One tribute said Lebanese artist Ziad Rahbani's music was 'composed from Lebanon's soul'. AFP
One tribute said Lebanese artist Ziad Rahbani's music was 'composed from Lebanon's soul'. AFP
One tribute said Lebanese artist Ziad Rahbani's music was 'composed from Lebanon's soul'. AFP
One tribute said Lebanese artist Ziad Rahbani's music was 'composed from Lebanon's soul'. AFP

Ziad Rahbani, 'voice of Lebanon's soul', dies at 69: Tributes pour in for beloved composer


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  • Arabic

Ziad Rahbani, a Lebanese composer, playwright and political commentator known for his influential role in Arabic theatre and music, has died aged 69. The cause of death has yet to be announced.

The son of renowned singer Fairouz and late composer Assi Rahbani, Ziad Rahbani is widely regarded as one of the most distinctive creative voices to emerge from Lebanon in the past five decades.

Toufic Maatouk, Lebanese composer and musicologist, told The National: “Ziad Rahbani’s music is a voice carved from Lebanon’s soul. He called it 'oriental jazz,' but it was more – a fusion of Arabic melodies, funk, and jazz that sounded unmistakably Lebanese. Each note carried Beirut’s chaos, warmth, and wit. Ziad's artistry wasn’t imitation, it was invention, born from home.”

  • Lebanese artist Ziad Rahbani performs during a concert at al-Manara theatre, in Cairo on November 30, 2018. AFP
    Lebanese artist Ziad Rahbani performs during a concert at al-Manara theatre, in Cairo on November 30, 2018. AFP
  • Rahbani performs during the Beirut Holidays 2019 Festival at the waterfront in the Lebanese capital on July 19, 2019. AFP
    Rahbani performs during the Beirut Holidays 2019 Festival at the waterfront in the Lebanese capital on July 19, 2019. AFP
  • Rahbani performs during a concert at the Ehdeniyat International Festival in Ehden town in Lebanon on July 30, 2015. Reuters
    Rahbani performs during a concert at the Ehdeniyat International Festival in Ehden town in Lebanon on July 30, 2015. Reuters
  • Ziad Rahbani
    Ziad Rahbani
  • Ziad Rahbani, the Lebanese composer, playwright, pianist and political activist, has died, aged 69. AFP
    Ziad Rahbani, the Lebanese composer, playwright, pianist and political activist, has died, aged 69. AFP
  • Born in 1956 in Antelias, near Beirut, Ziad Rahbani was the eldest son of renowned singer Fairouz and composer Assi Rahbani. AFP
    Born in 1956 in Antelias, near Beirut, Ziad Rahbani was the eldest son of renowned singer Fairouz and composer Assi Rahbani. AFP
  • His mother Fairouz performed some of his compositions at her concerts, blending Lebanese folklore with western syncopation and phrasing. AFP
    His mother Fairouz performed some of his compositions at her concerts, blending Lebanese folklore with western syncopation and phrasing. AFP
  • Rahbani, left, performing with his mother Fairouz at Beirut's Piccadilly Theatre in 1975, in the musical Mais El Rim. AFP
    Rahbani, left, performing with his mother Fairouz at Beirut's Piccadilly Theatre in 1975, in the musical Mais El Rim. AFP
  • Lebanese musician Ziad Rahbani in the mid-1960s. AFP
    Lebanese musician Ziad Rahbani in the mid-1960s. AFP
  • Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun said Rahbani was 'not just an artist, but a complete intellectual and cultural phenomenon'. AFP
    Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun said Rahbani was 'not just an artist, but a complete intellectual and cultural phenomenon'. AFP
  • Rahbani, right, in July 2001, at a rehearsal with Armenian conductor Karen Durgaryan in Beiteddine, in the Chouf region of Lebanon, for concerts by Fairouz at the annual festival. AFP
    Rahbani, right, in July 2001, at a rehearsal with Armenian conductor Karen Durgaryan in Beiteddine, in the Chouf region of Lebanon, for concerts by Fairouz at the annual festival. AFP
  • Rahbani at an anti-government protest organised by Lebanon's communist party, in Beirut in December 2018. AP
    Rahbani at an anti-government protest organised by Lebanon's communist party, in Beirut in December 2018. AP

Rahbani rose to prominence during the Lebanese Civil War through a series of acclaimed plays and musical works that combined colloquial Lebanese dialogue, jazz and classical Arabic music with political and social critique.

