Love songs, playful tunes and stirring odes to culture make up some of the most-streamed and viral Arabic songs of the year.
New stars emerged with refreshing voices while veteran artists proved they have a strong appeal decades on.
As a result of the Israel-Gaza war, this was also the year when a growing number of Palestinian artists showcased their rich culture even more prominently in the studio. Here are 11 songs, in no particular order, that have struck a chord this year.
1. Mahboul Ana by Lazaro
This is currently the highest-charting Arabic song on YouTube's Top 100 Music Videos Chart, surpassing entries by Coldplay and Bad Bunny. The breezy track by Moroccan singer Lazaro was arguably the song of the summer in Northern Africa. With nearly 200 million streams on YouTube, the bittersweet number about unrequited love marries anguished lyrics with percolating keyboards and regional percussion. The music video, in which Lazaro and his mates simply enjoy themselves in Marrakesh, only adds to the overall charm of Mahboul.
2. Ganeni by Elyanna
Palestinian-Chilean singer Elyanna has been going from strength to strength. Ganeni, taken from this year's debut album Woledto, fulfilled that promise with a bold Arabic pop sound enhanced by touches of electronica and RnB.
3. Koul Waad by Wael Jassar
Great ballads are timeless. In an era where popular Arabic hits often reflect fleeting trends, Lebanese crooner Jassar takes a nostalgic approach with this grand pop ballad. It’s not about the heady rush of new relationships but the enduring effort of sustaining love through patience and dedication. Nearly 40 years into his career, Jassar still knows how to strike a powerful chord.
4. Haygely Mawgow3 by Tamer Ashour
Celebrating 20 years since his debut single, Ashour delivers the biggest hit of his career. While the song doesn’t stray far from his signature style, it showcases all his talents in a near-perfect ballad. Translated as He Will Come to Me in Pain, the track explores finding strength and resolve in the face of a disintegrating relationship.
5. 7arrir 3aqlak / Asli Ana by Zeyne
Released in November by the Palestinian artist, the song has rapidly gained popularity, amassing nearly half a million views within the first three days. The track begins with a spoken word piece highlighting the traditional thobe's significance in Palestinian identity, then transitions into a pulsating dabke (folk dance) number. An accompanying music video features scintillating choreography celebrating the enduring resilience of Palestinian identity.
6. Lammah by Ayed
Saudi singer Ayed is on a roll. Not only is he the most-streamed Arab artist in Saudi Arabia on Spotify, but his singles Lammah and Rdy claimed the third and fourth spots among the most-played songs on the platform in the kingdom. Lammah, meaning “glimpse” or “to allude", is a dramatic, string-laden Khaleeji ballad with lyrics exploring the fear of rejection in new love. After years of being seen as a promising talent, 2024 marked the year Ayed truly came into his own.
7. Habibi Leh by Tul8te
Another artist who had a big year, Tul8te announced himself with the distinctive single Habibi Leh. Trap hip-hop beats meet woozy keyboards as the Egyptian singer croons about a love that's gone by. Dreamy and original, the song reached second place on the Billboard Arab charts and landed Tul8te a headlining slot at the recent Sole DXB festival.
8. A'ish Balak by Yara Mustafa
Jordanian singer and actress Yara Mustafa didn’t have to be topping the charts to make an impression. Her track, translated as I Live Without You, soundtracked one of the most-watched programmes in the region this year instead. Viewers of Netflix’s matchmaking series Love is Blind, Habibi would immediately recognise its opening piano notes as they accompanied key moments from each episode. The subject matter is apt, too, as it’s sung from the perspective of someone hoping their affection is reciprocated.
9. Sabra by Al Shami
Another massive release by Al Shami, Sabran has already amassed 160 million streams since its February release. Infusing Levant balladry with modern electronic touches such as washed-out keyboards and burbling percussion, Sabran is a fresh take on a familiar sound.
10. Deira by Saint Levant
The title track of his remarkable album, Deira, rides on an evocative sea of violins in an affectionate ode to Palestinian culture and heritage. The inclusion of teenage rapper MC Abdul – who gained recognition for his poignant songs about Gaza’s plight – adds an extra layer of pathos, as he highlights the resilience of Palestinian youth living under constant bombardment. Affecting and uplifting, Deira solidifies Saint Levant’s status as an important Arab artist to watch, a promise further underscored by his standout performance at this year’s Coachella festival.
