A new Arabic podcast invites listeners inside the region’s most evil minds.
Available to stream on Deezer, Al Jareema examines some of the Arab world's most horrific crimes and the killers behind them.
From Jordanian couple Bilal Musa and Susan Ibrahim, who murdered 12 people between 1994 and 1998, to the deadly trail left by Egypt's infamous siblings Raya and Sakina in the early 1900s, the scripted series blends chilling reportage with interviews with psychologists' takes.
The bold true crime programme is the latest to be produced by Deezer's Mena team, who have their headquarters in Dubai Internet City. And Al Jareema is just the opening salvo of original content relating to the region, says chief executive Tarek Mounir.
"It is a big part of our content strategy," he tells The National. "But a lot of what we do and how we behave depends on what we read from the data we receive. What we are doing is testing and the feedback we are getting from the podcasts allows us to know how the content is perceived."
On the front line of that push is Deezer Mena’s head of content, Mark Abou Jaoude.
In addition to launching an Arabic podcast section, which includes non-original content such as music series Dum Dum Tak and the literary show One Thousand and One Nights, he says commissioned productions aim to fill the gaps missing in the Arabic podcast sphere.
An example of which, he says, is Saudi Today, launched last October and hosted by Saudi Arabian actress and rapper Amy Roko.
"There is not a lot of audio content that is really reflecting and talking about youth culture in Saudi Arabia," Jaoude says. "So we wanted to offer that. We wanted to show the innovation of Saudi and what's really happening there. And Amy Roko really embodies that young spirit and creativity found in the kingdom."
The home of Rotana
It is these kind of strategic moves that are defining Deezer Mena's entry into the region.
Celebrating its second anniversary last October, the French company launched in Mena after Anghami and Apple Music made their respective services available in 2012 and 2015. Spotify followed Deezer a month later.
To stand out among the pack, the platform focused on mixing exclusivity with regional engagement.
In a first-of-its-kind move, Deezer Mena shocked the Arab music industry in 2018 by signing an exclusive digital distribution deal with the Middle East's biggest record company Rotana Music, home to Emirati singer Hussain Al Jassmi, Iraqi crooner Kadim Al Sahir and Lebanese singer Elissa.
That move continues to bear fruit. In February, Deezer was the only place where you could hear Fedwat Oyounak, the hotly anticipated new album by Emirati pop star Ahlam.
However, not everyone was pleased by the deal.
Elissa reportedly decried the move after the label removed her catalogue from rival streaming platform Anghami (where she had racked up more than 500 million plays) in favour of Deezer.
Mounir, while not directly addressing Elissa’s case, says he doesn’t view the platform’s exclusive rights as inhibiting any artist's career.
He points out that listeners can access any Rotana artist's song through the platform's free tier, with some of the songs eventually becoming available on YouTube.
“While there is an advantage for Deezer having that content, our intention is not to ring-fence anything,” he says. “That is not really the spirit of the deal. We came to the region to be a local hero for artists.”
How can an artist stay afloat online
This is Abou Jaoude’s mandate.
Part of his role is not only to strike partnership deals with artists and brands, but to work with emerging artists to help them understand the digital music ecosystem.
As a DJ and recording artist himself, Abou Jaoude says streaming platforms offer plenty of opportunities to learn if you know how to use them.
“You can access a lot of great information about your work [as an artist] from a platform like ours, from where your songs are being heard to which parts of the track they like and when they skip. That information is really helpful when it comes to creating your sound,” he says.
“The challenge, however, is that there is a lot of competition. So to maintain your profile you need to produce new content. But with the right information, artists can produce better content because they get a better idea of what listeners want.”
As the company continues to make further inroads across the region, Abou Jaoude expects even more dynamic content, from music to podcasts, to emerge.
“It is really exciting,” he says.
“The amount of talent that is already in this region is really substantial. Our job is to not show it only for us who live here, but to those outside as well."
