Forbes Middle East just released the list of the greatest global stars from the region! We are not surprised that Fairouz topped the list!
Forbes Middle East’s team tracked the celebrities’ activities since 2016. The singers were ranked based on the following criteria:
• Songs on Billboard’s international chart
• Major international awards.
• Number of concerts abroad.
• Duos with non-Arab artists.
The all-time great Lebanese singer and performer is one of the most admired artists on a global level. Fairouz is also known as an icon of modern Arabic music and has sold over 80 million records worldwide.
She starred in iconic musicals that are the legacies of Lebanon’s entertainment industry. Fairouz performed on grand stages, including Royal Albert Hall in London, Carnegie Hall in New York and John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.
“Her melodies combined Arab and European instruments while her voice transcended boundaries to gather fans from Lebanon and from across the world, according to Virginia Danielson, an expert on Middle Eastern music at NYU Abu Dhabi.” (Source)
Last year, Fairouz made a comeback by releasing a digital album called Bebalee.
That’s not it! Nadine Labaki and Elie Saab topped the list of the best directors and fashion designers, respectively!
This year, the renowned Lebanese director Nadine Labaki won the Jury Prize at Cannes Film Festival for her latest movie Capharnaüm. She is the first director from the Middle East to win a Cannes competition award in 12 years! The film will be available soon in Lebanon.
As for Elie Saab, he is a regular in international fashion shows and has many boutiques spread across Europe, North America and in the Middle East! Elie Saab’s gowns steal the limelight on every red carpet!
These are the other Lebanese artists that made the list!
- Elissa
- Ragheb Alama
- Carole Samaha
- Nancy Ajram
- Najwa Karam
- Ziad Doueiri
- Reem Acra
- Zuhair Murad
- Rabih Keyrouz
- Georges Hobeika
- Tony Ward
- Georges Chakra
We couldn’t be more proud!