Three times is a charm for Saudi music festival Soundstorm.
It all started in 2019 and ran for a third time at the weekend, returning with a revamped artist line-up and festival site.
From forays into new genres to landing rare regional appearances by international pop stars, Soundstorm 2022 shows signs of a festival establishing its feet and finding its own voice amid a saturated market.
Here are 10 things we learnt from this year’s event.
1. Bruno Mars finesses the main stage
Bruno Mars brought some welcome levity to the Big Beast stage on Saturday with a sugar rush of a performance.
Backed by brilliant backing band The Hooligans, the US singer elicited immediate smiles and dancing from the crowd with his polished mix of catchy pop and RnB.
With no album to promote, Mars played a greatest hits set — you only realise how many they are once you hear them back-to-back — including 24K Magic, Finesse and Mark Ronson collaboration Uptown Funk.
After two nights of shuddering dance beats, this was the high point of the final day of the festival.
2. DJ Khaled receives a hero’s welcome
For someone so omnipresent in pop music today, witnessing an actual DJ Khaled concert is akin to seeing a unicorn.
The exuberant Palestinian-American hip-hop star and producer put aside his reported fear of flying for a rare concert performance on Friday.
He brought his friends along for the ride (courtesy of a private jet) with a frenetic set featuring fellow hip-hop stars Rick Ross, Busta Rhymes, Future, Fat Joe and T.I..
“I flew 16 hours to be here with my people,” DJ Khaled said on the main Big Beast stage. “So tonight will not go down, but up, in history.”
That momentous occasion was reflected with a sell-out crowd of more than 150,000 savouring the show.
3. A homecoming for Arooj Aftab
Born in Riyadh, acclaimed Pakistani singer Arooj Aftab acknowledged the moment with a sultry performance.
"I am finally here," the singer remarked when taking the Down Beast stage. "I was born here, so this makes me from here".
Mostly basking in silhouette and backed by a duo on double bass and violin, Aftab delivered a sultry set taken from the acclaimed 2021 album Vulture Prince, and a bewitching rendition of Udhero Na, a Grammy Award-nominated track that could land her a second consecutive Grammy for Best Global Music Performance for next year’s ceremony.
4. The big DJs come out to play
Electronic dance music remains at the forefront of Soundstorm and a magnet for the genre’s leading DJs.
Trance music pioneer Tiesto and DJs-turned-pop-stars David Guetta and DJ Snake delivered the goods on the main stage with explosive shows full of fireworks.
It was Afrojack who arguably delivered the best performance of the bunch with an energetic set deftly blending his Big Room sensibilities with some thrilling abrasive tech-house.
5. Arabic pop stars make their voices heard
Credit to Soundstorm for not treating performing Arab pop stars as a novelty.
From Egypt’s Amr Diab to Lebanon’s Nancy Ajram, their sets were an international collaboration with backing DJs such as Dutch-Moroccan R3hab and Bosnian-Swede Salvatore Ganacci. It shows that Arabic pop can comfortably blend with electronic music.
Afrojack took the approach further by playing his remix of Ahmed Saad’s Wasa3 Wasa3 and El Youm El Helw Dah during his Saturday show.
6. Saudi artists stand up to be counted
Local DJs continued to shine at one of the kingdom’s premier music events.
From veteran artists such as DJs Baloo, Vinyl Mode and Omar Basaad to promising talents including singer Tamtam, Saudi Arabia’s vibrant music scene was well represented within the mix.
“We take this responsibility seriously,” Vinyl Mode, real name Mohannad Nassar, told The National before his set.
“The scene is growing in a big way and we all have a role to play in making it grow as artists by working hard at what we do. Like everyone else, we need to earn our place to perform on a big stage such as Soundstorm.”
7. A more dynamic line-up
For Soundstorm to grow, it had to evolve its musical offerings.
With a sizeable number of this year’s artists playing in the last two events, the festival was at risk of being derivative.
Fortunately, this year’s line-up is the best yet due to its expansion into non-electronic music territory.
From British soul music artist Michael Kiwanuka to Palestinian-Chilean Singer Elyanna and Jordanian rock band Autostrad, the Down Beast stage was home to these wonderfully eclectic sounds and, in turn, attracted more diverse audiences to the festival.
8. A better festival experience
Atmosphere as well as the music are the defining marks of a successful festival.
