Saudi female DJs break onto the music scene
1/5
Saudi DJ Leen Naif
26-year-old, Saudi DJ Leen Naif made a name for herself. She first showcased her talent at the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Jeddah, Expo 2020 in Dubai.
2/5
Important milestone
Her journey marks an important milestone for female DJs, an almost unthinkable phenomenon just a few years ago in the traditionally ultraconservative kingdom, is now a relatively common sight around the cities.
3/5
Expanding entertainment options
Naif and her peers embody two major reforms championed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler: new opportunities for women and expanding entertainment options notably music, which was once discouraged under Wahabism, a rigid Sunni version of Islam.
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4/5
DJ'ing a viable job
Naif was first introduced to electronic music as a teenager by one of her uncles, and she almost instantly started wondering whether DJ'ing was a viable job. While her friends dreamed of careers as doctors and teachers, she knew she didn't have the patience for the schooling those paths required.
5/5
Expo Dubai 2020
Naif has benefited from official attempts to trumpet Saudi Arabia's new entertainment-friendly image, which is often criticised by human rights groups as a distraction from abuses. Her nomination to play at the Saudi pavilion of Expo Dubai 2020 gave her an international audience for the first time.