He was born in Beirut in 1956 into one of the Arab world’s most prominent musical families. He began his professional career at an early age, composing Saalouni El Nass in 1973, which Fairouz performed during a period when Assi Rahbani was recovering from a stroke.

In the years that followed, Ziad Rahbani established himself as an important figure in Beirut’s cultural scene. His early theatre productions including Nazl El-Sourour explored themes of civil conflict, sectarianism and everyday life in Lebanon with a satirical and often provocative tone.

Rahbani's music has found a global audience in recent years. Photo: Wewantsounds
Rahbani's music has found a global audience in recent years. Photo: Wewantsounds

Rahbani was an outspoken political commentator, often expressing support for leftist movements and criticising the Lebanese political establishment. While his views were often polarising, he remained a leading voice in regional cultural and political discourse.

In addition to his theatre work, Rahbani continued to compose music throughout his career, including a number of collaborations with his mother, in the 1980s. Albums such as Maarifti Feek and Wahdon introduced lyrical and musical directions for the celebrated musician, often reflecting more personal or socially conscious themes.

Although he gave few interviews in his later years, Rahbani continued to perform live, frequently mixing music with political commentary during his concerts. His influence extends to several generations of Arab musicians, writers and performers.

In recent years, the rise of the Habibi funk movement has won Rahbani fans around the world, with albums including Houdou Nisbi, Amrak Seedna & Abtal Wa Harameyah and Bennesbeh Labokra … Chou? reissued internationally on vinyl to great acclaim.

Arab musicians pay tribute to Ziad Rahbani

Lebanese musician Tania Saleh, considered one of the founding voices of the country's independent music culture, says that Rahbani is the true architect of the scene.

“Some people like to think the indie scene started with us. I don’t think so. I believe it started with him, because he was already independent – from his family, from the Lebanese music scene, and even from the larger Arab world. His influences came from everywhere. He was the true first,” says Salah.

(FILES) This picture from the mid-60s shows Lebanese musician Ziad Rahbani playing the piano, the instrument that has shaped most of his compositions since his first ventures in the early 1970s. Rahbani passed away at the age of 69 on July 26, 2025 according to Lebanon's National News Agency. (Photo by AFP)
(FILES) This picture from the mid-60s shows Lebanese musician Ziad Rahbani playing the piano, the instrument that has shaped most of his compositions since his first ventures in the early 1970s. Rahbani passed away at the age of 69 on July 26, 2025 according to Lebanon's National News Agency. (Photo by AFP)

Mayssa Karaa, singer and artistic director of Berklee Abu Dhabi, said that Rahbani's current influence extended far beyond his artistic output.

“Ziad Rahbani was more than just a musician; he was a voice, a mirror, and a pulse for Lebanon,” said Kara. “He taught generations how to speak the truth through music, no matter how uncomfortable that truth was. His art was always based on his deep love for his country and its people, and this love shaped every lyric, melody, and story he told.

“People of all ages, classes, and faiths could relate to Ziad's music because it was so real. As a musician, he broke all the rules and didn't follow trends or fit into moulds, carving out a path that countless artists, including myself, have drawn inspiration from. He showed us that music could be both heartbreaking and full of humour,” Karaa says.

Ziad Rahbani during a concert at Al Manara Theatre in Cairo in 2018. AFP
Ziad Rahbani during a concert at Al Manara Theatre in Cairo in 2018. AFP

“Ziad, rest in music. Your music, your words, and your spirit will always live on in the hearts of the people of Lebanon. Without you, we might not even know what Lebanon means, but maybe that's the beauty of your legacy: you've become part of the country's very definition.”

Emirati composer Ihab Darwish says: “For us, this is a tragedy. It feels like we've lost one of the most iconic musicians in the Arab world.

“While I never met him, I consider him one of my idols. He taught me a lot about blending different genres. He also clearly has a storytelling style that is very similar to mine – ensuring that music has a narrative and theme.”

Taymoor Marmarchi, Mena Recording Academy executive director, told The National how Rahbani's music made people feel seen and heard. "He wasn't just an iconic musician and composer – he was part of the soundtrack of so many people's lives all across the Arab world. He captured the soul of Lebanon with raw honesty and intellectual brilliance," he said.

