Viu premieres Arabic Viu Original reality special, The Big Bang Birthday
Viu, PCCW's leading pan regional OTT video-streaming platform, unveils its latest Arabic reality Viu Original, The Big Bang Birthday. Following the success of last year's We Wed (???? ?????), the special is set to premiere on 23 June exclusively on Viu.
The show offers viewers a candid, culturally resonant portrait of friendship, self-expression and contemporary Arab identity in the UAE capital. It tracks four influential content creators as they plan a surprise birthday celebration for Hadeel Marei, an Egyptian digital creator known for her outspoken humour and expressive style which has helped her connect with audiences across the Arab world, including over two million Instagram followers.
Hadeel's friends include Amy Roko, a Saudi content creator known for her anonymity and social commentary; Dana Halabi, a Syrian Dubai based lifestyle influencer whose warm presence and interpersonal insight ground the group dynamic; Jara, Saudi Arabia's first female rapper, navigating the intersection of music and representation; and Yussra Youssif, a Sudanese beauty and fashion creator celebrated for her striking style. The group reveals their authentic selves throughout the party-planning process, as what begins as a casual weekend transforms into a rich exploration of connections, set against Abu Dhabi's vibrant urban landscape.
Filmed across key locations including Ferrari World, teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi, the Abu Dhabi Souk and Mangrove National Park, the programme weaves together moments of humour, tension and reflection. The narrative reaches its emotional peak when Hadeel receives her gift – an ultimate surprise that she did not see coming.
'The Big Bang Birthday exemplifies Viu's commitment to Arabic original productions and locally rooted storytelling that bridges entertainment and cultural insight,' said Samer Majzoub, General Manager of Viu MENA. 'The authentic emotion and relatable production style of this female-led production connect us to the cultural heartbeat of Saudi Arabia, UAE and the rest of the Arab region.'
Directed by Farah Alameh, a Lebanese independent filmmaker and lecturer at Lebanese University, the special combines a clear visual identity with narrative sensitivity. Her approach balances cinematic polish with documentary realism, allowing the cast's personalities and relationships to unfold with authenticity.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al Etihad
14 hours ago
- Al Etihad
Arts Centre at NYU Abu Dhabi announces diverse lineup including music, photography, theatre for its 11th season
26 June 2025 22:43 ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)The Arts Centre at NYU Abu Dhabi has announced an intriguing lineup for its 11th season. If you're fan of music, photography, and theatre, you won't want to miss out. Tickets are now available for the following performances: Faraj Suleiman On August 29, Faraj Suleiman plays his long-awaited debut UAE show at The Red Theater, NYU Abu Dhabi. The acclaimed Palestinian singer, pianist and composer will take the stage with a full band, delivering an engaging performance that moves between intricate, playful rhythms and deeply introspective moments. His music blends jazz, rock, classical and Arabic influences into a sound that is unmistakably his own. For this concert, he'll be performing selections from his albums, including his breakthrough album 'Better than Berlin,' and his latest release, 'Maryam.' Benji Reid On September 19-20 at The Red Theater, photography, choreography, and theatre meet to create striking and surreal images in 'Find your Eyes' by British artist Benji with the support of Dance Reflections by Van Cleef & Arpels, Find Your Eyes explores how we make sense of the world through our stories and our art. Drawing from the well of his life experiences, pioneer of hip-hop theatre turned award-winning photographer Reid mixes Afro-futurist imagery with hard-hitting tales from his life and adventures in an unexpected show. Rwanda – Sri Lanka Collaboration On September 26-27 at The Black Box, NYU Abu Dhabi, 'Dear Children, Sincerely...' explores the tragic post-colonial histories of Rwanda and Sri Lanka in a theatrical production performed by an eclectic ensemble from the Stages Theatre Group and Mashirika Performing Arts and Media by the Harshana Rambukwella, The Core Curriculum, and NYUAD LitCW Programme, 'Dear Children, Sincerely...' takes audiences back into colonial and post-colonial Rwanda and Sri Lanka, in a kaleidoscopic journey tracing the parallel histories of these two countries, set continents by acclaimed playwright Ruwanthie de Chickera, this production opened the very first Ubumuntu Arts Festival, created by Hope Azeda in Rwanda in 2015. Artists of both countries interviewed senior citizens born in the 1930s, who had experienced colonialism and transcended it. They then turned these interviews into stories.
