
Popular Arab media personality Subhy Otry passes away at 48
Subhy Otry, a popular Arab media personality passed away at the age of 48, due to a sudden heart attack.
Arabic media reports initially said that he had passed away Wednesday morning, however, a friend of Otry's later clarified he had died three days ago in Germany.
The Syrian broadcaster was popularly known for his entertainment programme called 'Trending', where he covered pop culture and celebrity news.
Otry also contributed to several other programmes across channels throughout his stellar career. These include Rotana, LBC, and DMTV.
Colleagues and fans mourned his death, with many remembering his charisma, professionalism, and dedication to his craft.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Web Release
13 hours ago
- Web Release
Emirati Artists Take the Stage at London's Kensington Palace
Emirati performers captivated audiences at Kensington Palace with a night of operatic music, presenting a vibrant showcase of UAE culture on a prestigious international stage. The event featured talented artists Fatima Al-Hashimi, Ahmed Al-Housani, and Ihab Darwish, who performed pieces in Arabic, Italian, and English. This concert was part of the Abu Dhabi Festival's Abroad program, held in partnership with the Peace and Prosperity Trust. The initiative aims to highlight Emirati cultural heritage through classical music while encouraging cross-cultural exchange. A Platform for Cultural Diplomacy Huda Alkhamis-Kanoo, founder of the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation, stressed the significance of such events in promoting cultural understanding. 'If we do not tell our story, someone else will. And they will get it wrong,' she said. Alkhamis-Kanoo described the showcase as more than a one-time event, but as an ongoing commitment to bringing Emirati talent to the world stage. She added, 'It's about creating understanding, building dialogue, and showing the world the strength of our cultural identity through music. We invest in the young, we partner with the world, and we build cultural legacies that last.' Blending Tradition with Innovation The evening featured the debut of Ihab Darwish's new composition, Ruins of Time, which fused orchestral sounds with traditional Arabic influences. Darwish remarked, 'Music is the fastest way to reach people. It creates peace, it creates understanding. Music removes boundaries. It creates a shared language, a dialogue of coexistence, peace, and tolerance.' Meanwhile, Fatima Al-Hashimi explained her approach to preserving Arab identity within classical music: 'Even while singing in Italian, I included Arabic lyrics to keep our signature present.' Ahmed Al-Housani reflected on the significance of the event, calling it a 'professional milestone' and emphasising, 'Performing here is more than a concert, it's a message. We're here to show the world the strength and beauty of our culture.'


Campaign ME
14 hours ago
- Campaign ME
L'Oréal Paris redefines ‘Sit Al Bait' in empowering Middle East campaign
L'Oréal Paris, in collaboration with FP7 McCann Dubai, McCann Paris, and Current Global MENAT, has launched a new campaign under its Women of Worth platform — rolling out across the Middle East. Rooted in cultural nuances of the region, the campaign builds on L'Oréal's long-standing commitment to women's empowerment — while challenging the language that continues to shape female identity in the region. The campaign's out-of-home presence debuted in Beirut, with upcoming rollouts in Riyadh, Dubai, and across the region. Further activations are planned to continue building on the long-term vision behind Sit Al Bait. The hero film features actress Yasmine Sabri and actress Aseel Omran, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with women across the region. As the narrative unfolds, we see them take to the streets, displaying the power of words that makes all the difference in the messaging – two missing Arabic letters 'al' that transform the meaning of the words 'sit bait' (housewife) into 'sit al bait' (woman of the house), rewriting the narrative, and restoring value to the unseen labor of millions of women. Commenting on the campaign, Christian Bou Khalil, Marketing Director MENA, L'Oréal Paris, said, 'Sit Al Bait is more than a cultural phrase, it is a statement that speaks to the very core of our brand's values: empowering women to define themselves on their own terms.' Christian Bou Khalil, added, 'We are proud to challenge narratives and elevate the evolving role of women in society as leaders, changemakers, and visionaries. It's a reminder that empowering women begins by recognizing the value they already hold—because they're worth it.' In a region where cultural expectations have long cast women primarily in the role of caregiver or housewife, this L'Oréal campaign is a timely reminder that women can be, and already are, so much more: leaders, visionaries, entrepreneurs and changemakers. They can be whatever they decide to be. A new study by L'Oréal Paris reveals that more than half (53 per cent) of men and women in the Middle East believe the term 'housewife/sit bait' does not entirely reflect the evolving role of women in 2025. Additionally, a series of focus groups further revealed a stronger emotional response to the 'Sit Al Bait' phrasing, with participants describing it as a 'badge of honour' and 'a way to finally feel seen'. 