The Joy Awards continues to be the Arab entertainment industry's night of nights. Held for the fifth time in Riyadh on Saturday night, the event returned with more categories reflecting the dynamism of the regional television scene, along with heart-warming moments honouring pioneering artists from the region and abroad.
However, while it is a chance to honour colleagues, the Joy Awards remains a competition – with most categories voted on by fans online – and some fiercely contested results will keep the awards a topic of discussion long after the curtains close.
Here are the key moments from the 2025 event.
1. Assala Nasri and Ayed rule the music awards
Syria's Assala Nasri and Saudi Arabia's Ayed are the musical king and queen of the Joy Awards, with both singers repeating last year's achievements of winning the Best Female and Male Artist awards respectively. Both emerged from competitive fields, with Nasri beating out Lebanese star Elissa and Egyptians Angham and Sherine Abdelwahab, while Ayed beat the likes of Syrian singer Al Shami, Egypt's Tamer Ashour and Jordan's Siilawy. That said, Angham and Ashour didn't leave Saturday's ceremony disappointed, with both winning the Most Popular Song award for their respective hits Howa Enta Meen and Hegeli Mojoua.
2. Championing diversity in Arabic dramas
The decision to expand the television drama categories not only resulted in more winners, but also highlighted some of the distinct stories produced across the Middle East. This included Saudi Arabia's Shabab El Bomb 12 winning Best Gulf Series, last year's Ramadan hit Neema El Avocato picking up its Egyptian counterpart, and the second series of the Jordanian Netflix drama Al Rawabi School for Girls winning Best Levant Series.
3. Morgan Freeman wowed by Saudi hospitality
Two Hollywood heavyweights saluted each other as Anthony Hopkins, last year's winner of a Lifetime Achievement Award, honoured Morgan Freeman for the same category on Saturday.
"Every character this gentleman portrays on film is a masterclass in acting and storytelling. He invites us to feel, think, and sometimes, against all odds, to believe,” Hopkins said as part of his induction speech. "He makes it all look effortless. The power of his presence is undeniable. Tonight we celebrate a legend and legacy."
Freeman used his speech to express his delight for his first visit to Saudi Arabia. "I am profoundly moved by the warm hospitality and unparalleled kindness of the Saudi people,” he said. “The welcome I received here in Riyadh has been nothing short of extraordinary, and it will remain in my heart forever, or at least until I die. Thank you, Riyadh, for this unforgettable experience, and shukran from the depths of my heart."
4. Matthew McConaughey on the meaning of happiness
Among Matthew McConaughey's hopes for 2024, becoming a viral sensation for a tuna salad recipe surely wasn't one of them. But the US actor's enduring presence on the big screen and his ways in the kitchen have made him a major talking point of the year and a Joy Award winner for Personality of the Year.
McConaughey used the podium to deliver a thoughtful speech on what it means to be satisfied in today's fast-moving world. "There is a difference between happiness and joy. Happiness is an emotional response to the outcome of something. When we get what we want, we are happy, and if we don't, we are not happy," he said. "But joy is something very different. It is that feeling we get when we are doing what we are fashioned to do, no matter what the outcome. So for that, I want to say thank you and shukran, and may we all enjoy what we do."
5. Singer Abdallah Al Rowaished honoured by giants
Kuwaiti singer Abdallah Al Rowaished also received a Lifetime Achievement Award for a sterling four-decade career. With the Kuwaiti singer still visibly recovering from a stroke, the occasion was especially moving as he was surrounded by Saudi peers and fellow stars Mohammed Abdu and Rabeh Sagher. Turki Al Sheikh, chairman of the General Entertainment Authority – the body behind the Joy Awards – took the stage to wish Al Rowaished a speedy recovery: "You honoured us, my dear friend, and God willing, in the near future, we will see you once again on the stage."
6. Hrithik Roshan says his career is only just beginning
Hrithik Roshan was the latest Bollywood star recognised for his career and regional box-office appeal. The star of films War and Super 30, was honoured for his 25-year career and joins fellow Bollywood luminaries Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan in receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award in Riyadh. "It's been 25 years, and that seems like a long time, but unfortunately, it has taken me 25 years to start understanding what acting really is. Just about now, I feel like I am ready to take my flight as an actor," he said. "So take this as a symbol of the hope I have in my heart and the promise for the next 25 years. Hopefully, when I am back – if you have me back again – I will feel more deserving to be amidst such greatness and honours. Shukran.”
7. Christina Aguilera slays the Joy Awards stage
UAE fans will have a lot to look forward to when Christina Aguilera performs next month as part of Abu Dhabi's Saadiyat Nights concert series. As one of the musical guests for the evening, she delivered a potent three-song set showcasing the signature dynamism of her vocals. Wearing a red gown, she began with the inspirational ballad The Voice Within (2002), before changing to a black fur tracksuit and being joined by her dancers for her breakout hit Genie in a Bottle(1999), with reworked instrumentals emphasising the original's Middle Eastern-inspired melodies. The seven-minute set ended with about 30 dancers on stage for a rapturous version of 2003’s Fighter, complete with pyrotechnics.
8. Michael Buble and Wael Kfoury should go on the road as a double act
Who knew we needed an Arabic-English version of Frank Sinatra's My Way? The bilingual mix feels smooth and elegant in the hands of crooners Michael Buble and Wael Kfoury, who debuted the collaboration on stage. While it is unclear if this version will be released, it retains the orchestral splendour of the 1969 original. While Lebanese singer Kfoury's Arabic lyrics are not translations of the original lyrics by Paul Anka, they follow its meditative vibe, reflecting on a life well lived and appreciation for its smaller and tender moments.
