Saudi Arabia Opera: Zarqa Al Yamama

Sun, 22 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Zarqa Al Yamama, Saudi Arabia’s first grand opera, marked a historic milestone in the Kingdom’s cultural development when it premiered in 2024. The production, based on a pre-Islamic Arabian legend, represents the most ambitious performing arts undertaking in Saudi history and signals the Kingdom’s commitment to developing a world-class cultural sector as part of Vision 2030’s quality of life programme.

The Production

Zarqa Al Yamama tells the story of a legendary figure from pre-Islamic Arabian folklore, a woman blessed with extraordinary vision who could see approaching enemies from great distances. The narrative, drawn from the rich oral traditions of the Arabian Peninsula, explores themes of prophecy, disbelief, conflict, and tragedy. The opera is sung in Arabic, making it one of the few grand operas composed in the Arabic language.

Performing-Arts on SAUDI VISION 2030 Intelligence Platform

Saudi Arabia Opera: Zarqa Al Yamama

The Production