Spanish superstar Enrique Iglesias kicked off a three-day festival, the FIA Formula E weekend, with an outdoor concert in Ad Diriyah, Saudi Arabia.
The Hero singer wowed the crowd with song after song. R&B singer, songwriter and dancer Jason Derulo also displayed a power-packed performance, getting the audience to dance up a storm. “Saudi, whassup! This is a dream come true for me!” he told the crowd.
“Since we are in Saudi Arabia I want to do things a little different. My mother taught me to never visit empty handed, so my gift to Saudi Arabia is the debut performance of my new song.”
The Wiggle hit maker also added, “There is nothing more beautiful than a Saudi girl’s accent.”
Arab music star Amr Diab and American band Black Eyed Peas performed the following day (Friday). The festival will come to an end today with the Saudia Ad Diriyah Formula E Grand Prix motor race, followed by headline performances by One Republic and DJ/producer David Guetta.
Previously, singer Hiba Tawaji dazzled Riyadh in its first female-only music concert, as Saudi Arabia sought to ease social restrictions on women. Tawaji performed to a packed audience at the King Fahd Cultural Centre.
“I came especially from Jizan to watch this concert,” said Nafees Awad, a university student from the southern province, more than 950 kilometres (590 miles) from Riyadh. “We are so happy to watch such a concert! It’s the first time,” she added.
Saudis splurge billions of dollars annually to watch movie shows and visit amusement parks in the neighbouring tourist hubs of Bahrain and Dubai.
