Saudi Arabia seems determined to change its image in the world. In addition to the many projects they have launched there, the World Cup to be held in 2034, the Saudis also want to change the anthem. And for this they have found a very famous composer. It is Hans Zimmer, who has also won Oscar awards for his compositions. Among the films where his melodies are heard are The Lion King of 1994, the films Dune, Interstellar, Inception and the Batman trilogy, The Dark Knight. The chairman of the General Entertainment Authority, Turki Alalshikh, said that Zimmer has agreed in “broad terms” to the project.
“We’ve been talking a lot about future projects that we hope will see the light of day soon, including arranging the Saudi national anthem with different instruments,” Alalshikh said. According to him, Zimmer has also discussed a musical called Arabia, a very large concert, and a soundtrack for the Battle of Yarmouk, a film that will be made in the future.
As for Saudi Arabia’s national anthem, “Long Live the King,” it was written in 1947 by an Egyptian composer at the request of King Abdulaziz. The move comes as Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest oil exporter and home to Islam’s holiest sites, is pursuing its ambitions to rebuild itself as it seeks to diversify its economy away from crude. After reopening cinemas, allowing women to get driving licenses, and welcoming its first non-Muslim tourists in 2018, the shift has included large-scale projects such as resorts and NEOM, a futuristic $500 billion desert city.