Essentials
The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct from the UAE to Delhi from about Dh950 return including taxes.
The hotels
Double rooms at Tijara Fort-Palace cost from 6,670 rupees (Dh377), including breakfast.
Doubles at Fort Bishangarh cost from 29,030 rupees (Dh1,641), including breakfast. Doubles at Narendra Bhawan cost from 15,360 rupees (Dh869). Doubles at Chanoud Garh cost from 19,840 rupees (Dh1,122), full board. Doubles at Fort Begu cost from 10,000 rupees (Dh565), including breakfast.
The tours
Amar Grover travelled with Wild Frontiers. A tailor-made, nine-day itinerary via New Delhi, with one night in Tijara and two nights in each of the remaining properties, including car/driver, costs from £1,445 (Dh6,968) per person.
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The Baghdad Clock
Shahad Al Rawi, Oneworld
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2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, (Leon banned).
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.6-litre turbo
Transmission: six-speed automatic
Power: 165hp
Torque: 240Nm
Price: From Dh89,000 (Enjoy), Dh99,900 (Innovation)
On sale: Now
A list of the animal rescue organisations in the UAE
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The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
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Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup – Sep 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE players with central contracts
Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Chirag Suri, Rameez Shahzad, Shaiman Anwar, Adnan Mufti, Mohammed Usman, Ghulam Shabbir, Ahmed Raza, Qadeer Ahmed, Amir Hayat, Mohammed Naveed and Imran Haider.
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Power: 110 horsepower
Torque: 147Nm
Price: From Dh59,700
On sale: now
Traits of Chinese zodiac animals
Tiger:independent, successful, volatile
Rat:witty, creative, charming
Ox:diligent, perseverent, conservative
Rabbit:gracious, considerate, sensitive
Dragon:prosperous, brave, rash
Snake:calm, thoughtful, stubborn
Horse:faithful, energetic, carefree
Sheep:easy-going, peacemaker, curious
Monkey:family-orientated, clever, playful
Rooster:honest, confident, pompous
Dog:loyal, kind, perfectionist
Boar:loving, tolerant, indulgent
RESULTS
4pm: Al Bastakiya Listed US$250,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
Winner: Yulong Warrior, Richard Mullen (jockey), Satish Seemar (trainer)
4.35pm: Mahab Al Shimaal Group 3 $200,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Jordan Sport, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass
5.10pm: Nad Al Sheba Conditions $200,000 (Turf) 1,200m
Winner: Jungle Cat, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
5.45pm: Burj Nahaar Group 3 $200,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Kimbear, Patrick Dobbs, Doug Watson
6.20pm: Jebel Hatta Group 1 $300,000 (T) 1,800m
Winner: Blair House, James Doyle, Charlie Appleby
6.55pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-3 Group 1 $400,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: North America, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
7.30pm: Dubai City of Gold Group 2 $250,000 (T) 2,410m
Winner: Hawkbill, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.
How to help
Call the hotline on 0502955999 or send "thenational" to the following numbers:
2289 - Dh10
2252 - Dh50
6025 - Dh20
6027 - Dh100
6026 - Dh200
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
Winners
Best Men's Player of the Year: Kylian Mbappe (PSG)
Maradona Award for Best Goal Scorer of the Year: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)
TikTok Fans’ Player of the Year: Robert Lewandowski
Top Goal Scorer of All Time: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
Best Women's Player of the Year: Alexia Putellas (Barcelona)
Best Men's Club of the Year: Chelsea
Best Women's Club of the Year: Barcelona
Best Defender of the Year: Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus/Italy)
Best Goalkeeper of the Year: Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG/Italy)
Best Coach of the Year: Roberto Mancini (Italy)
Best National Team of the Year: Italy
Best Agent of the Year: Federico Pastorello
Best Sporting Director of the Year: Txiki Begiristain (Manchester City)
Player Career Award: Ronaldinho