Campaign ME
16 hours ago
- Campaign ME
Viu launches new Arabic reality special ‘The Big Bang Birthday'
Viu has premiered a new Arabic Viu Original reality special, The Big Bang Birthday, which began streaming on 23 June across the MENA region. The one-off special is the latest in Viu's ongoing investment in locally rooted content and follows the success of 2023's We Wed (ليلة العمر). Set and filmed in Abu Dhabi, the programme follows four prominent Arab influencers as they plan a surprise birthday celebration for digital creator Hadeel Marei. Known for her outspoken humour and expressive style, Marei has amassed over two million Instagram followers and a strong regional following across Egypt and the Gulf. The cast includes Saudi content creator Amy Roko, Syrian lifestyle influencer Dana Halabi, Saudi rapper Jara and Sudanese beauty creator Yussra Youssif. The show explores the group dynamic as they organise the celebration, offering viewers a candid look at female friendships and cultural identity through the lens of a weekend-long surprise. Shot across recognisable Abu Dhabi locations — including Ferrari World, teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi, the Mangrove National Park and the Abu Dhabi Souk — the show blends travel, lifestyle and unscripted reality formats. The special culminates in a final surprise moment revealed to Marei during the celebration. Directed by Lebanese filmmaker and university lecturer Farah Alameh, the production adopts a documentary-inspired visual style with cinematic elements. A private screening was held ahead of the launch at VOX Cinemas, Yas Mall. Samer Majzoub, General Manager of Viu MENA, said the project reflects the platform's commitment to Arabic-language productions and culturally relevant storytelling: 'The authentic emotion and relatable production style of this female-led special connect us to the cultural heartbeat of Saudi Arabia, the UAE and the wider region.' The Big Bang Birthday is now streaming exclusively on Viu.
Campaign ME
a day ago
- Campaign ME
Cannes Lions 2025 partners with Creator North to celebrates Arab content creators for the first time
In a milestone for global content creators representation, the 71st Cannes Lions festival has featured Arab digital content creators in its official programme since adding the content creators track. This milestone resulted from a strategic partnership between Cannes Lions and Creator North; the consultancy agency helping to facilitate the Arab creator economy's global ascent. This regional recognition; strategically facilitated by regional consultancy Creator North; showcases creators whose platforms, voices, and communities are authentically rooted in the Arab world, signaling a fundamental shift in recognising the region's narrative influence. During the festival, three pioneering voices claimed the spotlight in an independent capacity and featured, Ahmed El Ghandour (Egypt), the science communicator who engages 7.8 million YouTube followers; Ahmed Al Basheer (Iraq), the political satirist behind The Albasheer Show with 22.5 million followers globally; and Haifa Bsessio (Palestine), the empowerment-focused storyteller featured at the Forbes 30/50 Summit and Nobel Peace Prize concert. Their presence reflects the strategic rise of the creator economy, which now encompasses over 1.5 million creators generating $300 million annually in the GCC alone. Creator North champions Arab content creator representation As the region's first agency dedicated exclusively to creator strategy and brand partnerships, Creator North designs culturally intelligent opportunities where authentic voices drive measurable impact and regional sectoral growth. Commenting on the occasion, Waleed Laham, Founder and CEO of Creator North stated, 'What we witnessed at Cannes Lions was not a symbolic presence, but a defining moment that confirms Arab content creators are now partners in shaping the global creative economy – not just because of their wide reach, but through the intellectual and creative value they bring to the global stage.' During the Festival, the creators hosted two defining sessions with Ahmed El Ghandour engaging the 'Terrace Stage' audience with 'The Future of Friendship,' a timely exploration of human connection in our digital age. Simultaneously, Haifa Bsessio and Ahmed Al Basheer commanded the 'Creator Roof' stage with 'Stories That Survive: Creating Amid Crisis'; a resonant dialogue on transforming perspective into power through content born in challenging contexts. This landmark participation mirrors the Arab creator economy's impressive trajectory. Well established channels across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt now deliver consistent 15 per cent+ annual growth according to YouTube/Redseer, fueling a sector that is generating both GDP input and opportunity for creators and associated industries. This growth also reflects a fundamental shift in creators' role; once viewed primarily as cultural connectors, they've quickly become essential components of the macro-economy. Global audiences and brands no longer treat them as intermediaries but as primary partners and destinations for insight. Anchored by the UAE's advanced digital infrastructure, strategic investments, and progressive regulation, the country has cemented its status as a creative and global hub.