"His words made us laugh, think, and sometimes cry, because they spoke to real moments we all lived through. He had this rare gift of turning politics into poetry, and everyday struggles into unforgettable songs. His legacy isn't just in what he created, but in how he made people feel seen."

Posting to X, Elissa was one of many Arab artists leading tributes on social media. "Ziad Rahbani was no ordinary artist and certainly no ordinary person. His musical and artistic genius is one of a kind, never to be repeated,” she said. “With his loss, Lebanon has lost a part of itself, and a large piece of its collective memory. Fairuz, our ambassador to the whole world, is first and foremost Ziad’s mother today. May God grant her strength and patience."

Najwa Karam, meanwhile, praised him for his influential body of work: "A great genius has departed from Lebanon ahead of his time and like no one else. He planted a laugh full of depth. His theatre and his music were the essence of a battle between the golden past and a visionary future. A son of freedom who feared nothing. May God have mercy on you, and may your soul rest in heaven.”

Syrian singer George Wassouf adds: “Ziad the genius has passed. Ziad the creative soul has gone. Your works will remain eternal, and your magnificent art will live on in our hearts and minds for generations to come. Deepest condolences to Mrs Fairuz, the mother, to the Rahbani family, and to all who loved you, Ziad.”

Lebanon's political figures mourn late Lebanese composer

Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun expressed his sorrow over the death of Rahbani.

"Ziad Rahbani was not just an artist; he was an integrated intellectual and cultural figure. Moreover, he was a living conscience, a rebellious voice against injustice, and an honest mirror for those who suffered and were marginalised. He wrote about people's pain and played on the strings of truth, without ambiguity," Mr Aoun said in a statement.

"Through his purposeful theatre and his music, ignited with infinite creativity between classical, jazz, and oriental music, he presented a unique artistic vision and opened new windows of Lebanese cultural expression, reaching the international level and creating masterpieces."

"Ziad was a natural extension of the Rahbani family, which has given Lebanon so much beauty and dignity. He is the son of the creative Assi Rahbani and Fairouz, our ambassador to the stars, to whom we extend our sincere condolences today. Our hearts are with her in this huge loss, sharing with her the pain of losing someone who was more than a support to her. We also offer our condolences to the esteemed Rahbani family on this great loss," Mr Aoun continued.

"Ziad's many distinguished works will remain alive in the memory of the Lebanese and Arabs, inspiring future generations and reminding them that art can be an act of resistance, and that words can be a stance. May Ziad Rahbani rest in peace, and may his music and plays, vibrant with memory and life, remain a beacon of freedom and a call for human dignity."

Ghassan Salame, Lebanon's Culture Minister, said in a statement: "We dreaded this day, as we knew his health was deteriorating and his desire for treatment was diminishing. Plans to treat him in Lebanon or abroad had become obsolete, as Ziad no longer had the capacity to imagine the necessary treatment and surgeries. May God have mercy on artist Rahbani. We will mourn him by singing his immortal songs."

Lebanon's Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said: "Lebanon without Ziad - the melody is sad, the words are broken, and the black curtain falls on an immortal Rahbani humanitarian, cultural, artistic, and patriotic chapter."

Things Heard & Seen

Directed by: Shari Springer Berman, Robert Pulcini

Starring: Amanda Seyfried, James Norton

2/5

BRAZIL%20SQUAD
%3Cp%3EGoalkeepers%3A%20Alisson%2C%20Ederson%2C%20Weverton%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EDefenders%3A%20Dani%20Alves%2C%20Marquinhos%2C%20Thiago%20Silva%2C%20Eder%20Militao%20%2C%20Danilo%2C%20Alex%20Sandro%2C%20Alex%20Telles%2C%20Bremer.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EMidfielders%3A%20Casemiro%2C%20Fred%2C%20Fabinho%2C%20Bruno%20Guimaraes%2C%20Lucas%20Paqueta%2C%20Everton%20Ribeiro.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EForwards%3A%20Neymar%2C%20Vinicius%20Junior%2C%20Richarlison%2C%20Raphinha%2C%20Antony%2C%20Gabriel%20Jesus%2C%20Gabriel%20Martinelli%2C%20Pedro%2C%20Rodrygo%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Three tips from La Perle's performers

1 The kind of water athletes drink is important. Gwilym Hooson, a 28-year-old British performer who is currently recovering from knee surgery, found that out when the company was still in Studio City, training for 12 hours a day. “The physio team was like: ‘Why is everyone getting cramps?’ And then they realised we had to add salt and sugar to the water,” he says.

