HE Turki Alalshikh, Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority (GEA), affirmed during the Arab Music Conference held today (Saturday) in Riyadh that the idea of launching the conference came in response to the needs of the artistic and research landscapes across the Arab world. He emphasized the conference’s role in presenting studies that examine musical forms, document maqams and rhythms, and explore ways to develop them in line with the Kingdom’s efforts to support the arts. He called for the full documentation of Eastern vocal maqams within the next two years, expressing hope that this documentation would be expanded to include Eastern maqams in Iran, thereby enriching both Arab and Eastern musical heritage.
At the beginning of his speech, HE extended his highest gratitude and appreciation to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and to HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, for their unwavering support of the entertainment and cultural sectors, and for the Crown Prince’s exceptional interest in advancing knowledge and developing the artistic and cultural ecosystem in the Kingdom.
He also thanked His Highness Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, Minister of Culture, for his significant efforts in developing the cultural sector and for his continuous support of initiatives that enhance Saudi identity and open new avenues for creativity.
HE stressed the importance of full coordination and integration among all entities involved in musical work to ensure the documentation, filming, and recording of Eastern vocal maqams under a unified scientific methodology, while leveraging the advanced capabilities of “Merwas Studio” to support the project.
He pointed to the need to establish a dedicated institution for music education capable of accommodating academic needs and training future generations.
HE stated that the ultimate goal of this project is for its findings and outputs to reach every music institute in the world, thereby strengthening the global presence of Arab music and establishing it as part of international academic references.
Alalshikh highlighted the importance of Arab unity in this field, saying: “We stand as one. Riyadh and all Arab capitals are capitals of art,” affirming that collaboration is essential to the success of joint projects.
He also expressed his gratitude to “Artist of the Arabs” Mohammed Abdu, noting that 50% of the musicians in his accompanying orchestra are Saudis, a significant milestone that reflects the growth of Saudi talent in this field.
Alalshikh explained that the conference represents an important scientific step toward preserving Arab musical heritage and connecting generations by bringing together experts and researchers to enrich this broad field and strengthen collaborative academic efforts to document Arab musical identity.
HE conveyed his appreciation to all participants in the conference, which brings together specialists, researchers, and enthusiasts from across the Arab world, noting that their presence reflects a shared commitment to advancing this discipline and reinforcing scientific collaboration in the field of music.
He emphasized that the main objective of the conference is to produce practical outcomes that serve researchers, preserve Arab musical heritage, and open broader horizons for joint work among Arab nations, contributing to specialized studies and enhancing cooperation in documentation and musical development.
HE also pointed to the importance of integration among sectors within the Kingdom, clarifying that today’s efforts are not led by a single entity but rely on close cooperation among various institutions, ensuring that each sector complements the other to strengthen the quality and depth of outcomes. He noted that past experiences have proven that major projects can only be achieved through unified efforts and coordinated roles.
He added that the conference itself is a clear example of such integration, made possible through cooperation between the Ministry of Culture and GEA, an effort that opened wider horizons for shared scientific projects and enhanced the Kingdom’s regional and global presence in cultural and musical fields.
In conclusion, HE affirmed that he carefully listened to the recommendations and remarks submitted by committee heads from all participating countries, stressing that all recommendations will receive full attention and be thoroughly studied to achieve shared goals and support collective Arab efforts in musical documentation.
He further thanked all committees, researchers, and experts participating in this conference, expressing appreciation for their contributions to this important scientific endeavor and affirming his support for their efforts in the next phases.
After eight months of continuous work carried out by committees representing Arab countries in addition to Türkiye, the Arab Music Conference in Riyadh issued a comprehensive set of recommendations aimed at safeguarding, developing, and elevating Arab musical heritage and strengthening research and documentation efforts across the Arab world.
These recommendations were formulated under a unified musical vision that looks toward a more advanced future for maqams, rhythms, and Arab musical instruments, calling for cohesive scientific outputs that enhance the global presence of Arab music.
The recommendations underscored the importance of launching a comprehensive Arab project to document maqams, rhythms, and musical instruments through precise scientific methodologies, including notation, analysis, field surveys, and reference to historical sources — in addition to preserving oral heritage and re-recording both traditional and modern melodic models. This would establish a documented Arab reference point for future researchers and practitioners.
The conference stressed the need to establish modern digital ecosystems that include open electronic libraries, interactive educational platforms dedicated to maqams and rhythms, and mobile applications enabling easy access to written audio, and visual content. Recommendations also included recording traditional and contemporary musical works with high-quality audiovisual production to provide accurate and approved models for scholars and learners.
The conference also recommended launching a high-level Arab Academy for Musical Sciences and Arts — the first research and educational institution specialized in the study of Arab music, to develop academic curricula, strengthen research in maqams and rhythms, support young researchers, and connect Arab music with contemporary scientific standards while preserving its authentic identity.
In addition, the conference called for integrating Arab musical heritage, with all its schools and variations,  into educational curricula, including rhythms, tonal systems, and local instruments across schools, institutes, and training centers, helping new generations appreciate this rich heritage.
The recommendations also included launching an annual Arab competition for the best research or book in musical thought, honoring figures who contributed to Arab music and scholarship, encouraging the editing and authentication of musical manuscripts, and promoting studies of traditional musical forms, instruments, and performance methods.
The conference also urged the expansion of efforts to record rare musical works across the Arab world and the creation of a musical archive that includes historical recordings and endangered documentary material, ensuring its preservation and availability for researchers.
Furthermore, the recommendations highlighted the need for continuous review of documentation efforts to address gaps and improve scientific quality, while encouraging the exchange of expertise among Arab countries and ensuring sustained support for joint research and musical projects.
With these unified recommendations, the Arab Music Conference in Riyadh establishes a new outlook that treats Arab musical heritage as a sustainable scientific and cultural project rooted in accurate documentation, institutional development, education, research, and digital transformation, enabling Arab music to maintain its vitality and reclaim its pioneering position globally.
As the first comprehensive scientific gathering to merge Arab identity with academic methodology, the conference aims to build a unified Arab reference for maqams and rhythms and document musical arts through modern research frameworks that strengthen Arab music’s presence within an integrated scientific structure.
HE Turki Alalshikh chairs the conference, while the Higher Committee, led by musician Dr. Bassam bin Ghazi Al-Balushi, oversees organizational and scientific aspects, with the participation of leading Arab researchers and academics, along with committees representing every Arab country without exception, reflecting the inclusivity and wide research scope of the conference.
The conference is built upon an extensive research methodology that includes field visits aimed at gathering musical performances from their original community sources and documenting them through audio and notation within a unified musical archive, in addition to reviewing and updating historical terminology and concepts established during the 1932 Cairo Conference to align with contemporary research needs.
The Saudi committee plays a central role in this project by documenting local musical arts across the Kingdom. Its efforts have resulted in recording 14 Hijazi maqams and more than 160 Saudi rhythms collected directly from local performers, a milestone that reflects the richness and diversity of the Kingdom’s musical heritage and underscores the importance of preserving it through rigorous scientific documentation.