Linkin Park's 2003 track Numb has ticked over two billion views, while No Doubt's breakout hit, 1995's Don't Speak, also reached one billion views.
They join an increasingly crowded billion views club of more than 100 music videos including multiple entries by K-pop giants BTS and Blackpink and pop stars Rihanna and Beyonce.
The road to the YouTube summit, however, becomes intriguingly narrow yet varied once you get to the billion mark.
At present, there are seven official music videos with more than four billion views – of which four achieved five billion, three exceeded five billion and only one has reached the promised land of more than 10 billion views.
These elite videos range from the reggaeton vibes of Luis Fonsi's Despacito to the K-pop sugar rush of Gangnam Style by Psy, proving YouTube's biggest music videos are a varied bunch.
This all goes to show that there is no real formula when it comes to creating that next viral sensation.
So with that in mind, here are 20 music videos with more than three billion views on YouTube.
1. Baby Shark Dance by Pinkfong (12.92 billion)
The most viewed YouTube video of all time, this irrepressible children's song has probably racked up an equal number of sighs and eye rolls from parents since its 2016 release.
It is said that the song – about a family of sharks on a day out – traces its origins back to 20th century campfire singalongs.
It became a modern sensation, however, when South Korean education company Pinkfong created an animated video sung by 10-year-old Korean-American singer Hope Segoine. Children and families have been doo, doo, doo-ing to this song ever since.
2. Despacito by Luis Fonsi featuring Daddy Yankee (8.17 billion)
There are viral music videos and then there is Despacito. Released in January 2017, the video began Fonsi's year-long takeover, during which he dominated both radio and streaming.
Three years on, the track continues to achieve strong streaming numbers to maintain its position as the most-watched music video on YouTube.
And how does Fonsi feel about it? When he spoke to The National at the end of 2017, he said that having a viral hit is akin to chasing a juggernaut.
“Everything has gone by so fast that it’s tough for me to have a grasp of what’s going on,” he said. “I mean, don’t get me wrong. I have been really enjoying it, but I will eventually take some time off to really take it all in and just really understand the magnitude of all.”
3. Shape of You by Ed Sheeran (6 billion)
Released on YouTube on January 30, 2017, it only took 97 days for the video to enter the billion views club.
A lot of this is down to the soulful premise of the video that gently breaks down societal stereotypes. Sheeran plays a boxer being coached by a black female champion, with that connection in the ring leading to a romance.
Sheeran went on to win a Grammy Award in 2018 for Best Pop Solo Performance for this song.
4. See You Again by Wiz Khalifa featuring Charlie Puth (5.91 billion)
It's the music video that made even grown men cry.
The song was commissioned for the soundtrack to 2015 blockbuster Furious 7, and in it rapper Khalifa and singer Puth deliver a stirring tribute to the action franchise star Paul Walker, who died in a car crash in 2013.
What gives the track its lump-in-the-throat factor is its video featuring scenes of Walker from previous films in The Fast and the Furious franchise.
It ends with Walker driving off into the sunset, before the screen turns white and the words “For Paul” are displayed. As far as tributes go, this was a heartfelt and elegant send-off.
5. Uptown Funk by Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars (4.93 billion)
Ever wished your life was a music video? Uptown Funk should be the one.
What's not to like? It has impossibly cool threads, a crazy party, spring sunshine and walking along to the soundtrack of one of the funkiest songs of the past two decades. Uptown Funk sounds like the best day ever.
6. Gangnam Style by Psy (4.81 billion)
While the world may have forgotten about K-pop rapper Psy, the impact of his Gangnam Style track continues to reverberate in the pop music landscape.
In South Korea, Psy's lyrics are viewed as a satirical takedown of the country's glitterati. In the West, it's looked upon as a novelty song.
What elevates it, however, is a music video that's a visual feast of vibrant colours and kooky characters. Gangnam Style didn't only provide a benchmark for music video production, it also became the Trojan horse for other K-pop acts to conquer the western music market.
7. Dame Tu Cosita by El Chombo (4.36 billion)
Originally released in 1997, the song by the Panamanian artist Chombo, featuring a guest verse by Jamaican dancehall act Cutty Ranks, is the gift that keeps on giving.
The song received initial attention courtesy of a decent 2018 remix with rapper Pitbull and singer Karol G.
The song went viral, however, when the song was remixed further – this time with the original vocals – and a zany animated video clip featuring a dancing frog.
Equally loved by children and clubbers, Dame Tu Cosita proves a good song can always endure – even with the help of a little green frog.
8. Axel F by Crazy Frog (3.93 billion)
The billion views list is full of hits and misses. Where this song falls depends on how contrived you like your pop.
