and we will come back with a realistic schedule.
Do you handle permits and authority approvals?
Yes. Permits are part of the production plan from the start, because they shape the site layout, the capacity and the programme. We prepare the drawings, safety plans and supporting documents the authorities ask for, and coordinate submissions with the venue or landowner. Requirements differ between Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh and other cities, so each festival is planned to local rules.
What does it cost to produce a festival?
The budget depends on the number of days, the site and what already exists there, the size of the audience, the stages and structures, and the artist programme. Infrastructure such as power, fencing, toilets, shade and security often takes a larger share than people expect. Share the brief with us and we will prepare an outline budget with options.
Can you work on a festival that already has a promoter?
Yes. Some clients bring us in for the whole festival. Others need one part of it, such as the site design, a brand village, a stage or the operations team. We work alongside promoters, venue operators and sponsors, and agree early who owns each decision so the site runs from one plan.
Do you produce festivals outside the UAE?
Yes. Brand X is part of Alsayegh Worldwide and works from offices in Riyadh, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, London and Shanghai. For each festival we build the team around the host city, combining our producers with local suppliers who know the site, the authorities and the conditions on the ground.
More services
Riyadh Abu Dhabi Dubai London Shanghai
Start a project
Tell us about the brand, the date and the place, and the right person on our team will come back to you.