Spotify’s 2021 Wrapped results reiterate the UAE’s diverse musical tastes.
For the second year in a row, K-Pop group BTS has emerged as the most-streamed artists on Spotify in the UAE, as well as the third most-streamed worldwide. Canadian powerhouses Drake, who released Certified Lover Boy in September, Justin Bieber and The Weeknd were respectively the second, third and fourth most streamed artists in the UAE.
Singer-songwriter Taylor Swift came in at number five, and was also the second-most streamed artist globally.
The most-streamed song in the UAE in 2021 was Lil Nas X’s controversial Montero (Call Me By Your Name), with Masked Wolf’s Astronaut in the The Ocean taking second place. Australian singer The Kid Laroi made his debut in the rankings at third place, both in the UAE and globally, thanks to Stay, his collaboration with Bieber. Dua Lipa’s Levitating came in at fourth place, followed by Olivia Rodrigo’s Good 4 U.
The Grammy-nominated Rodrigo nabbed the top spot in the album rankings, with her debut effort, Sour, while Dua Lipa’s Future Nostalgia came in at second place in the list of the UAE’s most streamed albums. Justice by Bieber was third, Doja Cat’s Planet Her and Ed Sheeran’s = rounded off the top five.
In terms of the top Mena artists, Moroccan rapper ElGrandeToto is the most-streamed Arab artist of 2021 in the region, followed by Wegz from Egypt, Inkonnu, Amr Diab and Tagne. Meanwhile, ElGrandeToto’s Mghayer was the most-streamed song from the Mena region in 2021, with Tagne’s Nadi Canadi in the second spot and Hadal Ahbek by Jordan’s Issam Alnajjar taking third place.
This year’s Wrapped ranking also reveals growing interest in wellness in the UAE, with three of the top five most popular podcasts focusing on well-being. This is in line with Spotify’s Global and Cultural Trends report, which revealed that audio was perceived as a stress reliever by UAE audiences.
The top five most popular podcasts in the UAE are The Joe Rogan Experience, Audice Wellness Services, TED Talks Daily, The Mindset Mentor and Let’s Find Out ASMR.
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 240hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 390Nm at 3,000rpm
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Price: from Dh122,745
On sale: now
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
If you go
The flights
There are various ways of getting to the southern Serengeti in Tanzania from the UAE. The exact route and airstrip depends on your overall trip itinerary and which camp you’re staying at.
Flydubai flies direct from Dubai to Kilimanjaro International Airport from Dh1,350 return, including taxes; this can be followed by a short flight from Kilimanjaro to the Serengeti with Coastal Aviation from about US$700 (Dh2,500) return, including taxes. Kenya Airways, Emirates and Etihad offer flights via Nairobi or Dar es Salaam.
How Islam's view of posthumous transplant surgery changed
Transplants from the deceased have been carried out in hospitals across the globe for decades, but in some countries in the Middle East, including the UAE, the practise was banned until relatively recently.
Opinion has been divided as to whether organ donations from a deceased person is permissible in Islam.
The body is viewed as sacred, during and after death, thus prohibiting cremation and tattoos.
One school of thought viewed the removal of organs after death as equally impermissible.
That view has largely changed, and among scholars and indeed many in society, to be seen as permissible to save another life.
