On June 9, 2025, legendary artist Mohammed Abdu will headline the inaugural event at the Khobar Arena, the Eastern province’s first arena-style venue, debuting at the Dhahran Expo during Eid Al-Adha. The evening represents more than a grand opening—it signals a new chapter for Saudi’s growing live music industry, and a geographical expansion of its stages across the Kingdom.

This comes at a time when the Saudi music scene is embracing greater diversity in the types, scale, and identity of its live performances—along with the audiences they attract.

Meanwhile, Abadi AlJohar Arena recently opened its doors in Jeddah on July 4, 2024, as a tribute to the iconic Saudi artist. Built by Benchmark with support from the General Entertainment Authority, the 16,000-seat venue was launched during Jeddah Season 2024 under the theme “Once Again.” Since its debut with a performance by Al-Johar himself on August 2, the arena has hosted a range of cultural and musical events, including a standout co-headline show by Ayed and Oumaima Taleb in early 2025.

Beyond mega-venues, more intimate and genre-focused spaces are also emerging. UNSTABLE—a nighttime club under the MDLBEAST-run entertainment hub Attaché—offers a different vibe altogether. Located in Riyadh’s Diplomatic Quarter, the club hosts a variety of weekly performances, with a focus on electronic genres, like house music and visually-driven sets. The venue’s in-house restaurant occasionally transforms into a mini-stage for stripped-down acoustic sets as well, such as the mellow performances by Saudi artist Yazeed Fahad.

With its unconventional location and the fusion of genres in its programs, Attaché has become a haven for independent artists and audiences in search of something outside the mainstream.

These new projects are a result of the “Quality of Life Program”—one of the Vision 2030 realization programs—initiated by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, with the support and patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. Launched in 2018, the program aims to enhance individual well-being and enrich both the cultural and social landscape, transforming the Kingdom into a vibrant destination that attracts both local and international performances.