Abu Dhabi
Sunday, August 19
Mona Amarcha and Melhim Zein
At: Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre
Who? Former contestant on MBC’s Noujoum El Arab competition and face of Mikyajy cosmetics, Moroccan Mona Amarcha has released three albums to date: Mojaba (2008), Sana Oula Hob (2009) and Yas Nas Daloni (2011).
The 24-year-old, who lives in Dubai, has a huge following in the GCC, so we predict that this concert will sell out pretty quickly. Expect to hear a selection of hit singles including Mojaba, Eshtaatelak, Wainak and Gawat Galb.
Sultan Al Muhairi from the Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority told us: "Mona has become a hit with Gulf audiences because of her ability to perform the Gulf dialect even though she says she only discovered Khaleeji music during the MBC competition - she has performed sell-out concerts in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Dubai and Bahrain and is now coming to the UAE capital to make our Eid, her Eid."
Sharing the stage with Amarcha on the night is a singer who also found fame after appearing on TV. LBC’s Superstar finalist Melhim Zein is now a well-known Lebanese singer, who has enjoyed great success with his four albums so far: Enti Msheeti (2004), Baddi Hebbek (2006), Aallawa (2008) and Melhem Zein 2012.
Al Muhairi added: "Melhem will complement Mona superbly and fans will get first hearings of songs from his new album."
Time: From 9pm
Tickets: Dh450, Dh650 and Dh850, available from Marina Mall, Abu Dhabi Mall and ADNEC’s Al Fanouse Ramadan Tent.
Monday, August 20
Karameesh Live!
At: Abu Dhabi National Theatre
Who? Live fun for the youngsters with a live showing of hit Jordanian TV children’s music show Karameesh.
Time: From 7pm
Tickets: Dh125, Dh225 and Dh325, from Marina Mall, as well as the National Theatre on the day of the show.
Najwa Karam and Mansour Zayed
At: Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre
Who? Heading to Abu Dhabi on Monday is Lebanese songstress, fashion icon and Rotana superstar Najwa Karam.
"Najwa’s appeal is huge, having sold over 50 million records worldwide, becoming the best-selling Middle Eastern artist for five years since 1999, plus having served as a judge on the hit TV show Arabs Got Talent, as well as having produced the Middle East’s first 3D music video," said Al Muhairi.
Supporting Karam is up-and-coming Emirati singer Mansour Zayed, whose first single, Ya Damei Aini, soared to success via YouTube. The 30-year-old is now signed to major record company Rotana.
Time: From 9pm
Tickets: Dh450, Dh650 and Dh850, from Marina Mall, Abu Dhabi Mall and ADNEC’s Al Fanouse Ramadan Tent.
Dubai
Second day of Eid (scheduled to fall on August 20)
Hussain Al Jasmi and Myriam Fares
At: Shaikh Rashid Hall, Dubai World Trade Centre
Who? This duo really needs no introduction. But in case you have been living on a desert island for the past decade, one is arguably the biggest singer to come out of the UAE, and the other is a Lebanese performer and businesswoman with a plethora of hit singles to her name.
Hussain Al Jasmi rose to prominence following the release of his first single Bawada’ak in 2002. Since then, the 33-year-old Emirati has gone on to sell thousands of singles and albums, and his song Bassbour Al Fourgakom has even become one of the tunes that play during the musical shows at The Dubai Fountain.
As for Myriam Fares, the 29-year-old has enjoyed huge success with her music. Some of her biggest hits to date include La Tes’alni, Nadini, Haklik Rahtak, and Eh Elli Behsal.
Time: From 9pm
Tickets: Dh150, Dh250 and Dh350, from ticketingco.com.
Third day of Eid (scheduled to fall on August 21)
Ahlam and Khalid Abdul Rahman
At: Shaikh Rashid Hall, Dubai World Trade Centre
Who? Emirati singer Ahlam is enjoying a resurgence in her career thanks to her appearance as a judge on MBC’s Arab Idol alongside Lebanese singer Ragheb Alama and Egyptian composer Hassan Al Shafei. The 42-year-old has ten albums to her name, including the Rotana-produced Al Thokol Sana’a (2006) and Hatha Ana (2009).
Khalid Abdul Rahman, meanwhile, has been in the business since the 1980s, so it is no surprise he has been compared to fellow Saudi Arabian legends Mohammad Abdou, Abdul Majid Abdullah and Rashed Al Majid. His hit songs include Ahat, Sarihini, Khuberooh and Tedhkar.
Time: From 9pm
Tickets: Dh150, Dh250 and Dh350, from ticketingco.com.
Wednesday, August 22
Rabeh Sakr
At: Al Habtoor Grand Beach Resort & Spa, Dubai
Who? Saudi Arabian star Rabeh Sakr has appeared on a grand total of 29 albums -- and that’s despite the fact he had retired from music for five years, before returning to the scene in the early 2000s. Understandably, the singer has a huge following in the Gulf, so despite the crazy ticket prices, you can expect the ballroom to be a full house.
Time: From 10pm
Tickets: From Dh1,000 per person, which includes dinner. Call 04-2828111.
Fourth day of Eid (scheduled to fall on August 22)
Kathem Al Saher and Diana Haddad
At: Shaikh Rashid Hall, Dubai World Trade Centre
Who? Another duo that really needs no introduction. Diana Haddad is one of the Middle East’s most influential female singers. The Lebanese star, who resides in Dubai and has Emirati citizenship, rose to fame in 1996 following the release of one of the top-selling Arabic singles of all time, Saken. Haddad is known for not limiting herself to a single style of music, and has released songs in many genres and dialects.
Meanwhile, confirmed as one of the judges set to appear on The Voice Middle East this fall, Iraqi superstar Kathem Al Saher has released a total of 22 albums, including Fi Medreset Al Hob, Ana Wa Laila, and La Tazeedeeh Lowa’a.
Time: From 9pm
Tickets: Dh150, Dh250 and Dh350, from ticketingco.com.
