Lebanese singer Najwa Karam will perform in Dubai this weekend. Courtesy Al Ittihad
Lebanese singer Najwa Karam will perform in Dubai this weekend. Courtesy Al Ittihad
Lebanese singer Najwa Karam will perform in Dubai this weekend. Courtesy Al Ittihad
Lebanese singer Najwa Karam will perform in Dubai this weekend. Courtesy Al Ittihad

Najwa Karam’s new song pays flashy tribute to Beirut


Saeed Saeed
  • English
  • Arabic

Before it was even released, Najwa Karam's new song was trending on Twitter.

The Lebanese pop star caused a stir in the regional Twittersphere after shutting down a Beirut street earlier this month to shoot the video for upcoming single Ma'thur Qalbi.

Out on Friday, December 25, the colourful production is full of the modern and traditional twists that are signature in her music.

Fans and passers-by gathered in various Beirut locations, including Cairo Street in the Hamra district, to see Karam and her crew at work.

One location had her performing on a concert stage with her hair billowing from a nearby fan, in true pop diva fashion.

Fans also snapped images of Karam, dressed in a black shirt, red alligator trousers and boots, emerging from a red truck.

Powerful vehicles appear to be a key theme of the video. On a set visit, entertainment online series Et Bil Arabi showed footage of Karam singing in front of a cavalcade of powerful sports cars while hip-hop dancers engaged in slick choreography.

Despite these modern and flashy touches, the song itself boasts a traditional Lebanese folk arrangement, with thunderous percussion and a call and response vocal.

While Karam's stature affords her the option of shooting the music video overseas, director Waleed Nassif said it was the singer's intention to make the video in the heart of Beirut as a tribute to the city's resilience.

"Every time I work with Najwa it is a great challenge," he told ET Bil Arabi. "This was an important project considering how this year has been. This song is a moment of hope and happiness."

UAE fans will soon get a chance to hear Ma'thur Qalbi on stage with Karam scheduled to appear in concert at the Dubai World Trade Centre on Thursday, January 15.

Performing as part of the Dubai Shopping Festival, the show is part of a formidable double bill also featuring Iraqi singer Majid Al Mohandis.

Tickets cost from from Dh195 from www.dubai.platinumlist.net

The Greatest Royal Rumble card as it stands

The Greatest Royal Rumble card as it stands

50-man Royal Rumble - names entered so far include Braun Strowman, Daniel Bryan, Kurt Angle, Big Show, Kane, Chris Jericho, The New Day and Elias

Universal Championship Brock Lesnar (champion) v Roman Reigns in a steel cage match

WWE World Heavyweight ChampionshipAJ Styles (champion) v Shinsuke Nakamura

Intercontinental Championship Seth Rollins (champion) v The Miz v Finn Balor v Samoa Joe

United States Championship Jeff Hardy (champion) v Jinder Mahal

SmackDown Tag Team Championship The Bludgeon Brothers (champions) v The Usos

Raw Tag Team Championship (currently vacant) Cesaro and Sheamus v Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt

Casket match The Undertaker v Chris Jericho

Singles match John Cena v Triple H

Cruiserweight Championship Cedric Alexander v tba

if you go

The flights
Emirates flies to Delhi with fares starting from around Dh760 return, while Etihad fares cost about Dh783 return. From Delhi, there are connecting flights to Lucknow. 
Where to stay
It is advisable to stay in Lucknow and make a day trip to Kannauj. A stay at the Lebua Lucknow hotel, a traditional Lucknowi mansion, is recommended. Prices start from Dh300 per night (excluding taxes). 

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Hales' batting career

Tests 11; Runs 573; 100s 0; 50s 5; Avg 27.38; Best 94

ODIs 58; Runs 1,957; 100s 5; 50s 11; Avg 36.24; Best 171

T20s 52; Runs 1,456; 100s 1; 50s 7; Avg 31.65; Best 116 not out

White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogenChromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxideUltramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica contentOphiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on landOlivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour

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Normcore explained

Something of a fashion anomaly, normcore is essentially a celebration of the unremarkable. The term was first popularised by an article in New York magazine in 2014 and has been dubbed “ugly”, “bland’ and "anti-style" by fashion writers. It’s hallmarks are comfort, a lack of pretentiousness and neutrality – it is a trend for those who would rather not stand out from the crowd. For the most part, the style is unisex, favouring loose silhouettes, thrift-shop threads, baseball caps and boyish trainers. It is important to note that normcore is not synonymous with cheapness or low quality; there are high-fashion brands, including Parisian label Vetements, that specialise in this style. Embraced by fashion-forward street-style stars around the globe, it’s uptake in the UAE has been relatively slow.

Mobile phone packages comparison
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets

Profile of MoneyFellows

Founder: Ahmed Wadi

Launched: 2016

Employees: 76

Financing stage: Series A ($4 million)

Investors: Partech, Sawari Ventures, 500 Startups, Dubai Angel Investors, Phoenician Fund

COMPANY%20PROFILE
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6 UNDERGROUND

Director: Michael Bay

Stars: Ryan Reynolds, Adria Arjona, Dave Franco

2.5 / 5 stars

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. 

Essentials

The flights
Whether you trek after mountain gorillas in Rwanda, Uganda or the Congo, the most convenient international airport is in Rwanda’s capital city, Kigali. There are direct flights from Dubai a couple of days a week with RwandAir. Otherwise, an indirect route is available via Nairobi with Kenya Airways. Flydubai flies to Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo, via Entebbe in Uganda. Expect to pay from US$350 (Dh1,286) return, including taxes.
The tours
Superb ape-watching tours that take in all three gorilla countries mentioned above are run by Natural World Safaris. In September, the company will be operating a unique Ugandan ape safari guided by well-known primatologist Ben Garrod.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, local operator Kivu Travel can organise pretty much any kind of safari throughout the Virunga National Park and elsewhere in eastern Congo.

ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA

Starring: Nader Abd Alhay, Majd Eid, Ramzi Maqdisi

Directors: Tarzan and Arab Nasser

Rating: 4.5/5