Saudi Arabia’s biggest music festival to have female-only lounges, camera-free zones

Saudi Arabia’s largest music festival, Soundstorm, is rolling out new initiatives this year to ensure a safer and more comfortable experience for female attendees.

Ramadan Alharatani, CEO of MDLBEAST that organises the festival, said that he wants Soundstorm to feel like a second home for visitors. "This festival has always been about freedom, connection, and music without limits," he added.

According to organizers, the entire festival experience has been redesigned with women in mind. Dedicated women’s drop-off zones will be located near the gates for easier access, while a women-only entrance will lead directly to female-only viewing zones and lounges.

The festival will also feature a Women’s Welcome Center, described as “a space to rest, recharge, and reconnect with friends, because feeling at home matters.” Camera-free viewing zones at major stages will allow women to enjoy performances without being filmed.

Additionally, five exclusive lounges across the festival grounds will provide private, comfortable spaces to relax. Female ticket holders will also receive 40 percent off Blacklane chauffeur services, offering “a premium, comfortable, and safe journey to and from the Soundstorm site.”

Organizers emphasized that these measures aim to ensure that women can fully enjoy the festival experience in a safe and welcoming environment.