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The National
08-08-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
From Ziad Rahbani to Lotfy Labib, Arab celebrities and cultural figures who died in 2025
From a pioneering Emirati actress who helped lay the foundations of national television and theatre, to a Lebanese composer who soundtracked the social and political pulse of his homeland, the Arab cultural scene has been etched by significant loss in 2025. Spanning music, film, television, literature and visual arts, these artists not only shaped the creative landscape in their own country, but also brought Arab creativity to the global stage. 1. Mahmoud Saeed: January 28 The Iraqi novelist died, aged 87, in Chicago where he had lived since 1999 after fleeing Baghdad and spending several years in Dubai. An influential figure in the development of modern Iraqi literature, Saeed authored more than 20 novels, many of which were banned in Iraq for their portrayals of Saddam Hussein's repressive regime. His most well-known work is the 2004 English translation of the autobiographical novel Saddam City, based on his experiences in Iraqi prisons – a powerful reflection of the country's brutal history. 2. Mohammed Al Tawayan: January 31 The Saudi actor and playwright passed away at the age of 79. Renowned for blending deft social commentary into his theatre and television works, particularly in the series Awdat Asweed and Tabeeb Bil‑Misha'ab, Al-Tawayan is credited with raising the bar when it comes to domestic Saudi stories being told on stage and screen. 3. Maha Bayrakdar Al Khal: February 22 The Syrian‑Lebanese poet, visual artist, children's book author and TV presenter passed away at the age of 77, in Lebanon, reportedly after a long illness. Born in Damascus, she released poetry collections, illustrated children's stories, and curated arts and cultural events in Beirut. She was the wife of the late influential poet Yusuf al‑Khal, and mother to actors Ward and Youssef al-Khal. 4. Naima Samih: March 8 Hailed in her homeland as 'the Lady of tarab', the veteran Moroccan singer died in Rabat at the age of 72. A defining voice in Arab music since the 1970s, Samih rose to fame with hits such as Jrit Ou Jarit and Wagif Aala Babkom, and reportedly became the third Arab singer – after Egypt's Umm Kulthum and Lebanon's Fairuz – to perform at Paris's Olympia theatre in 1978. 5. Abdul Karim Al Orrayed: March 25 The Bahraini artist and gallerist died, aged 91, in Manama. A pioneer of his country's modern arts scene, he was a founding member of the Arts Amateurs Association and Bahrain Contemporary Arts Association. In 1960, he reportedly opened Bahrain's first private art gallery, showcasing his own abstract and landscape paintings inspired by the country's diverse environments. Behind the scenes, he was widely credited as a mentor to generations of Bahraini artists and a quiet force in advancing the kingdom's cultural life. 6. Inas Al Najjar: March 31 The Tunisian actress died in a Cairo hospital after developing sepsis caused by a ruptured gallbladder. She was 41. Best known for her debut in Mido Mashakel (2003) and her appearance in this year's Ramadan series El Halangy. 7. Subhy Otry: April 18 The Syrian television presenter and entertainment columnist died of a heart attack in Germany, aged 48. At ease both in the studio and on the red carpet, Otry was a leading anchor of the entertainment programmes ET Bil Arabi and Trending. 8. Suliman Eid: April 18 The Egyptian actor and comedian died in Cairo from a reported heart attack – aged 63. A graduate of Egypt's Higher Institute of Theatrical Arts, Eid appeared in more than 300 productions – films, television series and stage plays – earning a reputation as a seasoned character actor in hits such as El Nazer and Hammam in Amsterdam. 9. Fakhri Odeh: May 6 The Kuwaiti actor, who died aged 75, was revered for his work across theatre, radio, television and children's programming. Odeh brought warmth and gravitas to Gulf media – from dramas such as Al Alkdar and Darb Al Zalik to the children's show Salamtak – in a career spanning more than five decades. His range and enduring presence made him a fixture on the Gulf cultural scene. 10. Mohammed Lakhdar-Hamina: May 23 The influential Algerian director died in Algiers at the age of 91. His film Chronicle of the Years of Fire was the first – and remains the only – Arab and African film to win the Palme d'Or at the 1975 Cannes Film Festival. His body of work – including The Winds of the Aures and Sandstorm – cemented his status as a cinematic chronicler of postcolonial struggle and North African identity. 11. Samiha Ayoub: June 3 The legendary Egyptian actress died in Cairo aged 93, ending a celebrated six-decade career across stage, film, radio and television. Popular roles include the films Bein el-Atlal (1959) and El Resala (1976), as well as the television drama El Mesaya (2012). Ayoub has also been described as a mentor to younger generations of actors, including Hanan Motawie and Ahmed Helmy. 12. Hassouna Mosbahi: June 4 The Tunisian author and literary critic died, aged 75, in Tunis. His body of work – including the novels A Tunisian Tale and Solo in the Darkness, as well as essays for Arabic and German literary magazines – focused on the lives of North African political exiles, exploring themes of alienation and cultural dislocation. 13. Raziqa Al Taresh: July 4 The Emirati theatre and television pioneer died aged 71 following a prolonged battle with cancer. Starting her career as a child, she rose to prominence in the 1970s with the comedy Ish'hafan and went on to shape Emirati entertainment across decades. Her passing prompted tributes across the Gulf, acknowledging her foundational role in national television drama. 14. Ziad Rahbani: July 26 The Lebanese composer, playwright and political commentator died aged 69. The son of singer Fairuz and the late composer Assi Rahbani, he was widely regarded as one of the most distinctive creative voices to emerge from Lebanon in the past five decades. He rose to prominence during the Lebanese Civil War with a series of groundbreaking plays and musicals that blended jazz, classical Arabic music, and colloquial dialogue with biting political and social commentary. 15. Lotfy Labib: July 30 The Egyptian actor died in Cairo, aged 84. A familiar face in Egyptian cinema and television since the 1980s, Labib was celebrated for his versatility across drama and comedy. Trained at the Academy of Arts, he brought a steady presence to films such as Terrorism and Kebab (1992) and series like Ragel wa Set Sittat. He was also a respected stage performer and, in later years, became a mentor to younger actors, even as health issues limited his screen appearances.