11. Kit Kati by Eisa Abdulla
Back with a new look and sound, the Emirati singer will chalk this year up as a successful comeback. In his first single in 13 years, Kit Kati, Abdulla jettisons the slower Khaleeji ballads of the past for a more dynamic and youthful sound. A play on the name of the popular chocolate, the zippy beats and conversational lyrics have made it a regional TikTok favourite, introducing Abdulla to a new generation of fans.
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
TRAP
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue
Director: M Night Shyamalan
Rating: 3/5
Schedule:
Friday, January 12: Six fourball matches
Saturday, January 13: Six foursome (alternate shot) matches
Sunday, January 14: 12 singles
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Scorebox
Dubai Hurricanes 31 Dubai Sports City Eagles 22
Hurricanes
Tries: Finck, Powell, Jordan, Roderick, Heathcote
Cons: Tredray 2, Powell
Eagles
Tries: O’Driscoll 2, Ives
Cons: Carey 2
Pens: Carey
Brief scores:
England: 290 & 346
Sri Lanka: 336 & 243
more from Janine di Giovanni
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Score
Third Test, Day 2
New Zealand 274
Pakistan 139-3 (61 ov)
Pakistan trail by 135 runs with 7 wickets remaining in the innings
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dual%20synchronous%20electric%20motors%20%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E646hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E830Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ETwo-speed%20auto%20(rear%20axle)%3B%20single-speed%20auto%20(front)%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh552%2C311%3B%20Dh660%2C408%20(as%20tested)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Enow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
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Washmen Profile
Date Started: May 2015
Founders: Rami Shaar and Jad Halaoui
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Laundry
Employees: 170
Funding: about $8m
Funders: Addventure, B&Y Partners, Clara Ventures, Cedar Mundi Partners, Henkel Ventures
TCL INFO
Teams:
Punjabi Legends Owners: Inzamam-ul-Haq and Intizar-ul-Haq; Key player: Misbah-ul-Haq
Pakhtoons Owners: Habib Khan and Tajuddin Khan; Key player: Shahid Afridi
Maratha Arabians Owners: Sohail Khan, Ali Tumbi, Parvez Khan; Key player: Virender Sehwag
Bangla Tigers Owners: Shirajuddin Alam, Yasin Choudhary, Neelesh Bhatnager, Anis and Rizwan Sajan; Key player: TBC
Colombo Lions Owners: Sri Lanka Cricket; Key player: TBC
Kerala Kings Owners: Hussain Adam Ali and Shafi Ul Mulk; Key player: Eoin Morgan
Venue Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Format 10 overs per side, matches last for 90 minutes
When December 14-17
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
Read more about the coronavirus
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
How to help
Donate towards food and a flight by transferring money to this registered charity's account.
Account name: Dar Al Ber Society
Account Number: 11 530 734
IBAN: AE 9805 000 000 000 11 530 734
Bank Name: Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank
To ensure that your contribution reaches these people, please send the copy of deposit/transfer receipt to: juhi.khan@daralber.ae
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Fireball
Moscow claimed it hit the largest military fuel storage facility in Ukraine, triggering a huge fireball at the site.
A plume of black smoke rose from a fuel storage facility in the village of Kalynivka outside Kyiv on Friday after Russia said it had destroyed the military site with Kalibr cruise missiles.
"On the evening of March 24, Kalibr high-precision sea-based cruise missiles attacked a fuel base in the village of Kalynivka near Kyiv," the Russian defence ministry said in a statement.
Ukraine confirmed the strike, saying the village some 40 kilometres south-west of Kyiv was targeted.
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Qyubic
Started: October 2023
Founder: Namrata Raina
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Current number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Anghami
Started: December 2011
Co-founders: Elie Habib, Eddy Maroun
Based: Beirut and Dubai
Sector: Entertainment
Size: 85 employees
Stage: Series C
Investors: MEVP, du, Mobily, MBC, Samena Capital
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.0-litre, twin-turbocharged W12
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 626bhp
Torque: 900Nm
Price: Dh1,050,000
On sale: now
The drill
Recharge as needed, says Mat Dryden: “We try to make it a rule that every two to three months, even if it’s for four days, we get away, get some time together, recharge, refresh.” The couple take an hour a day to check into their businesses and that’s it.
Stick to the schedule, says Mike Addo: “We have an entire wall known as ‘The Lab,’ covered with colour-coded Post-it notes dedicated to our joint weekly planner, content board, marketing strategy, trends, ideas and upcoming meetings.”
Be a team, suggests Addo: “When training together, you have to trust in each other’s abilities. Otherwise working out together very quickly becomes one person training the other.”
Pull your weight, says Thuymi Do: “To do what we do, there definitely can be no lazy member of the team.”
