After the remix release of Amr Diab's 1996 hit song Nour El Ein performed by American hip hop star French Montana, Lebanese pop singer Maya Diab and Lebanese Canadian R&B/pop singer Massari, the latter has announced a new duo in the making.
This time joining him is Lebanese star Ragheb Alama. The collaboration came about after the two performed Alama's 1980s hit song Ya Rayt at a private party last month in Beirut.
A new collaboration in the works
In an interview with The National, Alama said that something is definitely in the works with Massari, but that the details are yet to be finalised: "The project is definitely being envisioned, and once everything is clear to us we will reveal more details and say who will also be working with us."
However, Alama said that this would be different from the remake of Nour El Ein, despite the fact that the two share the same Godfather, Wassim Slaiby, better known as Tony Sal, a Lebanese-Canadian entrepreneur and music manager, who is also Anghami's head of international partnerships.
Alama doesn’t specify any timeline for the launch of the new song. “We can’t say at this point. Knowing that in this domain, time can’t be calculated and what seems to need a month, might eventually consume more than a year.”
There's no doubt that Alama is a fan of duets. This announcement comes only shortly after his collaboration with Nigerian singer, songwriter and actress Seyi Shay for Yalla Habibi which was released at the end of July. "The song found great success outside the Arabsphere," he said.
Ragheb is also releasing a new song called Reddeli Kelmati before the end of the year. "The new song is dramatic, and I might film the music clip in Athens, Greece."
This summer, Alama released a new hit song Elli Baana that reached 32 million hits shortly after it was posted on his channel.
Staying on top
When speaking about the state of the music industry today, the 56-year-old singer pointed out that it is currently ruled by chaos: "After all the success I have achieved, you can't imagine how hard it is today to release hit songs. It's like climbing a mountain. A new song should reach more dimensions than the one before, following a lot of hard work and determination, of course.
"With the dwindling of production companies, everything in this field changed from when I started my career – technology is way more advanced and production itself took a different structure. All these factors force singers and musicians to adapt to the evolving field to maintain their level and excel," he said.
No grooming for eldest son
Alama, who is a father of two, has denied speculation about prepping his older son Khaled to join the music industry, following a social media presence that has put his son in the spotlight.
“The entire concept doesn’t even cross his mind, but the images only mirror the fact that both my sons, Khaled and Louai are always next to me,” Alama said.
“I don’t deny that I wish that one of them would want to share the field with me, but it seems that the only way they are interested in the music domain is through giving me advice and opinions regarding every step I plan to take in my career. Let’s call them my consultants”.
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-finals, second leg:
Liverpool (0) v Barcelona (3), Tuesday, 11pm UAE
Game is on BeIN Sports
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
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Rain Management
Year started: 2017
Based: Bahrain
Employees: 100-120
Amount raised: $2.5m from BitMex Ventures and Blockwater. Another $6m raised from MEVP, Coinbase, Vision Ventures, CMT, Jimco and DIFC Fintech Fund
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
'My Son'
Director: Christian Carion
Starring: James McAvoy, Claire Foy, Tom Cullen, Gary Lewis
Rating: 2/5
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
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
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U18 Age Group
Name: Ahmed Salam (Malaga)
Position: Right Wing
Nationality: Jordanian
Name: Yahia Iraqi (Malaga)
Position: Left Wing
Nationality: Morocco
Name: Mohammed Bouherrafa (Almeria)
Position: Centre-Midfield
Nationality: French
Name: Mohammed Rajeh (Cadiz)
Position: Striker
Nationality: Jordanian
U16 Age Group
Name: Mehdi Elkhamlichi (Malaga)
Position: Lead Striker
Nationality: Morocco
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
RESULTS
1.45pm: Maiden Dh75,000 1,200m
Winner: Lady Parma, Richard Mullen (jockey), Satish Seemar (trainer).
2.15pm: Maiden Dh75,000 1,200m
Winner: Tabernas, Connor Beasley, Ahmed bin Harmash.
2.45pm: Handicap Dh95,000 1,200m
Winner: Night Castle, Connor Beasley, Satish Seemar.
3.15pm: Handicap Dh120,000 1,400m
Winner: Mystique Moon, Sam Hitchcott, Doug Watson.
3.45pm: Handicap Dh80,000 1,400m
Winner: Mutawakked, Szczepan Mazur, Musabah Al Muhairi.
4.15pm: Handicap Dh90,000 1,800m
Winner: Tafaakhor, Sandro Paiva, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
4.45pm: Handicap Dh80,000 1,950m
Winner: Cranesbill, Fabrice Veron, Erwan Charpy.
RESULT
RS Leipzig 3
Marcel Sabitzer 10', 21'
Emil Forsberg 87'
Tottenham 0
MATCH INFO
Cricket World Cup League Two
Oman, UAE, Namibia
Al Amerat, Muscat
Results
Oman beat UAE by five wickets
UAE beat Namibia by eight runs
Namibia beat Oman by 52 runs
UAE beat Namibia by eight wickets
UAE v Oman - abandoned
Oman v Namibia - abandoned
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