Based on Harold Faltermeyer's famous electronic instrumental theme for the 1984 Eddie Murphy comedy Beverly Hills Cop, the track was remixed in 2005 by a group of German Eurodance producers and released as a ringtone for sale.
Featuring computerised vocals by the CGI character Crazy Frog, Axel F became a mainstay of both dodgy Nokia phones and the charts. Some may say that time has yet to show us the humour behind it all.
9. Sugar by Maroon 5 (3.87 billion)
Is it real or staged? Maroon 5 have been dogged by this question since releasing the video to their 2015 summer hit Sugar. But it's no bad thing, as it has kept people pressing play a few billion times.
Curiosity surrounds the premise of the video. Partly shot documentary-style, it follows Maroon 5 as they spend a day crashing a bunch of weddings. The newly-weds' reactions to one of the world's biggest bands performing for their big day are priceless.
When The National quizzed singer Adam Levine about the video in 2015, he confirmed it was partly staged. “I do want to clear up something about the video,” he says. “Half of the weddings we crashed and the other half were set up. We did that to cover our bases and to make sure we had all the footage. I would say 65 per cent of the video was real. It was crazy and a lot of fun.”
10. Roar by Katy Perry (3.80 billion)
It's a good thing this is a killer tune because the accompanying 2013 music video is more of a whimper than a roar.
For such a heroic anthem about conquering self-doubt, it seems rather ludicrous for Perry to visually set it to what resembles a spoof of both Indiana Jones and Jumanji.
11. Counting Stars by One Republic (3.80 billion)
It took two years for the video to reach over a billion views on the platform – a period matching the slow-burning success of One Republic's biggest hits.
Mostly set in a grimy basement and featuring a cameo appearance by an alligator, Counting Stars – released a decade ago this month – has the kind of propulsive chorus that means the video can be endlessly streamed.
12. Sorry by Justin Bieber (3.66 billion)
Who says you need a big budget to claim billions of views?
Bieber proves his stardom and a catchy track is more than enough to create his most watched music video.
Recorded on a simple soundstage, 2015’s Sorry features a gaggle of dancers in retro nineties outfits moving along to the song's throbbing rhythms.
By the time it's over, you realise that Bieber is not even in it. Well played.
13. Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) by Shakira featuring Freshlyground (3.60 billion)
One of the great sporting anthems, Waka Waka was released as the official song for the 2010 Fifa World Cup.
Colombian singer Shakira captures the excitement and international flavour of the event with an infectious tune that mixes Latin rhythms and South African gospel vocals.
The fact it has eclipsed the tournament 10 years on is a testament to its evergreen and universal appeal.
14. Faded by Alan Walker (3.45 billion)
More than his epic dance tracks, British-Norwegian DJ Walker's secret weapon has always been his cinematic videos.
Faded, released in 2015, is no different and has the masked artist walking through a dystopian abandoned city with devastated high rises and derelict neighbourhoods.
15. Let Her Go by Passenger (3.44 billion)
Despite releasing 12 albums, English singer-songwriter Passenger (real name Mike Rosenberg) can't eclipse the success of this soulful anthem released back in 2012.
The music video is suitably subdued, featuring footage of a low-key gig being prepared before the singer takes the stage in front of a dedicated audience.
16. Bailando by Enrique Iglesias (3.39 billion)
The bigger the global fan base, the more visuals you need to make.
Spanish pop star Iglesias released two different videos – one in English and the other in Spanish – for this monster single.
Not surprisingly, it was the Spanish version that clocked the most watches. The English version also impressed with half a billion streams – featuring a joyful romp of flamenco dancers, young football players and that winning dose of Iglesias' sensuality.
17. Lean On by Major Lazer and DJ Snake featuring Mo (3.39 billion)
Shot in Mumbai, the track features dance sequences inspired by Bollywood films complete with lavish settings and costumes.
Danish singer Mo, who sing's the hook, went on to reportedly acknowledge that certain sections of the video can be viewed as forms of cultural appropriation.
18. Shake it Off by Taylor Swift (3.29 billion)
For all her chart-conquering abilities, Swift's highest-viewed video is quiet far down the list when it comes to YouTube.
The 2014 video Shake it Off is replete with pop culture references from famous films as well as a variety of dance routines from cheer leading to hip-hop.
19. Mi Gente by J Balvin and Willy William (3.22 billion)
A 2017 global smash underscoring the commercial clout of reggaeton.
Colombian singer Balvin reworks French producer Willy William's 2016 track Voodoo Song by adding his sultry vocals and pushing the winning horn loop to the forefront.
Mi Gente was such a success that even Beyonce released her own remix a few months later.
