A figure of Palestinian singer Mohammed Assaf will join the wax celebrity ensemble at Madame Tussauds Dubai.
The Mraytak star met with his waxen counterpart on Tuesday during an unveiling at Ain Dubai, the world’s largest and tallest observation wheel, located on Bluewaters Island.
Assaf, 32, posted pictures from the encounter on his Instagram on Wednesday. A short clip also shows the former Arab Idol winner walking into a room and seeing the waxwork for the first time. The figure will be revealed to the public when Madame Tussauds opens later this year at Caesars Palace Dubai.
Assaf said uncovering his wax figure was “a very special occasion”.
“I am very happy to be featured among some of the biggest names in the world at Madame Tussauds when it opens later this year in the beautiful city of Dubai,” he said. “I am very impressed with the resemblance the figure holds to me and I cannot wait for everyone to visit the attraction and see it.”
To produce the uncanny likeness between Assaf and his figure, an expert team of Madame Tussauds sculptors travelled to Dubai to observe the singer and document his movements.
The team then spent three months in London intricately crafting the figure by hand, even inserting real hair – strand by strand. The wax figure is also decked out in one of Assaf’s own suits, and will have a permanent spot in the venue.
Assaf catapulted to fame when he won the second season of Arab Idol in 2013. The Gaza singer’s victory was watched by millions and ardently celebrated across Palestine.
That same year, he was appointed as a goodwill ambassador for peace by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees. The Palestinian government also named him an Ambassador for Arts and Culture.
The story of Assaf's journey from the overpopulated Khan Yunis refugee camp to the popular talent show was adapted into the 2015 biopic The Idol. The film was directed by award-winning Paradise Now director Hany Abu-Assad.
Assaf's most recent album, Stories About Palestine, was released this summer and described as a message of love to his home country.
“I do feel that I have a responsibility towards my people to carry their voices, their dreams, their hopes to the world so they can be heard,” Assaf said.
Assaf isn’t the only Arab star to meet their Madame Tussauds lookalike. Last month, Emirati-Yemeni pop star Balqees Fathi was announced as the first star to get a waxwork at the Dubai attraction.
Fathi had said that she was “overwhelmed by the incredible likeness” of the figure and commended the “impeccable attention to detail” that captured her personality.
Profile of Whizkey
Date founded: 04 November 2017
Founders: Abdulaziz AlBlooshi and Harsh Hirani
Based: Dubai, UAE
Number of employees: 10
Sector: AI, software
Cashflow: Dh2.5 Million
Funding stage: Series A
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Name: Peter Dicce
Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics
Favourite sport: soccer
Favourite team: Bayern Munich
Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer
Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates
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.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
War 2
Director: Ayan Mukerji
Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana
Rating: 2/5
THREE
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Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
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
