Women’s safety and comfort priority for this year’s Soundstorm MDLBEAST
Saudi Arabia’s biggest music festival, Soundstorm, is prioritizing the safety and comfort of female attendees at this year’s concert.
Organized by MDLBEAST, the region’s boldest music and entertainment platform, this year’s Soundstorm is centered around making sure that female concert goers enjoy the event safely, a move organizers described as making 2025 “the year for women at Soundstorm.”
“We want Soundstorm to feel like a second home for our visitors,” said Ramadan Alharatani, CEO of MDLBEAST. “This festival has always been about freedom, connection, and music without limits. This year, we’re making sure every woman can experience that energy fully, comfortably, and on her own terms.”
Women at the center
From arrival to the last beat, MDLBEAST has redesigned every part of the Soundstorm experience with women in mind.
The festival will feature dedicated women’s drop-off zones located closer to the gates for easier access, a women-only entrance with clearly marked pathways leading directly to female-only viewing zones and lounges.
There will also be a Women’s Welcome Center, described by organizers as “a space to rest, recharge, and reconnect with friends, because feeling at home matters.”
Women will also have access to camera-free viewing zones at major stages, giving them the freedom to enjoy performances without the lens.
In addition, there will be five exclusive lounges throughout the festival grounds, providing private and comfortable areas to take a break.
Female ticket holders will also receive 40 percent off rides with Blacklane chauffeur services, offering “a premium, comfortable, and safe journey to and from Soundstorm site.”
An empowered festival experience
Soundstorm’s new approach this year reflects MDLBEAST’s evolving mission to create “an inclusive, forward-thinking festival culture that celebrates self-expression and human connection, while respecting context and community,” the company said in a statement.
The initiatives make women’s safety and participation a defining part of the experience rather than an afterthought.
Since debuting in 2019, Soundstorm has grown into one of the world’s largest music festivals, drawing hundreds of thousands of attendees each year and featuring international and regional performers across multiple stages.
This year’s edition, set to take place in Banban on the outskirts of Riyadh, is expected to welcome top global DJs, producers, and artists, continuing its reputation as a celebration of creativity and cultural expression in line with Vision 2030.
