Faia Younan’s “sliding doors” moment came in 2015.
Back in Sweden after completing university in Scotland, the aspiring singer considered whether to remain in the Scandinavian country and strive to capture the attention of some of the world's leading western pop music producers, or travel to Beirut and try her luck amid the heavily competitive Arabic pop music industry.
The urgency was triggered by the regional success of To Our Countries.
Released on YouTube the year before, the song and its stark video has Younan singing a medley of patriotic Arab hits by classic artists ranging from Fairouz and Umm Kulthum to Asmahan. Her sister Rihan, meanwhile, provides a spoken-word monologue expressing concern regarding conflict in the Arab world.
The powerful video not only captured the anguish of Arab youth across the region, but also introduced us to Younan's soulful voice, channelling the spirits of such great Arab singers.
Fluent in Arabic and English and at ease with both western and Levant pop styles, Younan tells The National her decision to relocate to Beirut was down to a search for inspiration and identity.
"I moved to Sweden [from Syria] and I went on living in Europe for all these years. I always felt there was a part of me that was missing," she says. "I found that [part] in Beirut, particularly in the underground arts scene with all the great musician and poets.
“To find people that speak my language and get teary eyed when they hear the same songs was so powerful to me. In Beirut, what I have is what I was looking for."
An intimate vibe
That comfort and vitality will be exemplified in Younan’s upcoming concert on Wednesday, February 17, streamed live on the Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation’s YouTube page.
Pre-recorded before Lebanon's current restrictions on movement came into place, the intimate performance was shot in a Beirut apartment. Backed by a cracking band of local musicians, the show features tracks from both Younan's solo albums, Sea Between Us (2017) and the latest, Tales of the Heart, released in 2019.
While previous Cultural Foundation concerts had artists such as Palestine's Mohammed Assaf and Beninese singer Angelique Kidjo paring down song arrangements to accommodate the smaller bands owing to social distancing, Younan's set remains true to her sound.
Both albums are full of sparse tracks, occasionally embellished with ornate strings, the qanun and percussion. It's the way Younan likes it, as her songs are often story driven.
Tales of the Heart is a case in point. With lyrics contributed by various modern Arab poets, such as acclaimed Lebanese writer Mahdi Mansour, the songs are vignettes featuring Arab characters who struggle, love and pine for better days.
“While I did compose a number of the songs, I like the fact they are a series of stories with poets sharing different experiences,” she says. “By keeping my personal stories out of it, it helps give people some freedom to interpret the songs depending on how it moves them.”
It also generates a sense of community among Younan’s fans who continue to parse the various meanings of the songs online.
“That has really been beautiful and so heart-warming to see,” she says.
"Some songs, for example Ya Qatili and Ghanni, inspired a lot of conversation, some of which are about the lyrics and others about the message behind them. Ghanni, which means sing, had people messaging me to say how the song is helping them in this tough period."
That's biggest compliment of all, she says.
"The songs may all have different meanings and stories. But if you ask me, what links them all together is a sense of hope. That sense of positivity, or that there is light at the end of the tunnel, has always been part of my songs because this is what I believe."
The right move
That self-belief has worked wonders for her career. Younan has performed shows across the Gulf, as well as in France, Jordan, Egypt and Tunisia, over the past four years. Her biggest gig to date remains supporting John Legend in Dubai, at the Coca-Cola Arena last year.
That she achieved such feats in a relatively short time serves to affirm her decision to leave Sweden all those years ago. But does she wonder what could have happened if she had chosen the career of an English pop singer?
"I feel like I still would have a beautiful music career, singing some Arabic songs. But probably the sounds would have been more electronic," she says.
"I feel that everything I did in Beirut, from moving here to the albums I made, has given me a good foundation. What happened was meant to be."
Faia Younan’s concert will stream on Wednesday, February 17 from 9pm on the Cultural Foundation's YouTube channel.
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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
The%20specs
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How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
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MATCH INFO
Europa League final
Who: Marseille v Atletico Madrid
Where: Parc OL, Lyon, France
When: Wednesday, 10.45pm kick off (UAE)
TV: BeIN Sports
Profile
Company: Libra Project
Based: Masdar City, ADGM, London and Delaware
Launch year: 2017
Size: A team of 12 with six employed full-time
Sector: Renewable energy
Funding: $500,000 in Series A funding from family and friends in 2018. A Series B round looking to raise $1.5m is now live.
