Spotify Lists Top Khaleeji Tracks In Saudi Arabia, Gen Z's Nostalgic Surge

Spotify has revealed the most streamed Khaleeji artists and tracks in Saudi Arabia for the first half of 2024. Abdul Majeed Abdullah leads the list of top five Khaleeji artists, followed by Ayed, Rashed Al-Majed, Majid Almohandis, and Rabeh Saqer. The top five Khaleeji tracks include "Rdy" by Ayed, "Ya Ibn Al Awadim" by Abdul Majeed Abdullah, "Kel Ahebek" by Fouad Abdulwahed, "Tejene (2)" by Ayed, and "Kareh Nafsi" by Ayed.

The Khaleeji genre has a unique appeal in Saudi Arabia, resonating deeply with its audience through emotive lyrics that often resemble sung poetry. This genre connects profoundly with listeners, especially the youth, as it captures core emotions. Despite evolving in sound quality and production over time, Khaleeji music retains its timeless essence through powerful lyrics that evoke strong feelings.

Growing Popularity Among Younger Listeners

Spotify's data indicates that Khaleeji music has been the most streamed local genre in Saudi Arabia over the past six months. Notably, younger listeners are increasingly tuning into this genre. The 18-24 age group leads the streams at 44%, showcasing a growing interest among younger audiences.

Gen Z listeners have significantly contributed to the resurgence of older Khaleeji tracks on Spotify. Over the past five years, streams of nostalgic Khaleeji songs by Gen Z have surged by 5,500%, doubling in 2023 alone. In 2024, 46% of nostalgic Khaleeji track streams came from this age group.

Old is Gold: Gen Z Revives Nostalgic Khaleeji Tunes

Spotify's "Khaleeji Decades" playlists reveal the most listened-to Khaleeji tracks from the past four decades between January and June 2024. For the 80s, "Bala Mi'ad" by Khaled Abdul Rahman was most popular. The 90s favourite was "Bakaya Jorooh" by Khaled Abdul Rahman. From the 2000s, "Yama Hawelt" by Abdul Majeed Abdullah topped charts. The 2010s were led by "Men Methlek" by Abdul Majeed Abdullah, Ahmed Al Harmi, and Anwar Al Mushairi.

Spotify's curated library includes several decade-specific playlists like Khaleeji 80's, Khaleeji 90's, Khaleeji 00's, and Khaleeji 10's. These playlists capture evolving musical tastes and iconic sounds defining each era. Additionally, there are Arabic Classic playlists and those spanning Egyptian, Maghreb, and Levant music to cater to diverse preferences.

A Curated Library of Sounds Spanning Every Decade

"Khaleeji Essentials," a playlist featuring must-hear tracks defining the genre invites listeners to immerse themselves in the musical journey of the Khaleeji region. Designed for both long-time enthusiasts and new listeners alike, these curated playlists offer a comprehensive listening experience spanning the genre's rich history.

"Khaleeji music is timeless," said Rhea Chedid, Editorial Lead for MENA and South Asia at Spotify. "It's deeply rooted in Saudi culture and woven into our childhood memories." She added that they are thrilled to launch decade-specific playlists covering essentials to hits from various decades due to increasing interest in classic Khaleeji tracks among young listeners.

Chedid also mentioned: "Listeners can stream tunes from 'Tarab Khaleeji,' one of Saudi Arabia's most listened-to playlists." To suit contemporary tastes, Spotify offers playlists like 'Khaleeji Hits' and 'Khaleeji Jadeed,' along with various mood-based playlists ensuring that Khaleeji music accompanies listeners throughout their day.

The curated playlists provide an extensive collection of iconic sounds from different eras while catering to both nostalgic preferences and contemporary tastes.