Metallica will play in Riyadh in 2023 – in 2013 they would have got arrested for it

On 27 November 2023 the hard rock band Metallica made a surprise announcement on their website: “We’re not done with 2023 just yet, as an amazing opportunity has just come our way to perform at a major festival that we have never played in a part of the world we rarely get to visit. We’re excited to announce that on Thursday, December 14 we’ll be the first hard rock band to ever play at the Soundstorm Festival in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.”

by Dahlia Rahaimy | 2nd Dec 2023

Entertainment

Cannes’ Red Carpet (Image: Shutterstock)

Saudi Film Industry on Cannes’ Red Carpet

Saudi Arabia’s presence at this year’s Cannes Festival has been remarkable, with well-known actresses and influencers from the Kingdom gracing the red carpet. This is a significant step signalling expansion of the country’s involvement in the industry, including film production. The festival opener was the historical drama Jeanne du Barry, part-funded by the Red Sea Foundation as an executive producer. The foundation has also supported six other movies by Arab and African directors.

May 31, 2023

Saudi Film Industry: From being banned to boom

Saudi filmmaking is on the rise, as female filmmaker Afnan Bawyan’s animated movie ‘Saleeg’ has been selected for screening at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival this month. Bawyan, a chemist turned filmmaker, expertly weaves a compelling family drama using puppetry and authentic Saudi dialect. This creative resurgence follows the historic lifting of a 35-year ban on public cinemas, reigniting Saudis’ passion for cinema.

Apr 26, 2023

Jeddah Corniche Circuit to host third Formula One race

The Jeddah Corniche Circuit is gearing up to host its third Formula One race from March 17th to 19th. The Jeddah Formula 1 circuit is set to remain the home of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix until at least 2027, while organizers work on a brand new facility at Qiddiya. The first race in Jeddah took place in December 2021, with the second one following closely from March 25th to 27th, 2022.

Mar 16, 2023

Saudi Music Finds New Beats

The Music Ecosystem and XP Music MDL Beast are relatively new to the Saudi music scene. They present a type of music and culture that is for youth and expression, making it an ideal candidate for success in today’s Saudi Arabia. Young Saudis, who are enthusiastic and energetic are looking into all possible ways, means and forms to explore and express themselves.

Jul 2, 2022

Soha Khan Introduces Theatre Business to Saudi Arabia

On the World Theatre Day, 27th of March, members of the Saudi theatre scene published a video message produced by the Ministry of Culture and Theatre & Performing Authority, reminding the newly developed scene in Saud Arabia on the importance of theatre, and promising more work to come after the corona crisis. Soha Khan is a member of this society. She is a Saudi producer of plays, musicals, and creative theatre.

Apr 4, 2020