Rave on: 6 unforgettable places to party in Saudi Arabia
Put on your dancing shoes…
For those in the know, nightlife across the Kingdom has long been considered to include some of the best parties out there. To help you sift through the events, here’s our pick of the most unmissable raves in the most unlikely locations in Saudi Arabia that should be on every techno fan’s bucket list.
So, put on your dancing shoes, and let’s check them out.
January 4: FOWG, Riyadh
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Nightlife institution MDLBeast knows just how to turn mundane spaces into epic rave fests. Its pop-up rooftop experience, FOWG, is held every Thursday at KAFD. So, if you’ve ever wanted to dance under the stars with the city’s skyline as your backdrop, you’re in for a treat. Follow its socials for first dibs on its next rager featuring guest DJs and their unmissable line-up of club bangers. On Thursday January 4, kick off the year on a high note and head right up to FOWG to be part of DJ Cosmicat’s birthday celebrations. DJs Vinyl Mode and Varoo will also be there to lay down the hottest tunes.
FOWG: Rooftop Experience in Riyadh, Jan 4, 10pm to 2am, 4.04 KAFD, Al Aqiq, Riyadh 13519. The ticket price starts from SAR249 and can be purchased here. @mdlbeast
January 4: Balad Social, Jeddah
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Join the party on Bait Zainal’s rooftop in the heart of historic Al-Balad to beats by Hifi, Nevercame, and Faad. With iconic views, carefully curated tunes by the finest homegrown DJs, and crave-worthy bites, gather your crew and put on your dancing shoes for a night of music, mingling and fun. So, glam up, grab your friends, and get ready to get Social.
Balad Social, Jan 4, 10pm to 2am, Bait Zainal, Al Balad, Jeddah 22236. The ticket price starts from SAR199 and can be purchased here. @mdlbeast
January 5: ERGA, Riyadh
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Rave in the ruins of an abandoned hospital is now a thing in Riyadh. ERGA takes place in the now-defunct Irqah Hospital and is an audio-visual spectacular where the music takes you on a mental sonic trip across various sounds and styles. Featuring two separate dance floors known as The Ward and The ER, its location is the most dystopian one ever seen. Headliners on Friday January 5 include Anmarz, Baloo and Tarek Antabi, spinning all night long in The Ward, and O Squared, Dabous, and Saoud in The ER. It looks like it will be a sick Friday night at ERGA.
ERGA, Jan 5, 9pm to 2am, Irqah Hospital, Riyadh 12586. The ticket price starts from SAR199 and can be purchased here. @mdlbeast
January 5: Desert Sound – Under The Bridge, Riyadh
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This weekend, Desert Sound is hosting its latest sound experience, Under The Bridge. It will take place at Laurel Oasis Farm, adding to the ethereal atmosphere of the event and making you forget that you’re in Diriyah District. Within the palm trees, the stage is where performers keep the party going throughout the night, giving it the feel of an unofficial techno rave. On Friday January 5, Desert Sound is bringing in Italian-brother duo Mathame. The Techno kings will be joined by local DJs – DishDash, Ant, Misha, Leigh, Basha, and OAIALS. Don’t miss it.
Desert Sound, Jan 5, 7pm to 3am, Laurel Oasis Farm, 7561, Riyadh, PGVM+628 Diriyah. The ticket price starts from SAR350 and can be purchased here. @desertsound.co
January 5: Kokub, AlUla
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Ever danced in the desert valley with the stars as your canvas and the greatest DJs as your soundtrack? Kokub at AlUla needs to be seen to be believed. It will host its next party on Friday January 5, so prepare to blast off into the first weekend of the New Year in AlUla and party to the interstellar funk of Solskin and Gooner. Get your tickets now for an experience that’s out of this world… literally.
Kokub, Jan 5, 11pm to 3am, AlUla 43553. The ticket price starts from SAR250 and can be purchased here. @mdlbeast
January 18 & 19: Balad Beast, Jeddah
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The beast is back in J-town. Raising the roof, the music and arts festival, Balad Beast, is taking place on Thursday January 18 and Friday January 19. Landing inside the walls of Al-Balad, the two-day fest will light up the neighbourhood’s iconic backdrop from noon to night. The epic line-up includes international hip-hop artists like Wu-Tang Clan, Vultures hitmaker Ty Dolla $ign, and rapper Russ. Other confirmed artists include DJ trio Major Lazer Soundsystem and DJ Snake, as well as Claptone, Eli Brown, Jungle, Loco Dice, Luciano, Oxlade, Ricardo Villalobos and Seth Troxler.
Balad Beast, Jan 18 & 19, Al Balad, Jeddah. The ticket price starts from SAR269 and can be purchased here. @mdlbeast
Images: Instagram