D+D U.K.

2644 30th Street, Suite 100
Santa Monica
CA, 90405

D+D U.S.

P1‑106, Yas Creative Hub, Tower 3
Yas Island, Abu Dhabi
United Arab Emirates, PO Box 769784

D+D Middle East

On December 5, 2024, Boulevard World in Riyadh hosted the dazzling debut of Throne + Liberty in the Middle East, an event that marked a significant milestone in Qiddiya Gaming's commitment to bringing world-class gaming experiences to Saudi Arabia. Partnering with NCSoft, the launch featured a groundbreaking "Trailer in the sky" drone show at The Sphere, captivating fans with a visual spectacle that seamlessly merged innovation and gaming culture. Produced and creatively driven by DDX's UK team, the event showcased a meticulously choreographed aerial display that brought the game's universe to life in an unforgettable way.

The Sphere served as the primary viewing spot, but the show’s breathtaking visuals were visible throughout the entire park, allowing all attendees to witness the spectacle. The Sphere’s LED display added to the grandeur, illuminating the night with synchronized gaming visuals that enhanced the narrative of the drone show. A game-inspired soundscape, featuring the official Throne and Liberty score enhanced with immersive sound effects, further elevated the experience. Key moments, such as the dramatic appearance of the game’s iconic eagle, were accentuated with powerful audio cues—like the piercing screech of a bird layered over the score—creating a fully immersive auditory journey.

To deepen engagement with the gaming community, local influencers, including @xit_thamer, were invited to live stream from a dedicated VIP area, sharing the event with audiences worldwide. The VIP zone also featured roaming brand ambassadors dressed as medieval knights—an homage to the game’s armor-clad warriors—who not only amplified the thematic experience but also provided a striking photo opportunity for guests. Additionally, a step-and-repeat moment was set up, allowing attendees to capture and share their experience in a setting reflective of the game’s rich lore.

This fusion of cutting-edge technology, gaming culture, and localized engagement not only celebrated the debut of Throne + Liberty but also set a new benchmark for gaming events in the region.

Qiddiya Gaming Presents: Throne + Liberty

The celebration of the 53rd UAE National Day delivered a breathtaking experience staged amidst the stunning natural surroundings. A moment of pride and unity, the show brought together the spirit of the UAE's rich history and its people to honor a legacy that has shaped the nation.

Broadcast to capture the grandeur and significance of this national celebration, the production focused on translating the majesty of the UAE's story into a seamless visual narrative. With years of D+D's experience producing this show, expectations for perfection were high, and the team embraced the challenge of executing a flawless performance in a demanding desert environment.

The location itself was a highlight—a breathtaking desert landscape, both rugged and serene, located just outside Al Ain. A key request from the client was to showcase the beauty and vastness of the location, including its ancient sands and the iconic Mountain Jebel Hafeet. The arrival sequence was meticulously crafted to ensure the natural grandeur was not lost in the darkness. 

In addition to the live performance, the production incorporated storytelling elements beyond the stage. Tribal camel herders were filmed trekking across the mountain, creating a rich tapestry of visuals that seamlessly connected the show to the location's history. Guests experienced an unpaved journey across the sands, connecting them to the heritage and history of the region.

The live audience included 500 esteemed VVIPs, whose presence underscored the cultural and national significance of the event. Producing a show of this magnitude in a remote desert location is no small feat. The production left no room for excuses—equipped with over 25 Sony Venice cameras and led by the visionary Hamish Hamilton, every moment was captured with precision and artistry. The broadcast brought together cutting-edge technology and unparalleled expertise to create a visual spectacle worthy of the occasion.

More than just a show, UAE National Day 2024 was a powerful moment of celebration—a time for reflection, pride, and unity. It brought the people of the UAE together to honor their nation's history and inspired a shared vision for its future. 

Eid Al Etihad 53 (UAE National Day)

The World Early Childhood Development (WED) Forum gathers policy influencers, academics, practitioners, and innovators in Abu Dhabi to discuss trends in early childhood development.

D+D excelled in the event operations scope and delivered a site-wide scenic & branding, technical, logistics, and media production deliverables. It is always fun to produce meaningful experiences, but this one was special. Working with several stakeholders and creatives, the event’s look and feel served as a portal back to a childhood dreamy world. Not only did D+D produce the event, but we also celebrated not one, but two team members’ birthdays in one shot. What a lovely coincidence with the theme of the event!

The World Early Childhood Development (WED) Forum 2024

The UAE President’s Cup Football Draw Ceremony showcases artful simplicity.

Celebrating 50 years since the first ever UAE President’s Cup, the core of the event was designed to honour both the legacy and the progress of this prestigious championship. The draw event elements merged to form a cohesive narrative structure, seamlessly integrating the championship’s rich history with its dynamic future.

