Music of Saudi Arabia

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The music of Saudi Arabia blends Western and traditional sounds. It features famous musicians like Tariq Abdulhakeem, Saraj Omar, Mohammed Abdu, and Talal Maddah.

The 1st Arab Pioneers Festival in Cairo honored Saudi composers Tariq Abdulhakeem, Ghazi Ali, Mohamed Alsenan, and Mohammed Shafiq Chughtai. From the same generation are the oud player Abadi al Johar, Rabeh Saqer, and Abdul-Majeed Abdullah.

Traditional Saudi music is limited. The Bedouin lifestyle meant carrying little with them, so rhythms were simple and often kept with clapping or by striking everyday objects. Instruments such as the ney and rababa appeared mainly in cosmopolitan cities like Jeddah. Some Wahhabi Muslims consider music sinful (haram), especially non-percussion instruments, and there are views that music and art distract people from God. Early in Saudi history, religious authorities suppressed non-percussion music. Women in music faced controversy as well.

Ibtisam Lutfi and Etab were among the kingdom’s first female singers, with 1979 marking a turning point for women in music. In 2012, Omar Basaad was named the best Saudi DJ and EDM producer, becoming the first official Saudi EDM artist to represent the country internationally.

Samri is a popular traditional music and dance in the Najd region. In 2023, the first Saudi Idol took place in Riyadh, with judges Aseel Abu Bakr, Ahlam, Assala, and Maged al Mohandes; the winner was 29-year-old Hams Fekri from Jeddah.

Ardah is the national folkloric dance of Saudi Arabia. It is performed by two rows of men, sometimes with swords or canes, and is accompanied by drums and spoken poetry. Najdi ardah is the most common and widely televised male folkloric dance. The government later renamed it Saudi ardah, and there are many regional variations across Najran, Asir, and Jizan.

In music outside traditional forms, Saudi rock and metal groups include The AccoLade and Al-Namrood. In 2019, the first official music teaching institute opened in Riyadh by order of the Crown Prince, launched with Egyptian violinist Mahmoud Sorour. The goal is to train about 50 violinists to perform at a Jeddah opera house planned for 2022.