TESS in Abu Dhabi

TESS were pleased to continue their association with long-term client Flash Entertainment.  Not only did they look after the Yasalam Formula 1 shows on the Corniche Beach and at the Yas Island race circuit, but they fielded an additional team to help deliver the first ever Abu Dhabi Science Festival.

Yasalam has become quite a fixture in the Abu Dhabi event season, with a series of shows and activations including an F1 car display, sampling and competitions, on the downtown beach.  Jim Davey for TESS worked as both Safety Advisor and Site Manager (along with a thousand other supporting roles).  Installations included a new and improved F1 Fanzone, a StageCo Micro Arch and a whole series of sponsor and brand activations. The event also featured the first ever outing in the Emirates for the Australian Tropfest film festival. Local and middle eastern bands formed the mainstay of the Beats on the Beach gigs, which Jim steered with an admirably firm hand.

Out at Yas Island Tim and Hannah were helping Flash with Britney, The Cult, Incubus and Paul McCartney, as well as dealing with the monster installation which was the Skybar at the Flash Forum.

             Tim and JC momentarily turn their backs on the
                      construction of the Flash Forum.

All of the shows went swimmingly well, and thousands enjoyed another great season of entertainments from Flash.

Alongside these shows, TESS were also looking after the Abu Dhabi Science Festival. This was in two sections - one part was at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) and the other along the beach from the music shows.  The ADNEC show is primarily aimed at young people and families, with interactive exhibits curated by the Edinburgh Science Festival.  Mike Herbert had his work cut out managing the massed public flows around the exhibits as well as containing his own enthusiasm for some of the demonstrations.  Down on the beach Jim was working alongside Salem al Suleimani from Flash to deliver the touring exhibition 1001 Inventions, which charts the contribution of Arabic cultures to modern science and mathematics.

Tim took a short diversion to work with Avantgarde in their new Abu Dhabi office developing plans for National Day celebrations at the Yas Marina Circuit. And just when we thought it was all over, Simon headed off to the self-same Corniche beach to work with production company WRG on delivery of a series of events and activations, also for National Day.