A standout guest experience element of the event was the integration of sophisticated AI workflows to bring old archival photos to life. D+D animated still images using written prompts and precise motion control settings. This technology relies on analysing details of the image, such as facial expressions and body posture, to generate realistic movements. These animated archive photos provided a unique experience, blending the history of the championship with cutting edge AI technologies.

The UAE President’s Cup Football Draw Ceremony, Season 2024-2025

Zenless Zone Zero, made a bold entrance into the gaming world with an immersive activation at the 2024 eSports World Cup in Qiddiya. From July 20–29, DDX, in collaboration with Storyland Studios, transformed Boulevard City in Riyadh into a post-apocalyptic arcade inspired by Zenless Zone Zero’s New Eridu. Designed to introduce the game to a fresh audience, the experience blended gameplay, influencer engagement, and high-energy entertainment, creating an unforgettable space where fans could connect with the ZZZ universe.

The activation featured multiple interactive elements, including retro arcade stations where attendees could play the game, high-energy speed run competitions with a total of 351 participants, and engaging photo opportunities that encouraged social sharing. A DJ and crowd hyper energized the space throughout the event, setting the tone for an exciting gaming festival. The presence of top gaming influencers such as Fearfull, Abdu Nouh, Omareloff, and Naif further amplified the event's impact, drawing in crowds and fostering community engagement. Over the course of nine days, Zenless Zone Zero welcomed an impressive 38,010 attendees—far exceeding expectations—with an average daily turnout of 4,223.

Beyond its attendance numbers, Qiddiya: ZZZ Hoyaverse left a lasting impact on both fans and the broader gaming community. The visually stunning set design, inspired by the game’s futuristic aesthetic, provided the perfect backdrop for content creation, amplifying ZZZ’s presence across social media. The combination of cutting-edge scenic production, influencer collaborations, and hands-on gameplay ensured that the event not only introduced Zenless Zone Zero to new audiences but also solidified its position as one of the most exciting new titles in the gaming industry.

Qiddiya Gaming Presents: ZZZ Hoyaverse

The Abu Dhabi Sports Championship marked a significant milestone, bringing together young, aspiring athletes from across the region of Abu Dhabi for an exhilarating display of skill, sportsmanship, and entertainment.

Done+Dusted gave a full-service in event management and media production across the entire sports season, collaborating with different sports agencies. Our services included event management, site-wide operations, event design and site layout, branding application, facility management, guest and athlete registration, and supplier accreditation.

 We captured and edited over 40,000 images and 10TB of video, deploying 36 media crews. Our secure and compliant workflow for client approvals ensured quick turnaround of raw footage into weekly wrap-ups and sizzles, maintaining high standards of data protection and privacy.

 The fan-zone emerged as a centre of celebration, engagement, and entertainment. This dynamic area offered a vibrant gathering space with a wide array of activities and entertainment. Highlights included interactive sports simulations and culinary delights from F&B trucks, enhancing the spectator experience and fostering a sense of community.

 The closing ceremony, designed and produced by Done+Dusted, featured a vibrant athletes' parade and a stellar performance by renowned musician Hussein Al Jasmi. This performance, brought to life through Done+Dusted expertise in artistic staging, celebrated the athletes' accomplishments and unified the audience in a shared cultural moment

Abu Dhabi Sports Championship 2024

Done+Dusted rolled out the lavender carpet once again to produce the 3rd edition of Saudi Arabia’s annual Joy Awards, live in Riyadh and broadcast on MBC. The glamorous ceremony gathered the region’s biggest stars for a luxe night full of touching acceptance speeches and incredible live performances from artists including Assala, Sherine, Abdul Majeed Abdullah, Amr Diab, Nagat, Yoann Bourgeois, Gloria Gaynor, Bebe Rexha, and Lang Lang.

International stars also made appearances, with Mark Wahlberg, John Cena, Tyson Fury, Sam Worthington, Anthony Anderson and Georgina Rodriguez.  Honorary Awards going to Rabeh Saqer, Adel Emam, Mona Wasef, Kevin Costner, Sir Anthony Hopkins, Quincy Jones,  Zack Snyder, Martin Lawrence and Eva Longoria.

Joy Awards 2024

Done+Dusted Middle East collaborated with Sandstorm, Abu Dhabi's first dedicated comic book studio, to produce the inaugural Storm The Block event at twofour54’s Yas Creative Hub – Yas Island this December.

For three days, fans and industry leaders celebrated comic book culture with panels from internationally acclaimed artists and writers, booths where fans could meet their favorite creators, and community events including a cosplay contest, a rock-paper-scissors tournament, and a collaborative drawing wall.  We're so excited to return for another as the comic industry continues to take off in Abu Dhabi and the region!

