Khaliji

Modern music that is characteristic of Central and Eastern Arabia and popular across the Arab world. It is characterized by heavy use of the oud (lute) and other string instruments such as the violin, the occasional use of bagpipes, and the inclusion of percussion instruments such as the mirwas (double-sided hand drum), tabla (twin hand drums), and duf (frame drum).

Khaliji incorporates elements of African, Indian, and Iranian music overlaying indigenous Arabian genres such as samri, liwa, and sawt. Kuwait pioneered the khaliji genre into its modern form and soon became the focal point of the industry. 1960s–    .