Moroccan-Canadian singer-songwriter Faouzia, 20, and American singer John Legend, 42, have dropped a new music video for the recently released single Minefields.
Featuring the musical duo playing a piano in a Californian field, surrounded by water and singing amid a glorious sunrise, the video was released on Faouzia's YouTube channel on Thursday. It clocked up 238,709 views in 17 hours.
Directed by Emmy-award winner Kyle Cogan, the two singers met in person for the first time during the shoot of the video, as the track has been recorded remotely. Faouzia said working with Legend was an "incredible experience".
The pair shot the video in two locations in California, first at Bonelli park in San Dimas, then at Big Sky Ranch in Simi Valley. Minefields was co-written by Faouzia with Sam Martin, Ali Tamposi, Johnny Goldstein and Jacob Kasher. The song is about navigating the trials and tribulations of a star-crossed love affair.
The powerful music video ends with a dedication to Ryan Brady, Atlantic Records' VP of marketing, who was killed in a car accident at age 34, in Los Angeles in December.
Who is Faouzia?
The talented singer counts the recently announced DJ Mag world number one DJ David Guetta as a fan.
Born in Casablanca before moving to Canada at the age of 5, Faouzia (full name Faouzia Ouihya) showcased her talent when she scooped the 2015 Song of the Year Award at the Canadian music competition La Chican Electrique.
Her rising clout caught the ears of Guetta, who enlisted her to perform on the song Battle for his 2018 album 7.
Since then, Faouzia has gone on to perform numerous club sets and recorded her debut EP, Stripped. Released in August, it contains piano ballad versions of previously released singles, including How it All Works Out and Bad Dreams.
In describing her talent, Guetta told French newspaper Le Matin that Faouzia has a voice of her own.
"It is very powerful and with a particular style," he said. "She also has a very special vibrato. It's great to be able to use the credibility I have in music to be able to showcase other people's talent."
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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
PROFILE OF HALAN
Started: November 2017
Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport and logistics
Size: 150 employees
Investment: approximately $8 million
Investors include: Singapore’s Battery Road Digital Holdings, Egypt’s Algebra Ventures, Uber co-founder and former CTO Oscar Salazar
Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
Three trading apps to try
Sharad Nair recommends three investment apps for UAE residents:
- For beginners or people who want to start investing with limited capital, Mr Nair suggests eToro. “The low fees and low minimum balance requirements make the platform more accessible,” he says. “The user interface is straightforward to understand and operate, while its social element may help ease beginners into the idea of investing money by looking to a virtual community.”
- If you’re an experienced investor, and have $10,000 or more to invest, consider Saxo Bank. “Saxo Bank offers a more comprehensive trading platform with advanced features and insight for more experienced users. It offers a more personalised approach to opening and operating an account on their platform,” he says.
- Finally, StashAway could work for those who want a hands-off approach to their investing. “It removes one of the biggest challenges for novice traders: picking the securities in their portfolio,” Mr Nair says. “A goal-based approach or view towards investing can help motivate residents who may usually shy away from investment platforms.”
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The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol
Power: 154bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option
Price: From Dh79,600
On sale: Now
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
THE TWIN BIO
Their favourite city: Dubai
Their favourite food: Khaleeji
Their favourite past-time : walking on the beach
Their favorite quote: ‘we rise by lifting others’ by Robert Ingersoll
German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
The specs
Engine: 2.9-litre, V6 twin-turbo
Transmission: seven-speed PDK dual clutch automatic
Power: 375bhp
Torque: 520Nm
Price: Dh332,800
On sale: now