Storm the Block

The UAE’s rich history and bold vision for the future are cause for celebration, and Done+Dusted was honored to help deliver the broadcast of the annual Union Day Ceremony yet again.

In collaboration with legendary local creatives, 2023's show was a celebration of the past 52 years of connectivity and collaboration that honored the Emirates peoples of today and the legacy that they and the UAE are building together. Done+Dusted is proud to have contributed to eight ceremonies over the years thus far.

UAE Union Day

EMAAR, the record-setting team behind the construction of the Burj Khalifa - the tallest building on the planet - sponsor UAE’s biggest annual New Year’s Eve event. Like their constructions, the expectations for this show are high. That’s why - for three years running - they’ve partnered with Done + Dusted to throw the most spectacular party in the Middle East.

We produced and directed the broadcast of EMAAR New Year’s Eve in 2021, 2022, and 2023 featuring record-breaking lighting, laser, and firework displays while also honoring the story of the UAE’s rich history and its bold vision for its future.

EMAAR New Year’s Eve

In 2021 + 2022, Done+Dusted produced and directed the live broadcast of the spectacular 20 minute ceremony that opens the final game of the prestigious President’s Cup, an annual tournament put on by the United Arab Emirates Football Association. 

In association with our long-time partner Progress Productions, we build up even more hype for a highly-anticipated game. We use lasers and light shows, audio-visual effects, and a bevy of pyrotechnics to create an electric atmosphere for over 20,000 football fans in the stadium and audiences watching at home. We also produce the post-match award ceremony, attended by sheikhs and UEFA officials.

UAEFA President’s Cup Final

Done+Dusted catered to the Middle East’s growing appetite for entertainment with Fame Factory, a first-of-its-kind immersive theatrical experience that debuted during Jeddah’s festival season in 2022. 1,000 guests a day bought tickets to experience a 40-minute whirlwind adventure, where they lived the A-lister lifestyle. 

Throughout the experience, a cast of actors guided them through their newfound superstar status, taking them from the wardrobe trailer to making their own blockbuster trailer and giving their triumphant speech on the awards stage. Along the way, our proprietary digital asset capture technology turned their unforgettable day into Instagrammable photos and videos. The permanent experience in Riyadh saw 130,000 guests buy tickets.

Fame Factory will open in London in 2024, and Las Vegas in 2025.

Fame Factory

Done+Dusted Middle East was honored to be chosen by the Ministry of Presidential Affairs as the broadcast producer for a historic moment in Catholic and Arabic culture: the first-ever papal visit to the Arabian Peninsula. We captured highlights from Pope Francis’ two packed days of engagements in Abu Dhabi and worked with Middle Eastern and North African networks to broadcast the event.

Pope Francis, Dr Ahmed Al Tayeb, one of the world's most respected Sunni Muslim clerics, and Sheikhs Mohamed bin Rashid and Mohamed bin Zayed held an interfaith meeting at the Founder’s Memorial, following which Pope Francis held Mass at Zayed Sports City stadium in Abu Dhabi where 135,000 had gathered to worship. All of this was centered around the signing of a “Human Fraternity Document," the meeting of the two leaders of faith marked a historic moment for religious tolerance.

Pope Francis’ Visit to the UAE

To celebrate the centennial birth year of the United Arab Emirates’ founder, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the Ministry of Presidential Affairs commissioned artist Ralph Helmick to create The Constellation, a dazzling light sculpture that portrays the country’s first leader from multiple points of view through the revolutionary use of 1,327 glowing shapes suspended by cables. 

Done+Dusted Middle East produced an unveiling ceremony for The Constellation that, like the statue itself, combined creativity, technology, and remembrance, using CGI to bring some of the most iconic images of Sheikh Zayed to life. Our show also included animation that illustrated the seven Emirates’ transformation over half of a century, and a 40-person choir that covered Allah Ya Dar Zayed, as well as new arrangements of traditional songs. We worked with our network of Middle Eastern and North African broadcast partners to bring the show to the entire region.

The Founder’s Memorial 2018

At Done+Dusted Middle East, we have been pushing the boundaries of live event production for over a decade, creating unforgettable experiences that have captivated audiences in this region. As a leading live event production company, we specialize in bringing to life the visions of our clients, delivering world-class sporting events, award ceremonies, cultural festivals, and broadcast specials.

Based in the heart of the Abu Dhabi Media Zone, our office is a hub of creativity, innovation, and collaboration. Our team of talented producers, designers, and project staff work together to design and execute visually stunning and technically flawless shows. With a commitment to excellence and a deep understanding of the unique cultural tapestry of the region, we take pride in crafting tailor-made experiences that leave a lasting impact.

Middle East Office