DHAHRAN: The fifth annual Bl Fus’ha Festival (Classical Arabic Singing Festival) ended on Friday at the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra).

The event, dedicated to songs and poetic works presented in classical Arabic — known as Fus’ha — via a live orchestra, was held in collaboration with the Music Commission and Benchmark.

Presented across two weekends, the four-day event was live-streamed, allowing those unable to attend in person to enjoy the elegant atmosphere and beautiful classical Arabic singing.

The first weekend featured Saber Al-Rebai and Faia Younan, as well as Lotfi Bouchnak, Walaa Al Jundi and Nawaf Jabarti, while the grand finale was headlined by popular Iraqi crooner Kadim Al-Sahir, known to fans as “The Caesar.”

Born Kadim Jabbar Al-Samarai but known by his stage name, Al-Saher, the 68-year-old serenaded the crowd until 11 p.m. His set featured classic hits from a stellar career spanning several decades; to date, the star has sold more than 100 million albums.

At Thursday night’s concert, many audience members sang along, softly at first but then more loudly. By the end, it felt like a collective performance as nearly everyone raised their voices to join in.

Gen-Z attendee Jude Alissa told Arab News that, despite her age, she had been a fan for decades.

“I was actually introduced to him by my middle school Arabic teacher — I haven’t stopped listening to him ever since,” she said.

“I really enjoyed coming here tonight. It’s a dream come true. I’ve been listening to Kadim Al-Saher’s music for as long as I can remember, and I love the poetry of Nizar Qabbani, so hearing it come to life from Kadim Al-Saher is incredible. It’s surreal — especially for it to happen in my hometown. And I loved every moment.

Saudi singer Bader Hakeem opened the show for Al-Saher, with songs including a yet-to-be released debut tune.

“This is my first time in the Eastern Province,” Hakeem told the crowd, to loud applause.