Lebanese singer Elissa's online relationship with fans is deep. Courtesy Youness Hamiddine / Mawazine
Lebanese singer Elissa's online relationship with fans is deep. Courtesy Youness Hamiddine / Mawazine
Lebanese singer Elissa's online relationship with fans is deep. Courtesy Youness Hamiddine / Mawazine
Lebanese singer Elissa's online relationship with fans is deep. Courtesy Youness Hamiddine / Mawazine

How Lebanese singer Elissa became the leading Arab personality on Twitter


Saeed Saeed
  • English
  • Arabic

Elissa is the most powerful Arab on Twitter, according to a new tech report.

This month, the US social media intelligence company Brandwatch released its annual list of 50 influential people on the platform.

The top ten included a mix of politicians, singers and sports stars. US President Donald Trump topped the list followed by Indian counterpart Narendra Modi and pop singer Taylor Swift. Also appearing in the Top 10 is entrepreneur Elon Musk (4), Roar singer Katy Perry (5) and TV host Ellen DeGeneres at 10th place.

Elissa is the solo Arab personality in the Top 50, with the Lebanese singer landing in 45th place, above the likes of former US first lady Michelle Obama (50) and actor Leonardo Di Caprio (48).

In explaining the methodology, Brandwatch spokesperson Leia Read said the study looked further than the sheer number of followers - Obama's account has three million more followers than Elissa - but on the "level of genuine engagement they are creating."

“While lots of followers, retweets and replies will help, the more influential the people they engage with, the better the score,” she said.

Elissa welcomed her placement online with Tweets in both Arabic and English.

A real connection with fans

When it comes to Twitter, Elissa has always been a shrewd operator.

Where many of her peers such as Egyptian singers Amr Diab and Tamer Hosny, as well Lebanese singers Haifa Wehbe and Majida El Roumi use Twitter to simply plug new projects, post impersonal images and the odd intention to pursue legal action, Elissa and her management team have harnessed the power of the platform to build a devoted following.

While it is unknown when Elissa began her account, she has so far posted more than 58,000 tweets with some going as far back in 2012.

Written in a mixture of English, Arabic, French and in some cases Spanish (when declaring her undying support for football club Real Madrid), Elissa’s account is full of personal and professional commentary, touching on everything from her career to life in Lebanon and the region.

Since the August 4 port explosion in Beirut, Elissa has discussed at length the social and political ramifications, not to mention her own recovery after her home was damaged in the blast.

The artist also took to Twitter to deliver good and shocking news regarding her career.

On May 4 she announced completing the recording of recently released album Sahbit Raey and posted a picture of her in the studio with producers and songwriters.

This came after she took to Twitter in August 2019 to state the album would be her last due to a regional music industry she described as "similar to mafias."

A year prior, Elissa also posted her dismay at her record label Rotana's exclusive deal with streaming service Deezer, which meant the removal of her sizeable catalogue from rival platforms Spotify, Anghami and Apple Music.

From the highs and lows of her career, such steady content went on to create an image of Elissa as that rare, approachable superstar who has a relationship with her fan base that's deep and genuine.

"I have the best fans in the world," she tweeted in August, at the end of an online drive to raise funds for Beirut's recovery after the explosion.  "Each of you is giving what he can, and your donations are the most beautiful thing that happened since Aug 4. I love you all so much."

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company Profile

Company name: Fine Diner

Started: March, 2020

Co-founders: Sami Elayan, Saed Elayan and Zaid Azzouka

Based: Dubai

Industry: Technology and food delivery

Initial investment: Dh75,000

Investor: Dtec Startupbootcamp

Future plan: Looking to raise $400,000

Total sales: Over 1,000 deliveries in three months

HEADLINE HERE
  • I would recommend writing out the text in the body 
  • And then copy into this box
  • It can be as long as you link
  • But I recommend you use the bullet point function (see red square)
  • Or try to keep the word count down
  • Be wary of other embeds lengthy fact boxes could crash into 
  • That's about it
Asia Cup 2018 Qualifier

Sunday's results:

  • UAE beat Malaysia by eight wickets
  • Nepal beat Singapore by four wickets
  • Oman v Hong Kong, no result

Tuesday fixtures:

  • Malaysia v Singapore
  • UAE v Oman
  • Nepal v Hong Kong
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 
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Visa changes give families fresh hope

Foreign workers can sponsor family members based solely on their income

Male residents employed in the UAE can sponsor immediate family members, such as wife and children, subject to conditions that include a minimum salary of Dh 4,000 or Dh 3,000 plus accommodation.

