MDLBeast: The Saudi Rave Pushing Boundaries of a Changing Kingdom

A music festival with men and women dancing side by side would have been unthinkable in Saudi Arabia just 5 years ago - this year, organizers of "MDL Beast" say 180,000 attended their opening night. Bloomberg's Vivian Nereim reports on the festival pushing the boundaries of a changing kingdom.

#MDLBeast #SaudiArabia #Explained

The party in the Saudi desert looked like any other rave until the music stopped for the Islamic call to prayer, leaving attendees in ripped skinny jeans and combat boots to stand in silence.

Fifteen minutes later -- religious duties completed -- thousands of party-goers got back to business. Men and women danced with abandon in a country where that would have been unthinkable five years ago.

The electronic music festival in Saudi Arabia this weekend highlighted the changes catapulting through the conservative kingdom under its controversial crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman. In just a few years, the prince has lifted a ban on women driving, loosened gender segregation and defanged the religious police, who used to roam the streets punishing restaurants that played music.

In contrast, the four-day festival called MDL Beast Soundstorm was endorsed by the government and included performances by global DJs like Tiësto and Armin van Buuren. Organizers say more than 180,000 people attended the opening night, pushing boundaries as the kingdom transforms.

“Allow us progress, allow us to represent ourselves in the way that we feel fit,” said Prince Fahad Al Saud, a royal family member and entrepreneur who attended in a psychedelic-patterned jacket and sparkling eyeliner. “We are very eager to be part of the international community, but we can’t be stifled every time we try to make progress because it doesn’t look like what you want to see.”

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[SellyGraphy]

I live in a society where haram has become right and halal has become extreme 😔 truly a beginning of the end.

[AHMADSOLIHIN]

These are the symptoms of coming of keyamat very near to us
The future speech of prophet Muhammad Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam will be true,
Keyemah is absolutely true
There is no doubt

[rw]

Hold fast on to your deen, even at times when it feels like holding onto hot coal. These are huge trials for us. This is what the Prophet has warned us was going to happen, now that it's happening, wake up to the reality and seek refuge with Allah.
May Allah protect all of us through this globalisation that is being used to push their one world order. The final times are coming.

[DrGrape]

Woe to the Arabs from the great evil that is nearly, approaching them.”

Sahih Al-Bukhari 7059

[savlatjonkhuseynov]

This is meant to happen. Messenger of Allah has said 1400 years before about this day. Hold on your deen brother and sisters.

[waleedalmalki]

We are conservative and unique because we know what's life all about, it's about worshipping the Almighty Allah not worshipping desires and following the devil's steps as the rest of the world is doing

[cikguhassan]

Its awesome to see the sign of ends time approaching, cant wait to enter paradise

[alliyahsgalaxy]

Disgusting! May Allah give MBS what he deserves!!!

[callertoallaahexaltedmosth]

Helping in People's Destruction if anything. All Leads to Major Sins.

[muhammadasimjavaid]

Typical western properganda 😅😅 how can you smell alcohol when it's LITTLERLY a death sentence?

[etherealrosegold]

We seek protection in Allah against the outcast devil

[alialghamdi.]

I love how honest this report is about the MDL BEAST. They pretty much talked about everything. Saudi in the past and present, the changes, the crowd, the ratio between men and women.

[IslamsWay]

Notice the “Queer Culture” reference she made, (pause and a link will appear on the bottom of the screen).

YOU opened the door to all the evil and beckoned them to come and feast on your people. Allah permitted you to assume an Amanah, and you betrayed Him.

See ya! Wouldn’t wanna be ya!

[shamrashid]

I'm proudly an Ex-muslim, I love Saudi and Dubai for marching forward.

[prakashlb]

I can sense fundamental Islamists are crying like poor baby girls, MBS is great leader

[rusmaibrahim]

Salam MBS where are u taking the country? Remember how difficult Rasulullah struggled to upgrade the society fr Jahiliyyah way of life to a civilised pure Islamic way of life… n now u are taking the society back to the dark sges 😢

[greengreen]

They’re going to regret this ONE DAY! Mark my words.

[liby]

the scholars are being jailed, Sheikh Munajid was put in jail, and this is now being allowed. Sad times Wallahi, but Islam will continue to grow and prosper

[marco_mouse]

I love you Saudi Arabia! Prince Salman is awesome! I'm glad Saudi Arabia gets to experience a music festival.

[musk]

Idc what Saudi Arabia is doing but as an Muslim they should think about mecca and madina