The 11 acts Hamdan is competing with, and the judges panel

With acrobats, drummers and stand-up comics from Tunis to Saudi Arabia, the latest series of Arabs Got Talent has lived up to its name. Here is a rundown of the other acts in the final, and the celebrity judges panel

Saeed Saeed
Saeed Saeed
Abu Dhabi

June 27, 2012

  • English
  • Arabic

Ridwan Shalbowey

A case of never say never. After getting eliminated in the early stages of last season, the Tunisian gymnast returns with an energetic performance that mixes dance with circus acrobatics.

Hussein Ramsy

An Egyptian acrobat famed for his balancing act, including standing on top of cylinders with trays of tea tumblers.

Maher Al Sheikh

A Syrian dancer whose thrilling routines incorporate elements of breakdance, martial arts and street mime.

Manal Malat

An accomplished Lebanese singer who has been performing since the age of five. She has already performed songs in English and French.

Makseem Al Shamy

A rounded artisan. Makseem is an accomplished painter. However, the Syrian is showcasing his operatic voice in this contest.

Hassen Maynawy

The Syrian multi-instrumentalist went one step further and created his own straw-shaped instrument that sounds like a horn.

Khawater Al Thalam

The Saudi magician makes use of light and dark to create nifty illusions.

Manhal Al Jameely

A Saudi stand-up comic whose charming routines have him dressed like a simpleton – but with razor-sharp wit.

Overboys

A 10-piece Moroccan drumming crew guaranteed to get your pulse racing.

La Hala King Zoo

A colourful Moroccan dance crew whose genre-bending routines mix breakdancing, Arabic pop and Bollywood costumes.

Dalia Sheikh

An Afro-haired Algerian singer who likes keeping things retro. She made it to the finals with a storming rendition of Aretha Franklin's Respect.

The Judges

Nasser Al Qasabi

The trailblazing Saudi comic and star of the comedy series Tash Ma Tash. Having run for two decades already with no signs of stopping, the show is renowned for its satirical take on Saudi Arabian life, winning as many admirers as critics. Qasabi's insights have proven useful, especially for non-musical acts.

Najwa Karam

One of the biggest Arabic pop artists from Lebanon. With more than 50 million albums sold, Karam has been credited for bringing together Arabic and Western pop traditions, with hit albums including Rouh Rouhi (1999), Nedmaneh (2001) and Sahrani (2003). Karam is a feisty judge, both compassionate and quick to show her displeasure.

Ali Jaber

Every talent show needs a bad guy and Ali Jaber fits the bill. While he is not as surly as his British counterpart Simon Cowell, the Lebanese journalist and academic's scowl and icy tone can send shivers up the spine of those performers he deems unsatisfactory.

While you're here
You might also like
Who's who in Yemen conflict

Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government

Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council

Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south

Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory

Towering concerns
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
%3Cp%3EName%3A%20DarDoc%3Cbr%3EBased%3A%20Abu%20Dhabi%3Cbr%3EFounders%3A%20Samer%20Masri%2C%20Keswin%20Suresh%3Cbr%3ESector%3A%20HealthTech%3Cbr%3ETotal%20funding%3A%20%24800%2C000%3Cbr%3EInvestors%3A%20Flat6Labs%2C%20angel%20investors%20%2B%20Incubated%20by%20Hub71%2C%20Abu%20Dhabi's%20Department%20of%20Health%3Cbr%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%2010%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Tomorrow 2021
While you're here
While you're here
Who is Allegra Stratton?

 

  • Previously worked at The Guardian, BBC’s Newsnight programme and ITV News
  • Took up a public relations role for Chancellor Rishi Sunak in April 2020
  • In October 2020 she was hired to lead No 10’s planned daily televised press briefings
  • The idea was later scrapped and she was appointed spokeswoman for Cop26
  • Ms Stratton, 41, is married to James Forsyth, the political editor of The Spectator
  • She has strong connections to the Conservative establishment
  • Mr Sunak served as best man at her 2011 wedding to Mr Forsyth
BABYLON
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Damien%20Chazelle%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStars%3A%20Brad%20Pitt%2C%20Margot%20Robbie%2C%20Jean%20Smart%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

Villains
Queens of the Stone Age
Matador

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.”

ArtMusicOn Stage