Attested original marriage certificate, birth certificate of the child, ejari or rental contract, labour contract, salary certificate must be submitted to the government authorised typing centre to complete the sponsorship process

In Abu Dhabi, a woman can sponsor her husband and children if she holds a residence permit stating she is an engineer, teacher, doctor, nurse or any profession related to the medical sector and her monthly salary is at least Dh 10,000 or Dh 8,000 plus accommodation.

In Dubai, if a woman is not employed in the above categories she can get approval to sponsor her family if her monthly salary is more than Dh 10,000 and with a special permission from the Department of Naturalization and Residency Dubai.

To sponsor parents, a worker should earn Dh20,000 or Dh19,000 a month, plus a two-bedroom accommodation

 

 

 

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
ICC Awards for 2021

MEN

Cricketer of the Year – Shaheen Afridi (Pakistan)

T20 Cricketer of the Year – Mohammad Rizwan (Pakistan)

ODI Cricketer of the Year – Babar Azam (Pakistan)

Test Cricketer of the Year – Joe Root (England)

WOMEN

Cricketer of the Year – Smriti Mandhana (India)

ODI Cricketer of the Year – Lizelle Lee (South Africa)

T20 Cricketer of the Year – Tammy Beaumont (England)

The figures behind the event

1) More than 300 in-house cleaning crew

2) 165 staff assigned to sanitise public areas throughout the show

3) 1,000 social distancing stickers

4) 809 hand sanitiser dispensers placed throughout the venue

Specs

Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request

Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)

THE SPECS

Touareg Highline

Engine: 3.0-litre, V6

Transmission: 8-speed automatic

Power: 340hp

Torque: 450Nm

Price: Dh239,312

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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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 two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

ELIO

Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett

Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina

Rating: 4/5

Lexus LX700h specs

Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor

Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm

Transmission: 10-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh590,000

If you go…

Emirates launched a new daily service to Mexico City this week, flying via Barcelona from Dh3,995.

Emirati citizens are among 67 nationalities who do not require a visa to Mexico. Entry is granted on arrival for stays of up to 180 days. 

The specs
 
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
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Family: I have three siblings, one older brother (age 25) and two younger sisters, 20 and 13 

Favourite book: Asking for my favourite book has to be one of the hardest questions. However a current favourite would be Sidewalk by Mitchell Duneier

Favourite place to travel to: Any walkable city. I also love nature and wildlife 

What do you love eating or cooking: I’m constantly in the kitchen. Ever since I changed the way I eat I enjoy choosing and creating what goes into my body. However, nothing can top home cooked food from my parents. 

Favorite place to go in the UAE: A quiet beach.

Real estate tokenisation project

Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.

The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.

Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.

LILO & STITCH

Starring: Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Maia Kealoha, Chris Sanders

Director: Dean Fleischer Camp

Rating: 4.5/5

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Sheffield United 2 Bournemouth 1
United: Sharp (45 2'), Lundstram (84')
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Man of the Match: Jack O’Connell (Sheffield United)

Three ways to limit your social media use

Clinical psychologist, Dr Saliha Afridi at The Lighthouse Arabia suggests three easy things you can do every day to cut back on the time you spend online.

1. Put the social media app in a folder on the second or third screen of your phone so it has to remain a conscious decision to open, rather than something your fingers gravitate towards without consideration.

2. Schedule a time to use social media instead of consistently throughout the day. I recommend setting aside certain times of the day or week when you upload pictures or share information. 

3. Take a mental snapshot rather than a photo on your phone. Instead of sharing it with your social world, try to absorb the moment, connect with your feeling, experience the moment with all five of your senses. You will have a memory of that moment more vividly and for far longer than if you take a picture of it.

MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW

Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman

Director: Jesse Armstrong

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BACK%20TO%20ALEXANDRIA
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50-man Royal Rumble - names entered so far include Braun Strowman, Daniel Bryan, Kurt Angle, Big Show, Kane, Chris Jericho, The New Day and Elias

Universal Championship Brock Lesnar (champion) v Roman Reigns in a steel cage match

WWE World Heavyweight Championship AJ Styles (champion) v Shinsuke Nakamura

Intercontinental Championship Seth Rollins (champion) v The Miz v Finn Balor v Samoa Joe

United States Championship Jeff Hardy (champion) v Jinder Mahal

SmackDown Tag Team Championship The Bludgeon Brothers (champions) v The Usos

Raw Tag Team Championship (currently vacant) Cesaro and Sheamus v Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt

Casket match The Undertaker v Chris Jericho

Singles match John Cena v Triple H

Cruiserweight Championship Cedric Alexander v tba

 

Director: Laxman Utekar

Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna

Rating: 1/5