Traditional rababah music draws crowds at camel festival

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Updated 23 December 2025
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Traditional rababah music draws crowds at camel festival

RIYADH: The rababah, a locally made traditional single-string instrument originating from Bedouin communities, has drawn interest from visitors to the King Abdulaziz Camel Festival, which runs until Jan. 2, the Saudi Press Agency reports.

The instrument is played by drawing a bow across its single string while the fingers of the other hand control the pitch.

It is often accompanied by sung poetic verses in a blend of music and oral tradition.

The Northern Borders region principality is hosting a display of rababah music at the Ministry of Interior’s Security Oasis exhibition at the camel festival.


Saudi leadership sends cables of condolences after passing of former Bangladesh PM Khaleda Zia

Supporters of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and mourners pray at the grave of former prime minister Khaleda Zia in Dhaka.
Updated 01 January 2026
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Saudi leadership sends cables of condolences after passing of former Bangladesh PM Khaleda Zia

  • Zia died at the age of 80 after a prolonged illness

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s King Salman on Thursday sent a cable of condolences to the President of Bangladesh Mohammed Shahabuddin after the passing of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia on Tuesday.

The king prayed that God have mercy on Zia, forgive her sins, and admit her into paradise. He extended his condolences to the family of the deceased.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman sent a similar cable.

On Wednesday, huge crowds had flocked to the area outside Bangladesh’s national parliament building in the capital to attend the funeral prayers for Zia, who died at the age of 80 after a prolonged illness.

Zia was buried in late afternoon with state honors beside the grave of her husband, a former president who was assassinated in a military coup in 1981, in a park outside the parliament building later Wednesday.