French President Emmanuel Macron had dinner with revered Lebanese singer Fairouz on Monday evening, in what was his first planned meeting upon arrival in Lebanon and a decision that many perceived as a snub to Lebanon's much-criticised political elite after the Beirut disaster.
The French leader, who visited the Lebanese capital following a major explosion on August 4 that killed at least 190 people, arrived on Monday at Rafik Hariri International Airport, where he was greeted by Lebanese President Michel Aoun.
His decision to meet a non-political public figure upon his arrival struck a chord with many Lebanese.
“I grew up to the sound of Fairouz's voice,” said Maya Mokaddem, a 52-year-old entrepreneur living in Beirut. “She is a symbol of Lebanese patriotism and strength.”
Mr Macron granted Fairouz the Legion of Honour, France’s highest order of merit for civilians or military personnel. The artist, who is rarely seen in public and hasn’t performed live in almost a decade, posted photographs of her meeting with Mr Macron on her official Twitter account. The images were widely shared on social media in Lebanon.
For Jana Al Ahmar, 30, Fairouz is Lebanon’s best ambassador to the world. The aid worker living in the Bekaa Valley said these images sent "a strong message to politicians: Fairouz's Lebanon is more beautiful than the reality they have created for us”.
The 84-year-old singer has come to be a symbol of resilience and unity for many Lebanese. She did not stop singing and performing during the country’s 15-year civil war. One of her most famous songs is titled “Li Beirut” (For Beirut). The song, released in 1984, is a call for peace at the height of the civil war.
“I still remember when I saw her live in 1988. It was like hearing an angel sing,” said Ms Mokaddem. “She unites us all, when politicians only succeeded in dividing us.”
Lebanon is home to 18 officially recognised sects. Political affiliations often follow sectarian lines, making it difficult for one party to obtain a majority in parliament and for the different groups in power to agree on a political consensus.
This is Mr Macron’s second visit to Beirut in a month. After the blast left thousands injured and 300,000 people homeless, the French leader met residents of the Beirut neighbourhood of Gemmayzeh, also widely perceived as a slight against the Lebanese elite before his meeting with Mr Aoun.
Four weeks after the incident, the cause of the fire that set off 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate at the Beirut port remains unknown. The flammable material is used to make both fertilisers and industrial explosives and was stored unsafely at the port for at least six years.
Protesters believed that negligence on the part of the political class is to blame for the explosion and the stalling of the investigation.
Many Lebanese are once again being forced to turn to the famous singer for solace in times of struggle after the explosion.
"I grew up during the civil war, and for as long as I can remember, Fairouz's voice was always there to console us," Ms Mokaddem said. "She was there for Lebanese in our happiest and darkest moments."
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ICC Women's T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier 2025, Thailand
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May 9, v Malaysia
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May 15, v Qatar
May 18 and 19, semi-finals
May 20, final
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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The specs
Engine: 5.0-litre supercharged V8
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Power: 575bhp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: Dh554,000
On sale: now
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Grand slam winners since July 2003
Who has won major titles since Wimbledon 2003 when Roger Federer won his first grand slam
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PROFILE OF SWVL
Started: April 2017
Founders: Mostafa Kandil, Ahmed Sabbah and Mahmoud Nouh
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport
Size: 450 employees
Investment: approximately $80 million
Investors include: Dubai’s Beco Capital, US’s Endeavor Catalyst, China’s MSA, Egypt’s Sawari Ventures, Sweden’s Vostok New Ventures, Property Finder CEO Michael Lahyani
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Learn more about Qasr Al Hosn
In 2013, The National's History Project went beyond the walls to see what life was like living in Abu Dhabi's fabled fort:
The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
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Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
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Hometown: Cologne, Germany
Family: Wife Hanan Ahmed and their three children, Marrah (23), Tibijan (19), Amon (13)
Favourite dessert: Umm Ali with dark camel milk chocolate flakes
Favourite hobby: Football
Breakfast routine: a tall glass of camel milk
The story of Edge
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, established Edge in 2019.
It brought together 25 state-owned and independent companies specialising in weapons systems, cyber protection and electronic warfare.
Edge has an annual revenue of $5 billion and employs more than 12,000 people.
Some of the companies include Nimr, a maker of armoured vehicles, Caracal, which manufactures guns and ammunitions company, Lahab
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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
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Company name: Blah
Started: 2018
Founder: Aliyah Al Abbar and Hend Al Marri
Based: Dubai
Industry: Technology and talent management
Initial investment: Dh20,000
Investors: Self-funded
Total customers: 40
