From upbeat international anthems to soulful ballads from local creators, Saudi Arabia's music scene has been buzzing with a diverse range of top hits this summer.
Music streaming platform, Spotify, has unveiled the most popular songs that have been dominating playlists across the Kingdom. The data has revealed a mix of international and local artist that have been topping the charts, showcasing the growing diversity and popularity of music listened to in Saudi Arabia.
If you don't have these beats on your playlist already, be sure to add Saudi Arabia's hottest summer tracks and discover the artists that have captured the hearts of listeners across the nation.
"Mahma Sar" by Abadi Al Johar, known as 'Ikhtabout el Oud'
The Saudi Arabian singer-songwriter has been popular in the Kingdom since his career took off in the late 1960s, and since then Ikhtabout el Oud has unveiled more than fifty albums. A master of the Oud, the musician's talents aren't limited to just playing, Al Johar has worked with a number of top Arab pop stars like Assala Nasri, Samira Said and Abbas Ibrahim.
This recently released song, "Mahma Sar" peaked at number 4 on the Top 50 Viral list for Saudi this summer.
Add "Mahma Sar" to your Spotify playlist
"Lammah" by Ayed
Born in Riyadh in 1995, Ayed has quickly gained popularity as his music blends traditional Arabic elements with modern influences, which result in the creation of a unique, refreshing and modern sound. Ayed's songs often explore themes of love, heartbreak, and personal growth, resonating with audiences of all ages.
Ayed's "Lammah" has been a major hit. With nearly 870,000 streams on Spotify and added to over 11,000 playlists, the song has taken the Middle East by storm. It topped the charts in Saudi Arabia, reaching number 2, and has also been popular in neighbouring Egypt and Kuwait.
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Add "Lammah" to your Spotify playlist
"Aybaah" by Saif Amer
Palestinian singer-songwriter Saif Amer blends traditional Arab melodies with contemporary jazz and Western elements. His poetic lyrics and distinctive falsetto voice set him apart in the music scene.
Although the song "Aybaah" was released in May 2023, the tune has had over 800,000 streams on Spotify. Spending 65 days in Saudi Arabia's Top Songs Chart, "Aybaah" has been a popular song of the summer across the GCC, with Iraq and Oman also being top streamers of Saif Amer's tune.
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Add "Aybaah" to your Spotify playlist
International Songs of the Summer
It is probably unsurprising that two specific English language songs (by American pop stars) have also hit the top spots as the most popular songs in Saudi this summer, as these tunes dominated music charts world wide.
It-Girl of the year when it comes to newcomers on the international music scene, Sabrina Carpenter looks like she is here to stay! The singer's catchy single, "Espresso", is a captivating pop track that showcases the star's vocal prowess. The lyrics of the fun pop song delve into themes of love, desire, and the intoxicating feeling of being drawn to someone. With more than 100,000,000 streams on Spotify, its unsurprising that this made the soundtrack of Saudi summer.
Add "Espresso" to your Spotify playlist
In comparison, Billie Eilish's "Birds of a Feather" is a softer and more atmospheric track, lending well to reminiscent Reels and TikToks cataloguing moments of the summer. This single shows us a lighter side to Eilish's signature dark pop style, but the evocative vocals and lyrics continue to resonate with fans, and have only further solidified the young American's position as a leading name in pop music right now. This tune has had more than 100,000,000 streams across the world on Spotify, and Billie even performed this single as part of the closing ceremony for the Olympics 2024 in Paris.
