Twitter Takes Centre Stage in Dubai for 2019 Roundup

Twitter Middle East capped off 2019 with a heavy dose of theatrical style, taking its platform to the stage for its unique End of Year Event.

Taking over the Courtyard Playhouse in Dubai’s Al Quoz, the brand invited 280 guests (or characters), comprised of local partners, media-planners and members of the press. 

Created as an immersive stage journey through #2019onTwitter, the event took its guests through three separate spaces all highlighting different elements of the Twitter #StartWithThem audience ethos. 

The Experiential Room – offering an digital walkthrough of Twitter’s end of year data with a floor to ceiling LED displays of 2019’s top tweets, hashtags and accounts in the MENA region, alongside real time trending topics.

You can watch a roundup of the event below:

Thank you to everyone who took part in our End of Year event. It was quite a show! We look forward to 2020 and new Twitter stories from our partners and audience. 🤩 #ThisHappened pic.twitter.com/1RsLP5yHdv

— Twitter Mktg MENA (@TwitterMktgMENA) December 17, 2019

The Audience Studio followed, with theatrical performances bringing to life two of the year’s biggest Twitter stories. #FortniteMiddleEastServers, documenting the frustrations of local gamers that Tweeted their way to viral online conversation, and #JeddahSeason, retelling the incredible story of a Saudi couple who’s (accidentally cancelled) wedding day was salvaged by the good deeds of dozens of brands (and one celebrity) on Twitter.

To really hammer home the power of the Twitter space from a brand perspective, the next short performance showcased one of the year’s most successful launch campaigns on the platform, from local telecoms group STC.

The events final flourish came in the interactive form of a Twitter Trivia Quiz Show, pitting members of the media-based audience against each other for buzzer rounds related to #2019onTwitter, with prizes for the winners.

“The end of year event is a first of its kind activation for Twitter in the region,” said Carla El Maalouli, head of business marketing at Twitter MENA. “The stories that are taking place on the platform are truly amazing. We wanted to showcase innovative campaigns to show the value of our audience, increasing awareness on how Twitter is essential for brands to launch something new and connect with what’s happening.”

With such a response from guests of the event circulating on social media, Twitter is already planning to take its show on the road.