Kingdoms Melody Festival is taking center stage in Jeddah, captivating audiences with a celebration of Saudi Arabias musical heritage

Taking centre stage in Jeddah, the first-ever Kingdom's Melody Festival enthrals spectators with a celebration of the country's musical past. The three-day event got under way on Thursday with the goal of illuminating the background of music and composers in the Kingdom and showcasing their enduring cultural links to the neighbourhood.

A moving homage to early Saudi composers was given as the festival got underway. Hamed Fayez, the late artist Omar Kadars as well as the late Saudi composer Abdulrab Idris, were honoured by the deputy minister of culture and vice chairman of the music commission. Mohammed Abdu, a singer, gave a moving rendition of songs by Kadars and Idris to start the musical evening.

A packed house of spectators, many of whom were wearing the distinctive red-and-white headscarf known as the shemagh in Saudi Arabia, converted the Jeddah Superdome into a huge musical tent that resounded with clapping and cheers.

Two further events were held as part of the festival: "Send Love" allowed attendees to submit messages to their favourite composers, and "Melodic Memories" included songs by a variety of musical icons. Abdel Majeed Abdallah gave performances during the event as well, performing a number of songs by Fawzi Mahsoon and Saleh Al-Shehri. Abadi Al-Johar, a Saudi composer, will do a concert on the last night with songs that Talal Bagher has written.

A companion exhibition told the tales and events that formed Saudi music and its composers, complementing the performances. Diplomatic missions documented the oldest Saudi musical works, emphasising Jeddah's historical relevance in Saudi music. The ability to discover Saudi music from its beginnings to the present was provided through smart displays and high-definition speakers. It is planned for the festival to become a yearly occasion, with each celebration highlighting how various cultures have influenced Saudi music.

This programme is in line with the Quality of Life initiative, which works to improve cultural experiences and support the arts in Saudi Arabia and is a component of the Vision 2030 framework.