Arab stars are increasingly under the global spotlight by bagging Baftas, serving on the jury at the Cannes Film Festival or joining the DC Universe. With 2025 set to bring even more opportunities, here are the names destined for more amazing things.
Ramy Youssef
Egyptian-American Ramy Youssef is a stand-up comedian, actor, screenwriter and director. He shot to fame by portraying Ramy Hassan in the comedy series Ramy, earning him a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor and a Peabody Award in 2020. While known for his low-key style – and beanie hats – he's also no stranger to a designer suit, as demonstrated at last year's Emmy's, where he donned a Giorgio Armani tuxedo.
Amir El-Masry
Amir El-Masry is an Egyptian-British actor who picked up a Scottish Bafta for his role in the 2020 film Limbo, which also earned him a nomination for a British Independent Film Award. In 2020, he was named a Bafta Breakthrough Brit, as well as the 2021 Screen International Star of Tomorrow. Recently spotted at the Red Sea International Film Festival in Jeddah, he looked slick in a tuxedo.
Dhafer L'Abidine
Dhafer L'Abidine has already lived several lives. A former professional football player in his native Tunisia, he relocated to the UK at 22 to pursue acting. Now, he is known as an actor, director, screenwriter and producer. Recently, he was seen at the closing ceremony for the Red Sea International Film Festival wearing an all-black outfit, down to the shirt.
Yasmine Sabri
Egyptian actress and model Yasmine Sabri broke boundaries as the first Middle Eastern woman to star in a Cartier campaign, becoming one of the faces of Panthere de Cartier. In 2019, Sabri was named Ambassador of African Women during the Arab African Conference on Women's Empowerment. A fixture on the social scene, Sabri can be relied on to dial up the glam, as seen in this embellished ombre dress she wore at the Red Sea International Film Festival.
Salma Abu Deif
Egyptian actress and model Salma Abu Deif found fame in 2017 in two Ramadan series, La Totfe' Al Shams and Halawet EL Donia, followed by her first film role in the Egyptian movie Sheikh Jackson. In addition to acting, in 2022, she became a Middle Eastern face for the Italian house Valentino and signed to star in a global campaign for MAC Cosmetics. She recently won the Arab Actress of the Year at the International Arab Festivals Awards, where she collected her trophy wearing an Empire line gown by Lebanese designer Georges Hobeika.
Razane Jammal
Razane Jammal is a Lebanese-British actress who appeared in 2023's Arabic drama Al Thaman as Sara. She is also the first and only Arab to have joined the DC Universe, as she appeared in The Sandman as Lyta Hall in 2022. Jammal was awarded Best Actress in a Supporting Role at the Cairo Film Society for her role in Marwan Hamed's Kira & El Gin and starred alongside Liam Neeson in A Walk Among the Tombstones. Jammal is also an ambassador for Dior in the Middle East and was recently a guest at Elie Saab's 45th-anniversary party in Saudi Arabia, 1001 Seasons of Elie Saab.
Sarah Taibah
Sarah Taibah from Saudi Arabia is the creator, writer and lead of the dark comedy series Jameel Jiddan and also wrote and starred in the series Nemra Etnen. In addition to being a filmmaker, Taibah is also an artist. She recently appeared at the Red Sea International Film Festival, which was held in her home city of Jeddah, wearing an on-trend leopard print fluid halter-neck dress and stole.
Firas Abou Fakher
Firas Abou Fakher from Lebanon won a Bafta last year for his soundtrack for the documentary The Shamima Begum Story and collected his award wearing a bespoke suit by Zaid Farouki. Before that, Fakher was part of the successful band Mashrou' Leila.
Sara Obeidat
Producer Sara Obeidat is behind programmes such as Pandemic 2020 (2020), The Other War (2022) and The Shamima Begum Story (2023). Like Fakher, Obeidat won a Bafta for her contribution to the documentary.
Nadine Labaki
Lebanese actress and director Nadine Labaki found fame with her debut film Caramel, which was released in 2007. Last year, she was invited to be a jury member at the Cannes Film Festival alongside Greta Gerwig, Eva Green and Lily Gladstone. Among the more eye-catching outfits she wore at the festival was a high-necked dress by Jean Louis Sabaji, with chunky rectangular beads around the neck and cuffs.
