Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 19 April 2026 — Six weeks remain to submit a musical piece that will accompany visitors to AlUla and become part of their arrival experience. Arts AlUla and AlUla Music Hub are calling on Saudi citizens and residents to submit their entry to AlUla Music Competition before the opportunity closes on 31 May 2026.
Marking a unique initiative, AlUla Music Competition will see a newly composed original work embedded into a Musical Road. Rather than adapting existing recordings, the winning composition will be created specifically for AlUla, becoming a distinctive sonic expression of the destination’s spirit and identity. The winner will receive SAR 100,000 in exchange for the intellectual property rights of the winning composition, and the work will form part of a unique experience that resonates beyond the road itself.
The winning composition will be embedded into a specially designed Musical Road at the entrance of AlUla. This is not only a cultural installation — it is a moment where sound and landscape come together, forming a meaningful part of the arrival experience. As vehicles pass along the road, the music plays within the car, where art and engineering come together in a way that reflects AlUla’s distinct character. Over time, the composition is expected to become a distinctive element within the visitor experience in AlUla.
AlUla Music Competition, the flagship activation of AlUla Music Hub, is open to all Saudi citizens and residents. It is not limited to professional musicians, but extends to anyone with a melody worth sharing, regardless of background or experience.
The initiative aims to discover and support a new generation of musical talent across the Kingdom. Participants will have the opportunity to present their work to a distinguished judging panel and become part of AlUla Music Hub — a platform connecting Saudi creatives to the wider Arts AlUla ecosystem, including AlJadidah Arts District, where heritage and contemporary creativity meet. Shortlisted participants will be invited to AlUla for the final stage of judging, where the winning composition will be selected.
To be eligible, compositions must be original works of 30 to 60 seconds in length, inspired by the spirit and culture of AlUla and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Submissions should demonstrate originality and strength in composition, be supported by a recording or basic arrangement of suitable quality, and be technically adaptable to the Musical Road format.
Following selection, the winner will enter a development phase, after which full intellectual property rights will be transferred to the Royal Commission for AlUla.
Commenting on the initiative, Hamad Alhomiedan, Director of Arts & Creative Industries at the Royal Commission for AlUla, said:
“What we are building in AlUla goes beyond cultural programming. We aim to create memorable experiences that stay with every visitor.
The Musical Road is part of the arrival experience, offering a new way to engage with the destination. By inviting Saudi citizens and residents to contribute to this initiative, we are placing the community at the centre of this experience. The winning composition will be experienced by visitors from around the world for years to come.”
AlUla Music Competition forms part of Arts AlUla’s broader commitment to supporting creativity, empowering local talent, and positioning AlUla as a leading global destination for arts and culture. As the flagship activation of AlUla Music Hub, it contributes to building a dynamic music ecosystem that connects Saudi creatives to international opportunities and strengthens the integration between Arts AlUla’s initiatives, including AlJadidah Arts District.
Through this initiative, AlUla continues to establish itself as a distinctive destination for art, design, and cultural experiences — where ancient heritage and contemporary creativity intersect.
The initiative also supports Vision 2030’s goals of growing the creative economy and delivering world-class cultural experiences, while inviting Saudi citizens and residents to contribute to a creative experience within AlUla.