2 A little chocolate is a good thing. “It’s emergency energy,” says Craig Paul Smith, La Perle’s head coach and former Cirque du Soleil performer, gesturing to an almost-empty open box of mini chocolate bars on his desk backstage.

3 Take chances, says Young, who has worked all over the world, including most recently at Dragone’s show in China. “Every time we go out of our comfort zone, we learn a lot about ourselves,” she says.

The Voice of Hind Rajab

Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees

Director: Kaouther Ben Hania

Rating: 4/5

'Brazen'

Director: Monika Mitchell

Starring: Alyssa Milano, Sam Page, Colleen Wheeler

Rating: 3/5

SPECS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dual%20electric%20motors%20with%20102kW%20battery%20pack%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E570hp%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20890Nm%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERange%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Up%20to%20428km%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh1%2C700%2C000%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Sole survivors
  • Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
  • George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
  • Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
  • Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
If you go

Flight connections to Ulaanbaatar are available through a variety of hubs, including Seoul and Beijing, with airlines including Mongolian Airlines and Korean Air. While some nationalities, such as Americans, don’t need a tourist visa for Mongolia, others, including UAE citizens, can obtain a visa on arrival, while others including UK citizens, need to obtain a visa in advance. Contact the Mongolian Embassy in the UAE for more information.

Nomadic Road offers expedition-style trips to Mongolia in January and August, and other destinations during most other months. Its nine-day August 2020 Mongolia trip will cost from $5,250 per person based on two sharing, including airport transfers, two nights’ hotel accommodation in Ulaanbaatar, vehicle rental, fuel, third party vehicle liability insurance, the services of a guide and support team, accommodation, food and entrance fees; nomadicroad.com

A fully guided three-day, two-night itinerary at Three Camel Lodge costs from $2,420 per person based on two sharing, including airport transfers, accommodation, meals and excursions including the Yol Valley and Flaming Cliffs. A return internal flight from Ulaanbaatar to Dalanzadgad costs $300 per person and the flight takes 90 minutes each way; threecamellodge.com

OTHER IPL BOWLING RECORDS

Best bowling figures: 6-14 – Sohail Tanvir (for Rajasthan Royals against Chennai Super Kings in 2008)

Best average: 16.36 – Andrew Tye

Best economy rate: 6.53 – Sunil Narine

Best strike-rate: 12.83 – Andrew Tye

Best strike-rate in an innings: 1.50 – Suresh Raina (for Chennai Super Kings against Rajasthan Royals in 2011)

Most runs conceded in an innings: 70 – Basil Thampi (for Sunrisers Hyderabad against Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2018)

Most hat-tricks: 3 – Amit Mishra

Most dot-balls: 1,128 – Harbhajan Singh

Most maiden overs bowled: 14 – Praveen Kumar

Most four-wicket hauls: 6 – Sunil Narine

 

The specs

Engine: 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder turbo

Transmission: CVT

Power: 170bhp

Torque: 220Nm

Price: Dh98,900

Russia's Muslim Heartlands

Dominic Rubin, Oxford

Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
  1. Join parent networks
  2. Look beyond school fees
  3. Keep an open mind
THE SPECS

Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine 

Power: 420kW

Torque: 780Nm

Transmission: 8-speed automatic

Price: From Dh1,350,000

On sale: Available for preorder now

The specs

Engine: 4.0-litre, six-cylinder

Transmission: six-speed manual

Power: 395bhp

Torque: 420Nm

Price: from Dh321,200

On sale: now

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

The specs

Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

 

The specs

Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol

Power: 154bhp

Torque: 250Nm

Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option 

Price: From Dh79,600

On sale: Now

The biog

Age: 30

Position: Senior lab superintendent at Emirates Global Aluminium

Education: Bachelor of science in chemical engineering, post graduate degree in light metal reduction technology

