Two of world’s top DJs leave Saudi fans all shook up with electric performance

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Dutch DJs Afrojack and R3hab were in Jeddah on Sunday night. (Huda Bashatah)
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The concert is part of Jeddah Season. (Huda Bashatah)
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Dutch DJs Afrojack and R3hab were in Jeddah on Sunday night. (Huda Bashatah)
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The concert is part of Jeddah Season. (Huda Bashatah)
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Dutch DJs Afrojack and R3hab were in Jeddah on Sunday night. (Huda Bashatah)
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Dutch DJs Afrojack and R3hab were in Jeddah on Sunday night. (Huda Bashatah)
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Dutch DJs Afrojack and R3hab were in Jeddah on Sunday night. (Huda Bashatah)
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Dutch DJs Afrojack and R3hab were in Jeddah on Sunday night. (Huda Bashatah)
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Dutch DJs Afrojack and R3hab were in Jeddah on Sunday night. (Huda Bashatah)
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Dutch DJs Afrojack and R3hab were in Jeddah on Sunday night. (Huda Bashatah)
Updated 10 July 2019
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Two of world’s top DJs leave Saudi fans all shook up with electric performance

  • Fans were left buzzing after Dutch mixers R3hab and Afrojack hit the stage of Jeddah
  • Several hit songs were used for both mixing performances, including Arabic songs

JEDDAH: A Saudi city was wired for sound as two of the world’s top DJs took to the stage for an electric show of musical entertainment.

Fans were left buzzing after Dutch mixers R3hab and Afrojack put on scintillating performances of electronic dance music as part of the Jeddah Season festival.

Musician Hatoon Idrees warmed up an enthusiastic crowd playing melodies on an oud before the main event got underway.

R3hab arrived on stage to loud cheers and screams, greeting fans with the message “peace be upon you” in Arabic.

The 33-year-old record producer and remixer, whose real name is Fadil El-Ghoul, told followers: “I am from an Arabic background myself, from Morocco, so I can speak a bit of Arabic.”

At regular intervals during his performance the star said: “Jeddah, you are truly amazing.”

His repertoire included remixes of Arabic songs, including “Sir Al-Haya” (life’s secret) and “Sadmat Omar” (shock of life), produced exclusively for the Jeddah audience, prompting the crowd to sway and sing along.

And there were also versions of songs such as “Mi Gente” by J. Balvin and Willy Williams, and “How Deep Is Your Love” by Calvin Harris and Disciples.

After an explosive two-hour performance R3hab stepped aside for fellow Dutch DJ Afrojack (real name Nick van de Wall). The 31-year-old bounced onto the stage and said: “This is my first time in Jeddah, and I am absolutely loving it.”

The crowd stood and the venue quiet literally shook to the beat of his songs such as “Don’t Let Me Down” by The Chainsmokers Ft. Daya and his original featuring Wrabel “Ten Feet Tall.”

After the concert, one fan Ahmad Shokry, 18, said: “I felt like I was in a dream. I am so hyped right now; I feel like I will not be able to sleep today. Thank you, Jeddah Season, for this.”

Another music-lover, Nagham Mohammad, 28, said: “I would have never thought I would be able to enjoy such an event here. The audience made it so much better.”


Rare exhibits on display at King Abdulaziz Palace

Updated 30 January 2026
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Rare exhibits on display at King Abdulaziz Palace

  • The piece reflects the precision of traditional craftsmanship and its social symbolism tied to strength and horsemanship

RIYADH: Exhibits on display at the King Abdulaziz Palace in the historic village of Laynah highlight rich aspects of human history and environmental change in the Arabian Peninsula as part of a series of palace activation events organized by the Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Nature Reserve Development Authority during the Darb Zubaida Winter Season.

The exhibits feature rare historical artifacts carrying cultural and scientific significance that document different lifestyles and environmental shifts in the region over the centuries.

Among the most notable pieces is a traditional rifle crafted from natural wood and fitted with a handwoven leather strap, historically used for hunting and protection.

The piece reflects the precision of traditional craftsmanship and its social symbolism tied to strength and horsemanship.

The authority stated that the palace welcomes visitors daily until Feb. 15, from 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., as part of unified tourism programs aimed at organizing visitor flow and providing opportunities to explore historical sites in a safe and engaging environment.