'My late mother raised me to ignore any label or name calling that shrinks us. Arab women run their lives and their homes with power and precision. Yet we're often pushed into the background and told to take pride.' said Manar Munjed Abdulla, Associate Creative Director at FP7 McCann. She added, 'With this campaign, I wanted to reclaim worth, and to help other women do the same. I knew the change would make some people proud and others uncomfortable. But it was necessary to break a cliché and rewrite our place in the world. Because no one else will do it for us.' CREDITS Client Marketing Director MENA Christian Bou Khalil SAPMENA CPD General Manager Adrien Koskas Global Brand President Delphine Viguier-Hovasse Deputy General Manager SAPMENA CPD Khalid Dugmag General ManagerSAPMENA Juliana Gómez H Senior Vice President Global Image & Content Olivier Monteil Deputy General Manager – Global Martin Crosnier International Marketing Director – South Asia Hub Chih-Ying Chang Hub Director – MENA Nadine Fouad International Project Manager – Emerging AME Hub Nay Sader General Manager Consumer Products Middle East Ahmed Wagih General Manager – GCC Elsa Kalaydijiane Brand Business Lead – GCC & Levant Sara Sakaya Brand Advocacy Manager Hiba El Assir Corporate Affairs & Engagement Director – Middle East Jihane Bachir Group PR & Advocacy Director, Corporate Affairs & Engagement Zeina Haddad Managing Director – Lebanon Emilie Wahab Head of Brands – Lebanon Christelle Khoury Creatives Regional Chief Creative Officer: Federico Fanti FP7 McCann Dubai Global Chief Creative Officer: Julien Calot McCann Paris Executive Creative Director: Nayaab Rais FP7 McCann Dubai Global Executive Creative Director: Rob Brown McCann Paris Creative Director: Eric Groza FP7 McCann Dubai Head of Arabic: Manar Munjed FP7 McCann Dubai Art Director: Anton Stolpovskii FP7 McCann Dubai PR Manager Roksar Kamal FP7McCann MENAT Copywriter: Daniel Zaldumbide FP7 McCann Dubai Associate Creative Director: Rob Hall FP7 McCann Dubai Creative Operations Director Cynthia Sarkis FP7 McCann Dubai Senior Creative Ops Coordinator Christina Abouzeid FP7 McCann Dubai Creative Excellence Manager Sofia Serrano FP7 McCann Dubai Senior Finalizer Rahim FP7 McCann Dubai Senior Finalizer Ahmed Nadeem Client Service Nima Askari General Manager FP7 McCann Dubai EVP Global Business Director Lisa Conway McCann Paris President / EVP Global Leader L'Oréal Charlotte Franceries McCann Paris Account Director: Dalia Hosny FP7 McCann Dubai Miral Saad FP7 McCann Dubai Account Manager: Freddy George FP7 McCann Dubai Account Executive Eman Sami FP7 McCann Dubai Account Director MCP Sabrina Rodreguiez McCann Paris International Account Manager: Shruti Namibar McCann Paris


Sharjah 24
15 hours ago
- Sharjah 24
Sharjah Institute for Heritage welcomes Maldives Ambassador
Strengthening cultural relations Dr Al Musallam stated: 'We were pleased to host the Ambassador of the Republic of Maldives at the Institute, which was a valuable opportunity to explore avenues of cooperation in the field of intangible cultural heritage and to exchange expertise in preserving and documenting oral traditions and folk tales. We also handed over the official invitation for the Maldives to be Guest of Honour at the 25th edition of the Sharjah International Narrator Forum, as a reflection of our deep appreciation for the rich Maldivian culture.' He continued: 'The Narrator Forum has become a global platform celebrating storytellers and memory keepers from various cultures. The Maldives' participation this year will bring fresh dimensions to the forum with legends and folktales drawn from the sea and islands—narratives that resonate deeply with our Gulf maritime heritage.' A Warm Maldivian response For his part, H.E. Mohamed Hussain Shareef expressed his deep appreciation for the invitation extended by the Sharjah Institute for Heritage and praised Dr Al Musallam's efforts in building bridges of cultural communication between peoples. He noted that the Maldives being chosen as Guest of Honour at the Forum represents a unique opportunity to present Maldivian heritage to both Arab and international audiences. He added that the Maldives possesses a rich trove of stories, legends, and oral traditions inspired by its island and marine environment, making its forthcoming participation a meaningful contribution to the cultural landscape and a driver for cross-cultural dialogue. Cultural coordination ahead of "Narrator 25" During the visit, a short documentary was shown about Maldivian Heritage Week 2021. Both sides discussed potential cultural cooperation and the Maldives' anticipated role in the forum. Dr Al Musallam also presented a selection of the Institute's publications that spotlight Emirati and Gulf cultural heritage—particularly in the areas of oral storytelling and folk narratives—highlighting the cultural connection between the maritime traditions of the UAE and the Maldives. At the close of the meeting, the official invitation was formally delivered, naming the Maldives as the Guest of Honour for the 25th edition of the Sharjah International Narrator Forum. Tour of the institute His Excellency Dr Abdulaziz Al Musallam accompanied Ambassador Shareef on a tour of the Institute's facilities, showcasing specialised departments and permanent exhibitions such as the Storytelling Centre, the Arab Heritage Centre, the World Heritage Hall, the Reference Library and Archives, and the Manuscript Restoration Laboratory. During the visit, the Ambassador was introduced to the Institute's major initiatives and research projects focused on safeguarding intangible cultural heritage and documenting oral traditions. He expressed admiration for the Institute's institutional and methodical efforts to preserve collective memory. A Quarter century of storytelling Launched 25 years ago, the Sharjah International Narrator Forum began as a pioneering cultural initiative dedicated to storytellers, oral historians, and guardians of intangible heritage from around the world. Over a quarter of a century, the forum has established itself as an international platform celebrating folk narratives and preserving oral memory through scholarly sessions, heritage performances, and interactive programmes that blend authenticity with innovation. Organised annually by the Sharjah Institute for Heritage, the forum attracts a distinguished group of researchers, practitioners, and cultural institutions specialising in intangible heritage. Each edition features a new thematic focus and honours outstanding figures who have contributed to the preservation of folk narratives, making the forum a defining event on the Arab and international cultural calendar.