Favourite part of job: The challenge, because it is challenging

Favourite quote: “Be the change you wish to see in the world,” Gandi

The biog

Name: Salem Alkarbi

Age: 32

Favourite Al Wasl player: Alexandre Oliveira

First started supporting Al Wasl: 7

Biggest rival: Al Nasr

Avatar: Fire and Ash

Director: James Cameron

Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana

Rating: 4.5/5

Moon Music

Artist: Coldplay

Label: Parlophone/Atlantic

Number of tracks: 10

Rating: 3/5

From Zero

Artist: Linkin Park

Label: Warner Records

Number of tracks: 11

Rating: 4/5

'Cheb%20Khaled'
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EArtist%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EKhaled%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ELabel%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EBelieve%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
LA LIGA FIXTURES

Saturday (All UAE kick-off times)

Valencia v Atletico Madrid (midnight)

Mallorca v Alaves (4pm)

Barcelona v Getafe (7pm)

Villarreal v Levante (9.30pm)

Sunday

Granada v Real Volladolid (midnight)

Sevilla v Espanyol (3pm)

Leganes v Real Betis (5pm)

Eibar v Real Sociedad (7pm)

Athletic Bilbao v Osasuna (9.30pm)

Monday

Real Madrid v Celta Vigo (midnight)

Heather, the Totality
Matthew Weiner,
Canongate 

COMPANY PROFILE

Name: Lamsa

Founder: Badr Ward

Launched: 2014

Employees: 60

Based: Abu Dhabi

Sector: EdTech

Funding to date: $15 million

Dark Souls: Remastered
Developer: From Software (remaster by QLOC)
Publisher: Namco Bandai
Price: Dh199

RESULT

Arsenal 1 Chelsea 2
Arsenal:
Aubameyang (13')
Chelsea: Jorginho (83'), Abraham (87') 

UAE FIXTURES

October 18 – 7.30pm, UAE v Oman, Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
October 19 – 7.30pm, UAE v Ireland, Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
October 21 – 2.10pm, UAE v Hong Kong, Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
October 22 – 2.10pm, UAE v Jersey, Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
October 24 – 10am, UAE v Nigeria, Abu Dhabi Cricket Oval 1
October 27 – 7.30pm, UAE v Canada, Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi

October 29 – 2.10pm, Playoff 1 – A2 v B3; 7.30pm, Playoff 2 – A3 v B2, at Dubai International Stadium.
October 30 – 2.10pm, Playoff 3 – A4 v Loser of Play-off 1; 7.30pm, Playoff 4 – B4 v Loser of Play-off 2 at Dubai International Stadium

November 1 – 2.10pm, Semifinal 1 – B1 v Winner of Play-off 1; 7.30pm, Semifinal 2 – A1 v Winner of Play-off 2 at Dubai International Stadium
November 2 – 2.10pm, Third place Playoff – B1 v Winner of Play-off 1; 7.30pm, Final, at Dubai International Stadium

THE%20STRANGERS'%20CASE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3A%20Brandt%20Andersen%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EOmar%20Sy%2C%20Jason%20Beghe%2C%20Angeliki%20Papoulia%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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 years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

FIGHT CARD

Bantamweight Hamza Bougamza (MAR) v Jalal Al Daaja (JOR)

Catchweight 67kg Mohamed El Mesbahi (MAR) v Fouad Mesdari (ALG)

Lighweight Abdullah Mohammed Ali (UAE) v Abdelhak Amhidra (MAR)

Catchweight 73kg Mostafa Ibrahim Radi (PAL) v Yazid Chouchane (ALG)

Middleweight Yousri Belgaroui (TUN) v Badreddine Diani (MAR)

Catchweight 78kg Rashed Dawood (UAE) v Adnan Bushashy (ALG)

Middleweight Sallaheddine Dekhissi (MAR) v Abdel Emam (EGY)

Catchweight 65kg Rachid Hazoume (MAR) v Yanis Ghemmouri (ALG)

Lighweight Mohammed Yahya (UAE) v Azouz Anwar (EGY)

Catchweight 79kg Omar Hussein (PAL) v Souhil Tahiri (ALG)

Middleweight Tarek Suleiman (SYR) v Laid Zerhouni (ALG)

Updated: July 27, 2025, 2:37 PM