TOURNAMENT INFO
Women’s World Twenty20 Qualifier
Jul 3- 14, in the Netherlands
The top two teams will qualify to play at the World T20 in the West Indies in November
UAE squad
Humaira Tasneem (captain), Chamani Seneviratne, Subha Srinivasan, Neha Sharma, Kavisha Kumari, Judit Cleetus, Chaya Mughal, Roopa Nagraj, Heena Hotchandani, Namita D’Souza, Ishani Senevirathne, Esha Oza, Nisha Ali, Udeni Kuruppuarachchi
500 People from Gaza enter France
115 Special programme for artists
25 Evacuation of injured and sick
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Cryopreservation: A timeline
- Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
- Ovarian tissue surgically removed
- Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
- Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
- Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months
The specs
Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Company profile
Date started: January, 2014
Founders: Mike Dawson, Varuna Singh, and Benita Rowe
Based: Dubai
Sector: Education technology
Size: Five employees
Investment: $100,000 from the ExpoLive Innovation Grant programme in 2018 and an initial $30,000 pre-seed investment from the Turn8 Accelerator in 2014. Most of the projects are government funded.
Partners/incubators: Turn8 Accelerator; In5 Innovation Centre; Expo Live Innovation Impact Grant Programme; Dubai Future Accelerators; FHI 360; VSO and Consult and Coach for a Cause (C3)
COMPANY PROFILE
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
The bio
His favourite book - 1984 by George Orwell
His favourite quote - 'If you think education is expensive, try ignorance' by Derek Bok, Former President of Harvard
Favourite place to travel to - Peloponnese, Southern Greece
Favourite movie - The Last Emperor
Favourite personality from history - Alexander the Great
Role Model - My father, Yiannis Davos
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JERSEY INFO
Red Jersey
General Classification: worn daily, starting from Stage 2, by the leader of the General Classification by time.
Green Jersey
Points Classification: worn daily, starting from Stage 2, by the fastest sprinter, who has obtained the best positions in each stage and intermediate sprints.
White Jersey
Young Rider Classification: worn daily, starting from Stage 2, by the best young rider born after January 1, 1995 in the overall classification by time (U25).
Black Jersey
Intermediate Sprint Classification: worn daily, starting from Stage 2, by the rider who has gained the most Intermediate Sprint Points.
Key changes
Commission caps
For life insurance products with a savings component, Peter Hodgins of Clyde & Co said different caps apply to the saving and protection elements:
• For the saving component, a cap of 4.5 per cent of the annualised premium per year (which may not exceed 90 per cent of the annualised premium over the policy term).
• On the protection component, there is a cap of 10 per cent of the annualised premium per year (which may not exceed 160 per cent of the annualised premium over the policy term).
• Indemnity commission, the amount of commission that can be advanced to a product salesperson, can be 50 per cent of the annualised premium for the first year or 50 per cent of the total commissions on the policy calculated.
• The remaining commission after deduction of the indemnity commission is paid equally over the premium payment term.
• For pure protection products, which only offer a life insurance component, the maximum commission will be 10 per cent of the annualised premium multiplied by the length of the policy in years.
Disclosure
Customers must now be provided with a full illustration of the product they are buying to ensure they understand the potential returns on savings products as well as the effects of any charges. There is also a “free-look” period of 30 days, where insurers must provide a full refund if the buyer wishes to cancel the policy.
“The illustration should provide for at least two scenarios to illustrate the performance of the product,” said Mr Hodgins. “All illustrations are required to be signed by the customer.”
Another illustration must outline surrender charges to ensure they understand the costs of exiting a fixed-term product early.
Illustrations must also be kept updatedand insurers must provide information on the top five investment funds available annually, including at least five years' performance data.
“This may be segregated based on the risk appetite of the customer (in which case, the top five funds for each segment must be provided),” said Mr Hodgins.
Product providers must also disclose the ratio of protection benefit to savings benefits. If a protection benefit ratio is less than 10 per cent "the product must carry a warning stating that it has limited or no protection benefit" Mr Hodgins added.
Padmaavat
Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Starring: Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor, Jim Sarbh
3.5/5
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
