What Is al-Masahub?

Al-Masahub is one of the performing arts in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It can be described as a meter of Nabatean poetry, a traditional poetry form in Saudi Arabia. It is locally referred to as al-Jarr, where the expression often used is Jarr al-Masahub rather than singing al-Masahub. Al-Masahub poems express the culture of each region and its most popular traditional poems. Al-Masahub relies on traditional poetry recitation, often accompanied by the Rababah.

Al-Masahub art is an intangible heritage in the national cultural contests held by the Ministry of Culture in Saudi Arabia. In 2019, the ministry launched a competition, where various traditional arts compete.