Where Soundstorm excelled in the latter, the on-site activations — particularly in the general admissions area — were left wanting.
With the vast site, in the district of Banban on the outskirts of Riyadh, undergoing a revamp, bottom-tier ticket holders had a lot to enjoy besides the music.
The site was dotted with a number of small stages featuring various dance and acrobatic troupes. Also available were serene picnic spaces, pop-up stalls from fashion brands and a large screen to watch the Fifa World Cup football tournament in Qatar.
Such additions provided an important psychological timeout amid the onslaught of beats and useful meeting points for revellers.
9. Seven stages of wonder
An enduring highlight of Soundstorm is its distinctly designed stages.
From the main Big Beast stage, where the DJ booth is placed in the middle of what resembles a soaring falcon, to the dystopian and neon-lit industrial warehouses of the Underground section (home to harder electronic sounds), each stage creates a world complementing the music played.
With so much to see, the 10-hour days never seem to drag on.
10. Smaller is better
Soundstorm returned this year in a slimmer format with three days instead of four.
This proved to be a wise decision as it allowed the artist line-up to be more dynamic than bloated and overall it was a less gruelling fan experience.
Further additions, such as the elevated walking ramps ferrying crowds (those with premium and top-tier VIB tickets) to all seven stages, indicate that organisers have listened to constructive feedback.
Such choices bode well for the future of what is already an impressive festival.
Soundstorm begins in spectacular fashion — in pictures
LA LIGA FIXTURES
Friday Valladolid v Osasuna (Kick-off midnight UAE)
Saturday Valencia v Athletic Bilbao (5pm), Getafe v Sevilla (7.15pm), Huesca v Alaves (9.30pm), Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid (midnight)
Sunday Real Sociedad v Eibar (5pm), Real Betis v Villarreal (7.15pm), Elche v Granada (9.30pm), Barcelona v Levante (midnight)
Monday Celta Vigo v Cadiz (midnight)
RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP FIXTURES
September 30
South Africa v Australia
Argentina v New Zealand
October 7
South Africa v New Zealand
Argentina v Australia
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
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Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
US households add $601bn of debt in 2019
American households borrowed another $601 billion (Dh2.2bn) in 2019, the largest yearly gain since 2007, just before the global financial crisis, according to February data from the New York Federal Reserve Bank.
Fuelled by rising mortgage debt as homebuyers continued to take advantage of low interest rates, the increase last year brought total household debt to a record high, surpassing the previous peak reached in 2008 just before the market crash, according to the report.
Following the 22nd straight quarter of growth, American household debt swelled to $14.15 trillion by the end of 2019, the New York Fed said in its quarterly report.
In the final three months of the year, new home loans jumped to their highest volume since the fourth quarter of 2005, while credit cards and auto loans also added to the increase.
The bad debt load is taking its toll on some households, and the New York Fed warned that more and more credit card borrowers — particularly young people — were falling behind on their payments.
"Younger borrowers, who are disproportionately likely to have credit cards and student loans as their primary form of debt, struggle more than others with on-time repayment," New York Fed researchers said.
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Company: Instabug
Founded: 2013
Based: Egypt, Cairo
Sector: IT
Employees: 100
Stage: Series A
Investors: Flat6Labs, Accel, Y Combinator and angel investors
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
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In numbers
- Number of children under five will fall from 681 million in 2017 to 401m in 2100
- Over-80s will rise from 141m in 2017 to 866m in 2100
- Nigeria will become the world’s second most populous country with 791m by 2100, behind India
- China will fall dramatically from a peak of 2.4 billion in 2024 to 732 million by 2100
- an average of 2.1 children per woman is required to sustain population growth
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The Penguin
Starring: Colin Farrell, Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz
Creator: Lauren LeFranc
Rating: 4/5
Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
Babumoshai Bandookbaaz
Director: Kushan Nandy
Starring: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Bidita Bag, Jatin Goswami
Three stars
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
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Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites
The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.
It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.
“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.
The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
Test series fixtures
(All matches start at 2pm UAE)
1st Test Lord's, London from Thursday to Monday
2nd Test Nottingham from July 14-18
3rd Test The Oval, London from July 27-31
4th Test Manchester from August 4-8
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants
New UK refugee system
- A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
- Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
- A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
- To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
- Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
- Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
Company%20profile
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THE%20SPECS
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