The Arrival
The desert night came alive with the rhythm of change. Soundstorm 2024, the annual music festival in Riyadh, was not just another event on the global calendar; it was a declaration. Beneath the towering lights and colossal stages, a crowd of thousands danced with a freedom that would have been unimaginable only a decade ago.
As I stood among the throng, watching Eminem command the stage with a raw energy, spitting lyrics unfiltered and unapologetic, I couldn’t help but reflect on the journey Saudi Arabia has taken. This wasn’t just a concert; this was a symbol of a nation coming into its own.
A Vision in Action
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030 had always been ambitious. The economic diversification plan promised a cultural revolution alongside its fiscal reforms, and what I saw before me was the culmination of years of effort. Women in the audience waved glow sticks, their faces uncovered and lit with joy, while men and women mingled without fear of reprisal.
ASAP Rocky followed Eminem on the Saturday, taking the mic to deliver a blistering set filled with the kind of unvarnished language that was once taboo here. Yet, the crowd didn’t recoil; they roared louder, as if the explicit words themselves symbolized the liberation they had long yearned for.
“This is Saudi Arabia,” I thought, awed by the audacity of it all.
Liberalism Unleashed
For days, Soundstorm had been a haven for freedom. Artists from across the world shared stages and stories. DJs spun tracks until the early hours, their beats echoing across a Riyadh transformed into a global hub for music and culture. The festival wasn’t just a platform for entertainment; it was a showcase of the new Saudi spirit—bold, inclusive, and ready to embrace the world.
Walking through the festival grounds, I overheard conversations in English, French, Arabic, Igbo, Swahili, and Spanish. Visitors from all corners of the globe mingled, swapping stories of how they couldn’t believe this was Saudi Arabia.
But the most striking thing wasn’t the visitors—it was the Saudis themselves. Young men and women who had grown up under stricter societal norms were now leading this revolution, their confidence reflective of a leader who dared to push boundaries.
Winning the World’s Heart
The festival’s electric energy felt like a celebration of something bigger. Only days earlier, Saudi Arabia won the bid to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup. The announcement had been met with global debate, but here in Riyadh, the reaction was unequivocal. It was pride—pure and unrestrained.
“This is the Saudi Arabia I’ve always dreamed of,” a young man beside me said. His name was Khaled, a university student studying international relations. “MBS has shown us that we can hold on to our traditions while stepping into the modern world. We’re finally part of the global conversation.”
The Sound of Change
By the final night of Soundstorm, as fireworks lit up the sky and the last beats of the music faded, it was clear that this was about more than entertainment. This was about identity.
The festival was proof that Saudi Arabia could host the world—not just for a music festival or even a World Cup, but as a leader in global culture. The liberalism on display wasn’t reckless or disjointed; it was measured, intentional, and deeply symbolic of a leader who understood that a nation’s power lies in its ability to adapt.
As I left the festival grounds for the last time in 2024, Eminem’s words echoed in my mind: “Lose yourself in the music, the moment…” It struck me how fitting those words were for Saudi Arabia in 2024. A nation that had once been hesitant to embrace the future was now seizing its moment, rewriting its story on its own terms.
A New Chapter
In many ways, Soundstorm 2024 wasn’t just a festival. It was a metaphor. Saudi Arabia, under MBS’s leadership, had orchestrated its own soundstorm—a whirlwind of change sweeping through the desert, shaking off the dust of the past to reveal a vibrant, modern identity.
And as the world prepares to descend on Saudi soil for the FIFA World Cup in 2034, one thing is clear: this isn’t just a new chapter for Saudi Arabia. It’s the beginning of an entirely new book.
