Mohammed Assaf returned to the capital on Monday for a special Eid performance at the Fairmont Bab Al Bahr.
A more distinctive affair than last autumn’s outing in front of 20,000 people as part of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix after-concert, the small hall provided a rare chance to glimpse the 25-year-old in more intimate surroundings.
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More on our exclusive chat with Mohammed Assaf
■ Arab Idol winner on his upcoming biopic: 'I cried'
■ Second album due out next month
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The tight room also necessitated a change to his backing band. The string section was ditched and – for Assaf the production was pared down to a seven-man crew compete with two backing vocalists.
Acknowledging the lush venue, Assaf took the stage in the outfit his fans prefer him in most: a classic black tuxedo, hair in a quiff, reminiscent of the classic Egyptian crooner Abdel Halim Hafez – or a member of any modern-day boy-band.
Keeping with the concert’s celebratory theme, Assaf was in definite crowd-pleasing mode, balancing his songs with vintage Arabic hits.
When it comes to the former, Ya Halali Ya Mali went down a storm. With the string section out of the way, the dabka-tastic track was all pounding percussion and passionate vocals.
The upcoming single Aywah Haghani, due out Sunday, also destined to be a hit – with the crowd singing along throughout.
Assaf also lent the same conviction to the covers. A former wedding singer, he clearly enjoyed performing the likes of Ya Bint El Sultan, by the Lebanese star Ragheb Alama, and the Palestinian nationalist anthem Ali Al Keffiyeh. The latter track, which he plays at every show, is becoming his anthem.
The standout moment, however, arrived when Assaf dialled the energy down towards the end of the show. He went into full balladeer mode with Hafez's enchanting Zay El Hawa. It was another reminder of Assaf's confidence on stage – and a career that shows no sign of slowing down.
sasaeed@thenational.ae
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The bio
Studied up to grade 12 in Vatanappally, a village in India’s southern Thrissur district
Was a middle distance state athletics champion in school
Enjoys driving to Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah with family
His dream is to continue working as a social worker and help people
Has seven diaries in which he has jotted down notes about his work and money he earned
Keeps the diaries in his car to remember his journey in the Emirates
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
MATCH INFO
What: 2006 World Cup quarter-final
When: July 1
Where: Gelsenkirchen Stadium, Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Result:
England 0 Portugal 0
(Portugal win 3-1 on penalties)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
THE LIGHT
Director: Tom Tykwer
Starring: Tala Al Deen, Nicolette Krebitz, Lars Eidinger
Rating: 3/5
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.
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
Cadillac XT6 2020 Premium Luxury
Engine: 3.6L V-6
Transmission: nine-speed automatic
Power: 310hp
Torque: 367Nm
Price: Dh280,000
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 240hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 390Nm at 3,000rpm
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Price: from Dh122,745
On sale: now
French business
France has organised a delegation of leading businesses to travel to Syria. The group was led by French shipping giant CMA CGM, which struck a 30-year contract in May with the Syrian government to develop and run Latakia port. Also present were water and waste management company Suez, defence multinational Thales, and Ellipse Group, which is currently looking into rehabilitating Syrian hospitals.
Florida: The critical Sunshine State
Though mostly conservative, Florida is usually always “close” in presidential elections. In most elections, the candidate that wins the Sunshine State almost always wins the election, as evidenced in 2016 when Trump took Florida, a state which has not had a democratic governor since 1991.
Joe Biden’s campaign has spent $100 million there to turn things around, understandable given the state’s crucial 29 electoral votes.
In 2016, Mr Trump’s democratic rival Hillary Clinton paid frequent visits to Florida though analysts concluded that she failed to appeal towards middle-class voters, whom Barack Obama won over in the previous election.
Biography
Favourite Meal: Chicken Caesar salad
Hobbies: Travelling, going to the gym
Inspiration: Father, who was a captain in the UAE army
Favourite read: Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki and Sharon Lechter
Favourite film: The Founder, about the establishment of McDonald's
UAE tour of the Netherlands
UAE squad: Rohan Mustafa (captain), Shaiman Anwar, Ghulam Shabber, Mohammed Qasim, Rameez Shahzad, Mohammed Usman, Adnan Mufti, Chirag Suri, Ahmed Raza, Imran Haider, Mohammed Naveed, Amjad Javed, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed
Fixtures:
Monday, 1st 50-over match
Wednesday, 2nd 50-over match
Thursday, 3rd 50-over match
