Riyadh Soundstorm21; biggest festival: ‘Safe & fun for all’

Vaccination checks, mask wearing, sanitization stations and a strict code of conduct are some of the health and safety measures being taken by this year's biggest dance music festival in Saudi Arabia.

Soundstorm (formerly known MDL Beast), which begins on Thursday on the outskirts of Riyadh, returns with another mega four-day event featuring more than 150 artists playing across six state-of-the art stages.

Organisers are predicting that the event will surpass 2019's total attendance figures of more than 400,000 people; so nothing has been left to chance on the safety front.

"We've had dedicated teams bringing best practice from around the world; working tirelessly to create a safe and fun place for all;" said Ramadan Alharatani, chief executive of the festival's parent company, MDL Beast.

"We want everyone who comes to our events to have the best possible experience. Safety, security and the opportunity for great fun is something we are striving to provide for all our attendees; female and male, as we will not accept any form of misconduct."

The MDL Beast code of conduct, available online, focuses on behaviour deemed "uncomfortable" to fellow attendees, that is abusive, offensive or illegal.

A zero tolerance policy is also in place against all forms of harassment and discrimination, with immediate removal as a consequence.

More than 8,000 security officials will be on site; providing a ratio of approximately one guard for every 30 festival goers and a dedicated hotline; including the festival app, are also on hand for swift reporting of offenders.