Saudi Arabia has come a long way from being a closed country into one of the world's most exciting and ambitious live events hubs, in a few short years. The Kingdom is changing the rules of the game when it comes to large scale production, whether it's blockbuster boxing matches, Formula 1 night races, or international music festivals such as MDLBEAST's Soundstorm. However, what does it require to construct these great experiences in the heart of the Middle East?

The production of events in Saudi Arabia is a very fast-paced art form involving logistics. This growth is being fueled by Vision 2030, a strategy for diversifying the economy and promoting tourism. So demand for world class production values – lighting, sound, stage design and crowd flow – has skyrocketed. To cope with the peculiar environment, international production companies are now working with local Saudi production companies.

Scale and time are the first problems. Riyadh or Jeddah can have events that are a year in the making in London or Las Vegas in mere months. Fast-track procurement of specialized equipment, such as truss systems and laser arrays, and compliance with local customs and logistical requirements are all factors that producers have to consider. For example, the recent Riyadh Season zones built from scratch from climate-controlled boulevards to massive projection-mapped domes.

Production calendar is also determined by the climate. During the summer months, when temperatures are high, producers depend on sophisticated HVAC solutions and covered buildings. A lot of the largest events now take place during the less extreme winter months, enabling the months from October to March to be a never-ending festival season.

Authenticity of the culture is also very important. In an increasingly globalized age, the Kingdom is taking steps toward global actions, but event producers are still responsible for making sure actions reflect local values. This includes creating family-friendly areas, ensuring effective use of gender-friendly seating arrangements and planning events in consideration of prayer times. The sound engineers fine-tune the decibel levels at certain hours and the catering has to be both halal following and Michelin star worthy.

Technology is the great facilitator. Saudi productions are known for breaking the mould, with drone light shows replacing fireworks shows, holographic projections telling the stories of the heritage, and artificial intelligence for security in large crowds. At the recent Camel Festival, the skies were painted using drone fleets, and the Saudi Cup horse race took place using 4K broadcast systems that rivaled the Super Bowl.The skies were painted at the recent Camel Festival with a fleet of drones, and the Saudi Cup horse race was broadcast with 4K systems that matched or beat the Super Bowl.

The Kingdom is a good place to make money for production professionals, but requires cultural intelligence. Patience, knowledge of local procurement (the power generators to the stage bolts all had to be sourced event production Saudi arabia, usually with the "just in time" mentality) and a respect for Saudi customs were key to getting it done.

Saudi Arabia is not just host country; it's a country that's setting a new benchmark for the world, and with NEOM's futuristic developments and the upcoming World Expo 2030, it's making the grade. Business which includes the event industry cannot be more clear: The future of the spectacle is in the sands of the Kingdom, one precisely timed lighting sequence after the next.