RIYADH — Over 180,000 people attended the first day of the largest music festival in the region.

MDLBEAST SoundStorm21, the four-day blockbuster music festival that began Thursday, as music fans flocked to attend the festival's second edition in Riyadh.

The festival is expected to welcome more than 500,000 people over the four days — surpassing Tomorrowland and Coachella — making it the largest music festival globally.

The security at the festival was evident, with more than 8,000 security professionals and response teams on the ground to help prevent unsocial behavior and create a safe space for festivalgoers.

Organizers have advised people attending SOUNDSTORM to familiarize themselves in advance with security and safety points to be used in case of any emergency. They are encouraged to become active bystanders in reporting any incidents of wrongdoing via the official MDLBEAST app. — SG