For a glimpse into the future of Saudi Arabia’s music industry, step inside the newly opened Saudi Music Hub.
The multi-purpose venue in the heart of Riyadh features recording studios, a performance hall, a music library and ample spaces for rehearsals and workshops.
But it’s in the maze of meeting rooms where some of the most significant steps towards building a thriving music sector are taking place. In one room, members of the International Music Managers Forum – a global network for self-managed artists and their managers – are deep in discussion with the president of its newly established Saudi chapter.
Elsewhere, international producers and festival organisers are meeting Saudi organisations to develop new projects across the kingdom.
Overseeing the activity with quiet satisfaction is Paul Pacifico, chief executive of Saudi Arabia's Music Commission. Operating under the auspices of Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Culture, the commission's remit is to develop the kingdom’s music sector – from regulating and establishing music institutions to promoting Saudi music domestically and abroad.
It’s a broad mandate, but like the best of music, progress happens when collaboration takes the lead.
"It's the networking effect and it’s about bringing people from different parts of the industry – I am talking about key domestic, regional and international stakeholders – together to have these important conversations," Pacifico tells The National. "In my experience, it seems that every other policy discussion about music begins with someone in the room saying something along the lines of 'if we are able to build the music industry today, we wouldn't have done it the way it is now'. I feel that what we are trying to do here in Saudi Arabia is making that effort to build an industry through a 21st century lens."
Five years since the commission’s establishment, these advances are clear to see and hear.
In collaboration with the Ministry of Education, music classes were introduced in public schools in 2022, starting with children in kindergarten. The Saudi Arabian National Orchestra and Choir, established in 2021, has already performed in major cities including Paris, New York, London and Tokyo. Efforts to preserve the kingdom’s musical heritage are also under way through the commission’s establishment of the Saudi Music Memory Initiative, which reportedly aims to document music and lyrics from Saudi artists dating back to the mid 1980s. Many of these initiatives were showcased and reinforced during December’s Riyadh Music Week, a series of events curated by the commission.
The programme included industry summits such as XP Music Futures and the Music Cities Convention, alongside major spectacles like the 2024 Billboard Arabia Music Awards and the massive Soundstorm music festival.
The scope and ambition already on display have been instructive, Pacifico notes: “Initiatives like Riyadh Music Week put welcome pressure on us domestically to get certain things done. These are big, immovable deadlines – and we all know that without them, things can start to drift.”
While these events bring industry leaders and stars to the kingdom, the foundation of a sustainable music industry is being laid offstage – driven by data analysis and long-term planning. As a former chief executive of the Association of Independent Music in the UK and an accomplished harmonica player, Pacifico says Saudi Arabia’s music sector must be shaped to meet the demands of a fast-changing and tech-driven global industry.
"Great houses are built on strong foundations, and in today’s music industry those foundations are data," he says. "But the global data set – who owns what, who wrote what, who performed on what – is woefully inadequate. In fact, even 10 years ago, the Berklee Institute for Creative Entrepreneurship published a report estimating that about 25 per cent of global music revenues go to the wrong people due to poor data. Now, we’re building a new music industry for the 21st century using 21st-century technology. Saudi Arabia has the opportunity to lead – its data set should be the most accurate in the world. If we build the right digital and physical infrastructure, this could be an extraordinary leapfrog moment for the kingdom.”
Some of the key projects include working towards establishing a local collective management organisation to collect royalties for commercially used work and collaborating with the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property to strengthen copyright regulations. It’s arduous and painstaking work, but Pacifico believes its impact will leave an immeasurable legacy.
“How do you make ‘fair’ fairer?” he asks. “That’s the real challenge. Mature markets have to break old systems to build better ones. Here, we’re starting fresh. That’s both a responsibility and an advantage.
“Saudi Arabia already has an incredibly rich musical heritage,” Pacifico adds. “Our job is to ensure that value is properly recognised, reflected and compensated.”
Skoda Superb Specs
Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol
Power: 190hp
Torque: 320Nm
Price: From Dh147,000
Available: Now
Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021
Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.
The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.
These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.
“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.
“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.
“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.
“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”
Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.
There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.
“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.
“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.
“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Super heroes
Iron Man
Reduced risk of dementia
Alcohol consumption could be an issue
Hulk
Cardiac disease, stroke and dementia from high heart rate
Spider-Man
Agility reduces risk of falls
Increased risk of obesity and mental health issues
Black Panther
Vegetarian diet reduces obesity
Unknown risks of potion drinking
Black Widow
Childhood traumas increase risk of mental illnesses
Thor
He's a god
The Year Earth Changed
Directed by:Tom Beard
Narrated by: Sir David Attenborough
Stars: 4
The biog
Prefers vegetables and fish to meat and would choose salad over pizza
Walks daily as part of regular exercise routine
France is her favourite country to visit
Has written books and manuals on women’s education, first aid and health for the family
Family: Husband, three sons and a daughter
Fathiya Nadhari's instructions to her children was to give back to the country
The children worked as young volunteers in social, education and health campaigns
Her motto is to never stop working for the country
RESULT
Brazil 2 Croatia 0
Brazil: Neymar (69'), Firmino (90' 3)
The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
MATCH INFO
FA Cup final
Chelsea 1
Hazard (22' pen)
Manchester United 0
Man of the match: Eden Hazard (Chelsea)
Super 30
Produced: Sajid Nadiadwala and Phantom Productions
Directed: Vikas Bahl
Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Pankaj Tripathi, Aditya Srivastav, Mrinal Thakur
Rating: 3.5 /5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
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Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Name: Brendalle Belaza
From: Crossing Rubber, Philippines
Arrived in the UAE: 2007
Favourite place in Abu Dhabi: NYUAD campus
Favourite photography style: Street photography
Favourite book: Harry Potter
Founders: Ines Mena, Claudia Ribas, Simona Agolini, Nourhan Hassan and Therese Hundt
Date started: January 2017, app launched November 2017
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Private/Retail/Leisure
Number of Employees: 18 employees, including full-time and flexible workers
Funding stage and size: Seed round completed Q4 2019 - $1m raised
Funders: Oman Technology Fund, 500 Startups, Vision Ventures, Seedstars, Mindshift Capital, Delta Partners Ventures, with support from the OQAL Angel Investor Network and UAE Business Angels
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
Mercedes V250 Avantgarde specs
Engine: 2.0-litre in-line four-cylinder turbo
Gearbox: 7-speed automatic
Power: 211hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 350Nm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.0 l/100 km
Price: Dh235,000
JAPAN SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Masaaki Higashiguchi, Shuichi Gonda, Daniel Schmidt
Defenders: Yuto Nagatomo, Tomoaki Makino, Maya Yoshida, Sho Sasaki, Hiroki Sakai, Sei Muroya, Genta Miura, Takehiro Tomiyasu
Midfielders: Toshihiro Aoyama, Genki Haraguchi, Gaku Shibasaki, Wataru Endo, Junya Ito, Shoya Nakajima, Takumi Minamino, Hidemasa Morita, Ritsu Doan
Forwards: Yuya Osako, Takuma Asano, Koya Kitagawa
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
