Hans Zimmer to rework Saudi national anthem
Oscar-winning composer Hans Zimmer has been approached to create a new arrangement of Saudi Arabia's national anthem, as the kingdom continues its cultural transformation programme. Olivia Palamountain reports
Hans Zimmer, the composer of iconic film scores including The Lion King, Dune and The Dark Knight trilogy has agreed to "broad outlines" of several projects in Saudi Arabia, according to Turki Alalshikh, chair of the general entertainment authority.
"We discussed a lot about many future projects I hope will see the light of day soon... including rearranging the Saudi national anthem with different instruments," Alalshikh announced on social media platform X.
The current anthem, Aash Al-Malik (Long Live the King), was composed in 1947 by Egyptian musician Abdul Rahman Al-Khateeb at King Abdulaziz's request. The project forms part of wider cultural initiatives in Saudi Arabia, where recent years have seen the reopening of cinemas, the lifting of restrictions on women driving, and the welcoming of non-Muslim tourists.
Beyond the anthem, according to The Guardian, discussions with Zimmer included a Saudi-inspired musical called Arabia, a major concert, and the soundtrack for upcoming film The Battle of Yarmuk, according to Alalshikh.
The kingdom's cultural expansion accompanies broader economic diversification efforts, including the US$500 billion NEOM desert city project.
Alalshikh has spearheaded various cultural and sporting initiatives, including international boxing events and concerts featuring foreign artists, as Saudi Arabia seeks to reshape its global image while remaining the world's largest oil exporter and custodian of Islam's holiest sites.