Riyadh Saudi Arabia once synonymous with stringent conservatism and banned public concerts is charting a new course back to its cultural bedrock. After experimenting with Western-themed music festivals and electronic raves, the kingdom’s latest spectacle, Terhal, spotlights indigenous art forms through an immersive production that fuses Bedouin heritage with high-tech stagecraft.
Terhal’s narrative unfolds as Saad, clad in a red-and-white ghutra, embarks on a journey across the desert. Onstage, a white steed gallops beneath glowing arches while 55 Saudi performers collaborate with 100 international acrobats, dancers, and trapeze artists to bring ancient stories to life. The result is a synesthetic tapestry of music, movement, and digital projections.
This pivot follows a handful of high-profile music events that sparked rumours of alcohol and drug use claims the authorities have consistently denied. For the upcoming Riyadh Season, Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the General Entertainment Authority, has signalled a turn towards regional talent. “Our focus will be on Saudi and Gulf musicians,” he affirmed, underscoring a desire to elevate local voices.
Analysts link the shift directly to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030 agenda, which aims to diversify the economy and redefine national identity beyond oil. “Vision 2030 is always about testing borders,” says Sebastian Sons of the German think tank CARPO. “If two steps forward strain social norms, you sometimes take one step back.”
Until 2018, public performances and mixed-gender dancing were outlawed, and women risked punishment for appearing unveiled. In a matter of years, however, the kingdom has hosted Formula One races, brought global icons like Jennifer Lopez to Riyadh, and lifted the ban on women driving. Each reform has chipped away at the once-monolithic social order.
For Terhal, the creative team conducted extensive research in collaboration with Saudi scholars. “We wanted to ensure authenticity,” says artistic director Filippo Ferraresi. “Our consultants guided us through regional dances, musical scales, and folkloric tales.” The show aims to resonate with domestic audiences even as it dazzles international visitors.
Experts see entertainment emerging as the crossroads of Vision 2030’s social and economic ambitions. “It’s not just a growth sector it’s a platform to showcase Saudi Arabia’s transformation,” argues Kristian Coates Ulrichsen of Rice University’s Baker Institute. As Terhal rides into the spotlight, it symbolises a country reimagining its past to inform its future.
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