The National
05-08-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
From Ziad Rahbani to Naima Samih: Arab celebrities who died in 2025
From a pioneering Emirati actress who helped lay the foundations of national television and theatre, to a Lebanese composer who soundtracked the social and political pulse of his homeland, the Arab cultural scene has been etched by significant loss in 2025. Spanning music, film, television, literature and visual arts, these 11 artists not only shaped the creative landscape in their own country, but also brought Arab creativity to the global stage. 1. Mohammed Al Tawayan: January 31 The Saudi actor and playwright passed away at the age of 79. Renowned for blending deft social commentary into his theatre and television works, particularly in the series Awdat Asweed and Tabeeb Bil‑Misha'ab, Al-Tawayan is credited with raising the bar when it comes to domestic Saudi stories being told on stage and screen. 2. Maha Bayrakdar Al Khal: February 22 The Syrian‑Lebanese poet, visual artist, children's book author and TV presenter passed away at the age of 77, in Lebanon, reportedly after a long illness. Born in Damascus, she released poetry collections, illustrated children's stories, and curated arts and cultural events in Beirut. She was the wife of the late influential poet Yusuf al‑Khal, and mother to actors Ward and Youssef al-Khal. 3. Naima Samih: March 8 Hailed in her homeland as 'the Lady of tarab', the veteran Moroccan singer died in Rabat at the age of 72. A defining voice in Arab music since the 1970s, Samih rose to fame with hits such as Jrit Ou Jarit and Wagif Aala Babkom, and reportedly became the third Arab singer – after Egypt's Umm Kulthum and Lebanon's Fairuz – to perform at Paris's Olympia theatre in 1978. 4. Inas Al Najjar: March 31 The Tunisian actress died in a Cairo hospital after developing sepsis caused by a ruptured gallbladder. She was 41. Best known for her debut in Mido Mashakel (2003) and her appearance in this year's Ramadan series El Halangy. 5. Subhy Otry: April 18 The Syrian television presenter and entertainment columnist died of a heart attack in Germany, aged 48. At ease both in the studio and on the red carpet, Otry was a leading anchor of the entertainment programmes ET Bil Arabi and Trending. 6. Suliman Eid: April 18 The Egyptian actor and comedian died in Cairo from a reported heart attack – aged 63. A graduate of Egypt's Higher Institute of Theatrical Arts, Eid appeared in more than 300 productions – films, television series and stage plays – earning a reputation as a seasoned character actor in hits such as El Nazer and Hammam in Amsterdam. 7. Fakhri Odeh: May 6 The Kuwaiti actor, who died aged 75, was revered for his work across theatre, radio, television and children's programming. Odeh brought warmth and gravitas to Gulf media – from dramas such as Al Alkdar and Darb Al Zalik to the children's show Salamtak – in a career spanning more than five decades. His range and enduring presence made him a fixture on the Gulf cultural scene. 8. Mohammed Lakhdar-Hamina: May 23 The influential Algerian director died in Algiers at the age of 91. His film Chronicle of the Years of Fire was the first – and remains the only – Arab and African film to win the Palme d'Or at the 1975 Cannes Film Festival. His body of work – including The Winds of the Aures and Sandstorm – cemented his status as a cinematic chronicler of postcolonial struggle and North African identity. 9. Samiha Ayoub: June 3 The legendary Egyptian actress died in Cairo aged 93, ending a celebrated six-decade career across stage, film, radio and television. Popular roles include the films Bein el-Atlal (1959) and El Resala (1976), as well as the television drama El Mesaya (2012). Ayoub has also been described as a mentor to younger generations of actors, including Hanan Motawie and Ahmed Helmy. 10. Raziqa Al Taresh: July 4 The Emirati theatre and television pioneer died aged 71 following a prolonged battle with cancer. Starting her career as a child, she rose to prominence in the 1970s with the comedy Ish'hafan and went on to shape Emirati entertainment across decades. Her passing prompted tributes across the Gulf, acknowledging her foundational role in national television drama. 11. Ziad Rahbani: July 26 The Lebanese composer, playwright and political commentator died aged 69. The son of singer Fairuz and the late composer Assi Rahbani, he was widely regarded as one of the most distinctive creative voices to emerge from Lebanon in the past five decades. He rose to prominence during the Lebanese Civil War with a series of groundbreaking plays and musicals that blended jazz, classical Arabic music, and colloquial dialogue with biting political and social commentary.
