Eminem to headline Saudi’s Soundstorm festival

Eminem is set to make his live debut in Saudi Arabia as one of the headliners for this year’s Soundstorm by MDLBeast festival.

The Detroit rapper will top the bill for the fifth edition of Soundstorm, which returns to the capital Riyadh from 12-14 December.

Thirty Seconds to Mars, Muse, Richie Hawtin and Marco Carola have also been announced for the 2024 lineup. Ticket prices range from SAR209-899 (€51-220).

After building its reputation as an electronic music-oriented event, Soundstorm has evolved into a multi-genre festival. Metallica became the first major heavy metal band to perform in Saudi Arabia at last year’s gathering, which also starred the likes of Travis Scott, Timbaland and Wizkid.

The country’s ongoing efforts to attract and host A-list live entertainment are documented in IQ‘s Global Promoters Report 2023 and Global Arena Guide 2024. There is great interest in the opening up of the once-closed country, with a flurry of new builds and upgrades on the way, despite controversy around the kingdom’s human rights record.

Eminem and Muse will also join Maroon 5 as headliners for this year’s Yasalam After-Race Concert Series, tied to the Abu Dhabi Formula 1 Grand Prix

The New Murabba Development Company, which is owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), this week unveiled designs for a new 45,000-cap stadium. The venue will be located in Riyadh and is anticipated to be complete by the end of 2032.

Other new builds in Saudi include the 45,000-cap Prince Mohammed bin Salman Stadium located in Qiddiya, an entertainment and tourism megaproject in Riyadh unveiled as part of the Vision 2030 masterplan. Saudi already has four large stadiums under construction or being upgraded ahead of its hosting of the 2027 Asian Cup.

“The Saudi government has plans to build venues all across the country,” Iain Campbell, Oak View Group’s EVP Middle East and Africa, told the Global Arena Guide. “Not just in Riyadh but Jeddah and across the nation. The number of new venues in the pipeline is very exciting.”

In addition, ASM Global has planned a 20,000-cap Jeddah Arena Airport City at King Abdulaziz International Airport, and other developments are planned for Dammam.

Elsewhere in the Middle East, Eminem and Muse will join Maroon 5 as headliners for this year’s Yasalam After-Race Concert Series as part of the Abu Dhabi Formula 1 Grand Prix weekend from 5-8 December.

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