20. Hello by Adele (3.07 billion)
This brooding video has achieved a couple of landmarks: it was the fastest to accrue one billion views, having garnered those in a mere 87 days, and it is credited as being the first music video produced in the widescreen IMAX format.
To match the song's heart-rending subject matter, the video is shot in a grim and Gothic style. The plot has Adele and her on-screen partner trying to salvage a broken bond.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Building boom turning to bust as Turkey's economy slows
Deep in a provincial region of northwestern Turkey, it looks like a mirage - hundreds of luxury houses built in neat rows, their pointed towers somewhere between French chateau and Disney castle.
Meant to provide luxurious accommodations for foreign buyers, the houses are however standing empty in what is anything but a fairytale for their investors.
The ambitious development has been hit by regional turmoil as well as the slump in the Turkish construction industry - a key sector - as the country's economy heads towards what could be a hard landing in an intensifying downturn.
After a long period of solid growth, Turkey's economy contracted 1.1 per cent in the third quarter, and many economists expect it will enter into recession this year.
The country has been hit by high inflation and a currency crisis in August. The lira lost 28 per cent of its value against the dollar in 2018 and markets are still unconvinced by the readiness of the government under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to tackle underlying economic issues.
The villas close to the town centre of Mudurnu in the Bolu region are intended to resemble European architecture and are part of the Sarot Group's Burj Al Babas project.
But the development of 732 villas and a shopping centre - which began in 2014 - is now in limbo as Sarot Group has sought bankruptcy protection.
It is one of hundreds of Turkish companies that have done so as they seek cover from creditors and to restructure their debts.
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
Gender pay parity on track in the UAE
The UAE has a good record on gender pay parity, according to Mercer's Total Remuneration Study.
"In some of the lower levels of jobs women tend to be paid more than men, primarily because men are employed in blue collar jobs and women tend to be employed in white collar jobs which pay better," said Ted Raffoul, career products leader, Mena at Mercer. "I am yet to see a company in the UAE – particularly when you are looking at a blue chip multinationals or some of the bigger local companies – that actively discriminates when it comes to gender on pay."
Mr Raffoul said most gender issues are actually due to the cultural class, as the population is dominated by Asian and Arab cultures where men are generally expected to work and earn whereas women are meant to start a family.
"For that reason, we see a different gender gap. There are less women in senior roles because women tend to focus less on this but that’s not due to any companies having a policy penalising women for any reasons – it’s a cultural thing," he said.
As a result, Mr Raffoul said many companies in the UAE are coming up with benefit package programmes to help working mothers and the career development of women in general.
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MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – FINAL RECKONING
Director: Christopher McQuarrie
Starring: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg
Rating: 4/5
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
ATP RANKINGS (NOVEMBER 4)
1. Rafael Nadal (ESP) 9,585 pts ( 1)
2. Novak Djokovic (SRB) 8,945 (-1)
3. Roger Federer (SUI) 6,190
4. Daniil Medvedev (RUS) 5,705
5. Dominic Thiem (AUT) 5,025
6. Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) 4,000 ( 1)
7. Alexander Zverev (GER) 2,945 (-1)
8. Matteo Berrettini (ITA) 2,670 ( 1)
9. Roberto Bautista (ESP) 2,540 ( 1)
10. Gaël Monfils (FRA) 2,530 ( 3)
11. David Goffin (BEL) 2,335 ( 3)
12. Fabio Fognini (ITA) 2,290
13. Kei Nishikori (JPN) 2,180 (-2)
14. Diego Schwartzman (ARG) 2,125 ( 1)
15. Denis Shapovalov (CAN) 2,050 ( 13)
16. Stan Wawrinka (SUI) 2,000
17. Karen Khachanov (RUS) 1,840 (-9)
18. Alex De Minaur (AUS) 1,775
19. John Isner (USA) 1,770 (-2)
20. Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) 1,747 ( 7)
HOW DO SIM CARD SCAMS WORK?
Sim swap frauds are a form of identity theft.
They involve criminals conning mobile phone operators into issuing them with replacement Sim cards, often by claiming their phone has been lost or stolen
They use the victim's personal details - obtained through criminal methods - to convince such companies of their identity.
The criminal can then access any online service that requires security codes to be sent to a user's mobile phone, such as banking services.
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
Innotech Profile
Date started: 2013
Founder/CEO: Othman Al Mandhari
Based: Muscat, Oman
Sector: Additive manufacturing, 3D printing technologies
Size: 15 full-time employees
Stage: Seed stage and seeking Series A round of financing
Investors: Oman Technology Fund from 2017 to 2019, exited through an agreement with a new investor to secure new funding that it under negotiation right now.
The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
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Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
