The announcement of Fadel Shaker’s concert in Riyadh did not mark the end of the wait, but rather the beginning of a series of developments that kept his comeback in the spotlight. From the moment Turki Alalshikh, Chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, posted the Lebanese singer’s name alongside an hourglass emoji, through the official concert announcement, the sellout and the addition of a second night, and finally the documentation of his arrival in Riyadh and the warm welcome he received, Alalshikh appeared at the forefront of the key milestones in Shaker’s return.
On October 3, Turki Alalshikh posted the name “Fadel Shaker” on his X account alongside an hourglass emoji, without revealing the nature of the anticipated event or its date. The brief post opened the door to questions and speculation about the Lebanese singer’s return to live performances, particularly given that his name had been associated with years of absence from direct encounters with his audience.
Although the post did not contain an official announcement, Alalshikh’s decision to mention Shaker by name gave the anticipation a clear focus, before details of the project emerged the following day.
Fadel Shaker was quick to respond to the signal. He appeared in a video alongside his friend Wael Al-Saadi, addressing Alalshikh directly: “Good evening, Abu Nasser! Here we are, in Riyadh. My regards to you, big man.” When Al-Saadi asked him which song he would perform first for “Abu Nasser,” Shaker replied: “Whatever Abu Nasser wishes, my dear Abu Nasser.”
Alalshikh reposted the video on his Instagram account, writing: “A historic contract with a historic star, an authentic artist who holds a special place in the hearts of all Saudis.”
A post shared by TURKI ALALSHIKH تركي آل الشيخ (@turki)
On October 4, Alalshikh revealed details of the highly anticipated concert as part of Riyadh Season, announcing that Fadel Shaker would meet his fans on October 22 at the Abu Bakr Salem Stage.
In his announcement, he wrote: “Many have asked about him, and many have waited for his return.” The statement placed Shaker’s years of absence at the heart of the promotional campaign, presenting the concert as a response to the audience’s long wait rather than simply another date on the season’s calendar.
The choice of the title “The Return of the Absent One” aligned with this approach. The event draws on Shaker’s artistic legacy, built over many years, and on songs that remain alive in his fans’ memories, from “Ya Ghayeb” and “Ma’oul” to “Law Ala Albi.” The announced date also opened the door for the singer to return to performing before large audiences in Riyadh after a lengthy absence.
The excitement did not stop with the announcement. When tickets for the October 22 concert went on sale through the Webook platform on October 7, they sold out within minutes, according to the event organizers.
The next step followed swiftly: Alalshikh announced an additional night for Fadel Shaker on October 23 at the same Abu Bakr Salem Stage, in response to demand for the first concert.
This development also highlights the practical side of Alalshikh’s involvement in the event. Following the initial teaser and official announcement, the second concert was announced after tickets sold out, keeping the audience informed of every major development surrounding the eagerly awaited event.
A post shared by TURKI ALALSHIKH تركي آل الشيخ (@turki)
As the concert approached, updates continued to appear on Alalshikh’s social media accounts. On October 20, he posted a video documenting Fadel Shaker’s arrival in Riyadh, captioning it: “The great artist Fadel Shaker has arrived in Riyadh.”
He then shared a photograph of the singer in the Saudi capital, showing him standing in front of an image of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. He accompanied it with a red heart and the flags of Saudi Arabia and Lebanon, signaling a warm welcome for the Lebanese artist in the Kingdom.
Through this sequence of events, Alalshikh maintained a prominent presence at the key milestones in Shaker’s comeback, using his social media accounts to announce developments and share details with the public as they unfolded.
A post shared by TURKI ALALSHIKH تركي آل الشيخ (@turki)
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