Cosmopolitan ME
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Cosmopolitan ME
Watch Nemahsis' therapy session in new docu-series
Who knew a floor-laying therapy session and dancing on microaggressions could be so cathartic to watch? From the very first episode of Sarah Bahbah's podcast-cinema hybrid, Nemahsis pulls you into her rebellious inner world. She secretly began wearing a hijab in grade four without anyone's permission. And now, she is dripped in hijab and a suit while screaming 'STFU' publicly. In Can I Come In?, the Palestinian-Canadian singer-songwriter opens up about what it means to be a Muslim Arab woman in the West. Pushed to choose between her art and her love life, and navigating a music industry that turned colder after October 7th, Nemahsis doesn't hold back. This isn't a pity story though and she is far from broken. So, what do we learn in the new music vid? She was the 'sneaky link' friend everyone pretended not to know Growing up in an all-white town post-9/11, she says she was seen as 'dirty,' 'Arab,' and 'dangerous.' Yet those same classmates would sneak off to hang out with her in the forest because she was unmistakably cool and hilarious. After October 7, the lack of public support triggered childhood trauma When Palestine became global news again, people did not openly support it. 'People don't know how to stand up for something,' she shares. The 'sneaky link' trauma resurfaced, but this time, she wasn't going to take it. She was once asked to choose: love or music Nemahsis opens up about a past relationship where she was asked to give up her artist career to be with someone. His family wouldn't bless the marriage unless she quit music. She made the logical decision to choose music because music would never hurt her. Her love language is acts of service (and chicken liver) She did not grow up with a lot, but thanks to her loving dad, she never felt poor. Her dad would buy her fresh chicken liver because she loved it so much. He set the standard for the type of partner she wants (but she's not really looking right now). Her creative process is about letting go She's inspired by other artists, often full of creative fire. She's not a perfectionist, but is a procrastinator who often faces blockages. But once she starts flowing, it's hard for her to stop creating. She dreams of freedom for all 'We will be free,' she says, speaking directly to Palestinians. Click here to read our latest interview with Nemahsis.
Vogue Arabia
08-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Vogue Arabia
Inside the Riyadh Villa of Saudi Entrepreneur Nojoud Alrumaihi
Hospitality, warmth and generosity, believes Alrumaihi, are embedded in her culture and way of being. 'It extends beyond the home and into how we gather, share, dress and even celebrate. It's a culture of presence, not performance,' she says. Her charisma and creativity come across seamlessly on social media, where she shares snippets of her statement styles. A sculptural white and gold gown by Stephane Rolland and colour-blocked Rosie Assoulin ensemble appear alongside a dreamy Fendi baguette embellished with floral beadwork and new-season Valentino Garavani bag dotted with cherries. 'I gravitate towards silhouettes that honour the classics, but I always find a way to weave in an unexpected detail, whether it's an offbeat colour, an artisanal piece or a story behind the fabric,' she shares. 'I dress emotionally and intuitively.' Photography by Tamara Hamad Championing Saudi designers' aesthetics – such as Arwa Al Banawi's unapologetic edginess, Abadia's timeless elegance and the bold patterns and colours of Nasiba Hafiz, Alrumaihi sees her heritage as the foundation of her visual identity. 'It gives my style depth and meaning. I'm deeply proud of where I come from, but I reinterpret it through a contemporary lens,' she explains. 'A traditional motif can live on in a sculptural cut, or a modest silhouette can be expressed through modern tailoring. It's less about contrast, more about continuity.' Photography by Tamara Hamad Photography by Tamara Hamad This harmony is mirrored throughout Alrumaihi's home. One of her most treasured elements on display is a carpet that once belonged to the late HRH Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz. 'It was originally displayed in an art studio and I was instantly drawn to its history and presence,' recalls Alrumaihi, who also owns a rare copy of Life magazine featuring King Abdulaziz on its cover. This is displayed on a mantelpiece where, in place of a fireplace, there's an amalgamation of art and fashion tomes. Elsewhere, a gallery wall comprises a cluster of prints by Saudi artist Ethar Balkhair, who centres diversity and women's empowerment in her work. Faceless figures with exaggerated silhouettes and playful proportions are draped in fashion- forward garments, bringing depth and colour to Alrumaihi's walls. 'Her work explores cultural motifs and Middle Eastern fashion in a way that feels both nostalgic and contemporary,' explains Alrumaihi. 'Each piece carries a story and together, they form a wall that speaks to heritage and identity.'
Arabian Business
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Arabian Business
Invest Qatar
FIFA World Cup 2022 Qatar will be the first hosted in the Arab world and presents a fantastic opportunity to showcase not only Arab culture, but also to turbocharge growth and investment into the whole region