Mohammed Faisal Mostafa
Emirati actor Mohammed Faisal Mostafa starred alongside Idris Elba in the 2023 action thriller series Hijack, which is one of the most-watched shows on Apple TV+. He has also appeared in the film The Ambush (2021) and TV series Khattaf (2024). Mostafa is also a former athlete, yoga teacher and investor, and can easily hold his own next to Elba, looking effortless wearing a cream, double-breasted suit.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Lamsa
Founder: Badr Ward
Launched: 2014
Employees: 60
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: EdTech
Funding to date: $15 million
More on animal trafficking
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
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How to donate
Text the following numbers:
2289 - Dh10
6025 - Dh 20
2252 - Dh 50
2208 - Dh 100
6020 - Dh 200
*numbers work for both Etisalat and du
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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Spare
Profile
Company name: Spare
Started: March 2018
Co-founders: Dalal Alrayes and Saurabh Shah
Based: UAE
Sector: FinTech
Investment: Own savings. Going for first round of fund-raising in March 2019
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Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
The biog
Favourite Emirati dish: Fish machboos
Favourite spice: Cumin
Family: mother, three sisters, three brothers and a two-year-old daughter
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A timeline of the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language
- 2018: Formal work begins
- November 2021: First 17 volumes launched
- November 2022: Additional 19 volumes released
- October 2023: Another 31 volumes released
- November 2024: All 127 volumes completed
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Financial considerations before buying a property
Buyers should try to pay as much in cash as possible for a property, limiting the mortgage value to as little as they can afford. This means they not only pay less in interest but their monthly costs are also reduced. Ideally, the monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 20 per cent of the purchaser’s total household income, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.
“If it’s a rental property, plan for the property to have periods when it does not have a tenant. Ensure you have enough cash set aside to pay the mortgage and other costs during these periods, ideally at least six months,” she says.
Also, shop around for the best mortgage interest rate. Understand the terms and conditions, especially what happens after any introductory periods, Ms Glynn adds.
Using a good mortgage broker is worth the investment to obtain the best rate available for a buyer’s needs and circumstances. A good mortgage broker will help the buyer understand the terms and conditions of the mortgage and make the purchasing process efficient and easier.
Dubai World Cup Carnival card
6.30pm: UAE 1000 Guineas Trial Conditions (TB) US$100,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
7.05pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (Turf) 1,000m
7.40pm: Handicap (TB) $175,000 (D) 1,900m
8.15pm: Meydan Challenge Listed Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 1,400m
8.50pm: Dubai Stakes Group 3 (TB) $200,000 (D) 1,200m
9.25pm: Dubai Racing Club Classic Listed Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 2,410m
The National selections
6.30pm: Final Song
7.05pm: Pocket Dynamo
7.40pm: Dubai Icon
8.15pm: Dubai Legacy
8.50pm: Drafted
9.25pm: Lucius Tiberius
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Visit Abu Dhabi culinary team's top Emirati restaurants in Abu Dhabi
Yadoo’s House Restaurant & Cafe
For the karak and Yoodo's house platter with includes eggs, balaleet, khamir and chebab bread.
Golden Dallah
For the cappuccino, luqaimat and aseeda.
Al Mrzab Restaurant
For the shrimp murabian and Kuwaiti options including Kuwaiti machboos with kebab and spicy sauce.
Al Derwaza
For the fish hubul, regag bread, biryani and special seafood soup.
Cricket World Cup League 2
UAE squad
Rahul Chopra (captain), Aayan Afzal Khan, Ali Naseer, Aryansh Sharma, Basil Hameed, Dhruv Parashar, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Waseem, Omid Rahman, Rahul Bhatia, Tanish Suri, Vishnu Sukumaran, Vriitya Aravind
Fixtures
Friday, November 1 – Oman v UAE
Sunday, November 3 – UAE v Netherlands
Thursday, November 7 – UAE v Oman
Saturday, November 9 – Netherlands v UAE
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
