From Amr Diab to Elissa, eight Arabic New Year's Eve anthems for your playlist

Songs of love and hope characterise regional end-of-year staples

Amr Diab hits have been associated with end of year celebrations. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Arabic popular music offers a song and melody for every occasion.

At times, these enduring tracks transcend their original seasons, resonating across different moments due to their universal messages and sentiments. These odes to joy, love, and resilience continue to inspire us to embrace the new year with optimism and a fresh start. Here are eight songs, in no particular order, that deserve a spin on your New Year’s Eve playlist.

1. Kol Aam Wa Anti Habibati by Kadim Al Sahir

Even new year gets the normally taciturn crooner Kadim Al Sahir into the festive spirit. The Iraqi singer, known for string-laden emotive ballads, switches gears by adding brass and Latin percussion in this 2012 ode, meaning every year you are my beloved; to the New Year.

Then again, this is Al Sahir we're talking about, so the lyrics are not the usual breezy couplets. Opening with the refrain, “Every year you're my beloved, every year I'm your beloved,” the words use a tree and hands as metaphors for new life and building a better future.

2. Al Am Al Jadid by Fadl Shaker and Sherine

Veteran Lebanese singer Fadl Shaker teams up with then-burgeoning pop starlet Sherine for a track tailor-made to celebrate the new year. The 2004 song works by comfortably blending their disparate styles, with Sherine's zippy delivery and verve offsetting Shaker's stoic tenor, in a song asking us to look forward to the new year with hope and joy.

3. C'est La Vie by Khaled

From football stadiums to Burj Khalfia’s New Year’s Eve fireworks displays, C'est La Vie remains Algerian rai singer Khaled's finest hour. A dynamic mix of Algerian Arabic and French vocals, this anthemic 2012 track exudes joy and optimism, inviting us to momentarily set aside our worries and embrace the present.

4. Ras Sseni by Majida El Roumi

Lebanese soprano Majida El Roumi doesn't change her approach when it comes to New Year's Eve tracks, but who says the occasion doesn't benefit from a regal ballad in the playlist? Meaning “the new year,” 2015 track Ras El Sana is a plea for togetherness and celebration as El Roumi wishes “Every year may you be with us. Wherever we are, we gather. From everyone to everyone, may it return to all.”

5. Al Am Al Jadid by Hussain Al Jassmi and Mona Amarcha

Emirati singer Hussain Al Jassmi didn't save his best for last with his final release of 2015. While Al Am Al Jadid – not to be confused with the aforementioned Fadl Shaker and Sherine duet from years prior – will go down as a footnote in his hit-filled career, Al Jassmi's duet with Moroccan singer Mona Amarcha retains its charm. Backed by dance-pop production, it uses the New Year as an opportunity to reaffirm an enduring relationship.

6. Amarain by Amr Diab

Meaning “two moons”, 1999 hit Amarain is one of Amr Diab's many anthems heard in New Year’s Eve celebrations. A trademark example of his fusion of Levant and Mediterranean instrumentation and melodies, the Egyptian superstar's vocals are rich and tender as he pines for a love or a new beginning that is transformative.

7. Sayrena Ya Donia by Ahmed Saad

A summer anthem that effortlessly transitioned from a seasonal staple to a favourite for Eid and New Year’s celebrations, 2022 track Sayrena Ya Donia owes much of its charm to the optimistic sentiment carried by Egyptian singer Ahmed Saad's emotive vocals. Translated as “Make us happy, oh world,” the song is a heartfelt plea for love and resilience.

8. Shams El Eid by Elissa

Released in 2019 in the days leading up to New Year's Eve, Lebanese star Elissa's attempt at crafting an annual party staple may not have achieved the intended cultural resonance, but Shams El Eid (The Sun of Eid) remains a fine example of Arabic pop. Featuring whimsical strings and lively percussion, the track encourages listeners to approach the new year with confidence. “If life is filled with wounds, your tears won’t help you,” Elissa sings. “Let the wounded melody sing on your festive night. Don’t let the days slip away … live today, love today.”