Saudi Arabia’s national anthem is set to get a major upgrade. According to reports, Hans Zimmer, the legendary German composer, known for his iconic film scores, will be reimagining the Kingdom’s national anthem, Nashid Al-Mamlaka. The news was announced by HE Turki Alalshikh, Chairman of the Saudi General Entertainment Authority (GEA), on Sunday. The two met up ahead of Zimmer’s upcoming live performance at the Mohammed Abdo Arena as part of the Riyadh Season in the Kingdom’s capital city this weekend to discuss a series of collaborative projects, one of which will be creating a new version of the Saudi national anthem.
Known for his powerful scores that have shaped the soundscapes of major blockbusters like Inception, The Lion King, and Gladiator, Zimmer’s work has not only redefined genre expectations but also earned him multiple accolades, including Oscars, Grammys, and most recently, the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2025 Joy Awards in Riyadh. In addition to reimagining the national anthem, the 12-time Oscar nominee was also offered the chance to create the soundtrack for the forthcoming Saudi film, The Battle of Yarmouk.
In honor of this exciting news, we’ve decided to compile a list of the hardest Arabic national anthems from the Middle East and North Africa.
Palestine
A declaration of resilience and identity, Palestine’s national anthem Fida’i was written by Palestinian poet Said Al Muzayin, a.k.a. Fata Al Thawra, during his incarceration in an Israeli prison, and set to music by Egyptian composer and musician Ali Ismael. Embodying the Palestinian struggle for independence, the anthem was adopted in 1996. Special mention to Mawtini, an iconic Arabic song that has served as an unofficial anthem for Palestine— and was also the national anthem of Iraq from 2004 until 2017. The song was originally written by the Palestinian poet Ibrahim Touqan in 1934, with music composed by the Lebanese musician Mohammed Flayfel.
Algeria
The Algerian national anthem, Kassaman (We Pledge) was originally penned as a poem by activist and nationalist Moufdi Zakaria in 1955 from the confines of a colonial prison. Its verses were etched on the walls using his own blood and a stick. The powerful words became a battle cry against colonial oppression, embodying the spirit and resolve of the Algerian people during the War of Independence. Set to music by Egyptian composer Mohamed Fawzi in 1956, the anthem was officially adopted in 1963, shortly after Algeria gained independence. It remains a symbol of freedom and defiance—We especially love how it takes digs at France directly.
Saudi Arabia
Known as Aash Al Maleek or Nashid Al-Mamlaka, the Saudi national anthem was a musical piece gifted by the King Farooq when King Abdelaziz made a visit to Egypt— because Saudi Arabia did not have a national anthem like other neighboring countries, King Abdulaziz asked Egyptian composer Abd al-Raḥman al-Khatib to create a national anthem, and thus Aash Al Maleek was created. The piece only gained official lyrics in 1984, penned by Ibrahim Khafaji. Originally, it was purely instrumental. Saudis heard their anthem for the first time during the celebrations of Eid al-Fitr in 1984.
Mauritania (1960–2017)
The national anthem of Mauritania from 1960 to 2017, titled Bilada-l ubati-l hudati-l kiram, was adopted just after independence. The anthem, meaning “Country of the Proud, Guiding Noblemen” was composed by Polish composer Tolia Nikiprowetzky, with lyrics based on a late eighteenth-century poem by Baba Ould Cheikh. Sounding more like a score from Star Wars than a national anthem, its unique rhythm, known as “fatchou,” made it challenging to sing, leading to the common but incorrect belief that it lacked lyrics. In 2017, it was replaced following a national referendum.
Tunisia
The Tunisian national anthem, Humat al-Hima (Defenders of the Homeland), has a powerful backstory involving its writer, Egyptian poet Mustafa Sadiq Al-Rafi’i, who lost his hearing aged 30. But that didn’t stop him from penning one of the hardest national anthems of all time. Initially adopted temporarily as the national anthem from July 1957, replacing Salam al-Bey, it was in use until March 1958. However, following a coup that brought Zine El Abidine Ben Ali to power in November 1987, Humat al-Hima was reinstated as the national anthem.
Lebanon
The Lebanese national anthem was selected through a nationwide competition held in 1925, a few years after the establishment of Greater Lebanon under the French Mandate. The competition invited participants to submit entries that could capture the spirit and identity of the Cedar State. The winning lyrics were written by Rashid Nakhle, and the music was composed by French-trained artist Wadih Sabra, founder of the Conservatoire Libanais. The anthem, officially known as Koullouna lilouaṭaan lil oula lil alam, was officially adopted on July 12, 1927.
Also Read: From Beirut to Baalbek: 15 Songs That Pay Tribute to Lebanon
United Arab Emirates
Composed by the celebrated Egyptian composer Saad Abdel Wahab, Ishy Bilady (Long Live my Nation) was initially adopted without lyrics when the UAE was founded in 1971. The words to the UAE national anthem were added by Arif Al Sheikh Abdullah Al Hassan in 1986, fifteen years after the anthem was first adopted in its instrumental form. He wrote the lyrics for it in the space of three days. Abdel Wahab also composed the music for the national anthems of Tunisia and Libya.