DUBAI: Dutch Moroccan DJ and record producer R3hab plans to return to Saudi Arabia before the end of the year, he told Arab News, hot on the heels of a busy six-month period during which he has hit the decks in Finland, China, Spain and beyond.

The DJ, who took to the stage at the E-Sports World Cup in Riyadh alongside Wiz Khalifa this summer, said in an interview with Arab News. “I’ve been to Riyadh many times, the energy of the city is unique. I really love performing in Saudi Arabia, the crowd energy is something else,” he said.

Asked if his Saudi fans will get to see him again soon, R3hab said: “All I can say is I’ll be back in Saudi before the end of the year and I can’t wait to play all the unreleased music I’ve been working on in the last months.”

R3hab’s love story with the Kingdom does not end there. He shot a music video for his track “Run Till Dark” at the historic city of AlUla.

“The ‘Run Till Dark’ shoot was exceptional. AlUla has so much history and we shot in some amazing locations. One that I won’t forget is Gharameel — this is a stunning desert reserve with beautiful natural stone pillars unlike anywhere else in the world. We were lucky to be the first film featuring this incredible site,” he said.

Last month, R3hab released two singles, each a collaborative effort.

On his track “Gozalo” with Deorro, he said: “It’s been 10 years since Deorro and I produced our hit ‘Flashlight.’ We thought it’s time to get in the studio together again and combine his Latin influence with my energetic vision.”

And on his more recent release, “All Night,” a collaboration with Sophie and the Giants, he praised the artist’s vocal talent and shed light on the track’s pop influences.

“Sophie’s voice stands out and I wanted to work with her on a record since I heard ‘Hypnotized.’ ‘All Night’ is a party anthem to keep us all dancing towards the end of the summer, it has a retro influence with a dance-pop touch.”

The second half of the year has been as busy as the first for the jet-setting producer with appearances at Dreambeach Festival (Spain), WKND Festival (Finland), Unseen Festival (Thailand), Smukfest (Denmark), Ministry of Sound (UK), Mysteryland (The Netherlands), EDC China and the Mega DJ Festival (South Korea).

“Touring can get very intense, so I take special care to recover, exercise and eat well on tour. The motivation is simple — the people. Connecting with the crowd every time I go on stage is a very rewarding feeling and my main drive,” he said.

MAKKAH: The Saudi Cultural Week was held from Sept. 27 to Oct. 1 in the Greek capital, Athens by the Ministry of Culture to familiarize visitors with Saudi traditions and customs.

The program included various events and cultural and artistic activities that showcased the rich Saudi culture across different creative industries.

Abdulrahman Almutawa, spokesperson for the Ministry of Culture, told Arab News that the Culinary Arts Commission also participated to introduce traditional Saudi dishes and Saudi coffee to visitors, highlighting the authenticity and hospitality of the Saudi community.

The participation aimed to introduce Saudi culture and heritage to the international community.

The Libraries Commission showcased rare Arabic and Islamic manuscripts, demonstrating the beauty of Arabic calligraphy to visitors.  

Its participation was in cooperation with the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Global Center for Arabic Calligraphy Initiative, with Saudi calligraphers showcasing their creativity in calligraphy and inscriptions that reflect the beauty of the art form.

The Fashion Commission displayed traditional Saudi clothes, presented an exhibition that reflected the creativity of Saudi designers in fashion, introduced Saudi fashion and its diverse aesthetics, and screened Saudi short films.

The Music Commission presented performances by Saudi musicians using traditional musical instruments, while the Theater and Performing Arts Commission featured various traditional performances from different regions of the Kingdom.

The Heritage Commission set up an archeological tent for visitors to learn about Saudi cultural heritage, treasures, and prominent traditional games in the Kingdom. 

The Culinary Arts Commission provided a live cooking demonstration to prepare the Kingdom's most famous traditional dishes, featuring Saudi food products.

Almutawa indicated that a pavilion was dedicated to the Year of the Camel initiative, which aimed to highlight the importance of camels and introduce visitors to their historical and cultural role in Arab and Saudi heritage.