Nadim Naaman takes the stage as first Arab lead star in ‘The Phantom of The Opera’ at Dubai Opera

The play, which centers on the theme of unrequited love, was written by the famed English composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, and made its debut in London in 1986. (Supplied)
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Updated 23 February 2024
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Nadim Naaman takes the stage as first Arab lead star in ‘The Phantom of The Opera’ at Dubai Opera

  • Lebanese-British theater performer realizes lifelong ambition after growing up with the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical

DUBAI: The moment has finally come for Lebanese-British theater actor Nadim Naaman. For over a decade, he has been associated with the popular musical “The Phantom of The Opera,” initially joining as an ensemble member.

The play, which centers on the theme of unrequited love, was written by the famed English composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, and made its debut in London in 1986. 

Growing up in the British capital, Naaman had seen the play’s posters on buses and taxis. It was a big deal in the world of theater.




Naaman worked his way up and recently landed the lead role of Phantom, making him the first actor of Arab origin to play the coveted male character on stage. (Supplied)

“I think I was probably 15 or 16 and my parents took my brother, sister and I to see it, like a family outing, and I remember thinking, ‘This is the best thing I’ve ever seen,’” Naaman told Arab News. 

Naaman worked his way up and recently landed the lead role of Phantom, making him the first actor of Arab origin to play the coveted male character on stage.

Until March 10, “The Phantom of The Opera” will be playing at the UAE’s Dubai Opera, with a production team of over 100 cast and crew members from around the world. 

For the actor, who has visited Dubai for three decades for family reasons, performing in the UAE feels like a full-circle moment. Last year, he also played the Phantom during the show’s run in Riyadh.

“I always knew that this was my dream role, and I just have to be patient and, hopefully, one day the opportunity would come,” he said ahead of the show’s opening night in Dubai.




For the actor, who has visited Dubai for three decades for family reasons, performing in the UAE feels like a full-circle moment. (Supplied)

“To be the first Arab to do so in this region, in Saudi and Dubai, is the perfect combination of circumstances ... I couldn’t have dreamt that would happen.”   

The award-winning musical is based on the early 20th-century novel “Le Fantome de l’Opera” by the French author Gaston Leroux. Set at the Palais Garnier opera house in Paris, the venue is haunted by the hidden Phantom, a disfigured and passionate outcast, who falls for his protege, the young Swedish soprano Christine Daee. Things become intense when Christine’s lover, Raoul (played by Dougie Carter in the Dubai play), enters the picture. 

“It’s such a strong story. It’s a love triangle, which is always a winner. There is an element of recluse — someone who doesn’t fit in society and, of course, everyone at some point in their life can relate to that,” the English actress Harriet Jones, who plays Christine, told Arab News.

“The story of Christine is really a coming-of-age story, which suits my journey with the show because I first played her 10 years ago. Nadim and I have known each other for 10 years now. We’ve kind of grown up together on this show.”

Naaman, who formerly played Raoul, says that the Phantom is unlike any other character he has taken on.




Naaman says that the Phantom is unlike any other character he has taken on. (Supplied)

“With Raoul, it did always feel quite close to me. The Phantom is the complete opposite. To get ready to play a character and to look in the mirror and see somebody who is nothing like you, who behaves in a way that is nothing like you, is a really exciting and quite liberating experience because every single move you make or word that comes out of your mouth has a motivation that you have to really discover. It’s not easy, it’s hard work, but that’s what makes it rewarding.”

The other bit of hard work has also been wearing a face prosthetic (of a burn scar) covered with the mask, along with a wig, for every performance. The fitting takes more than an hour but helps Naaman get into character.

Around 20 shows have been scheduled at Dubai Opera, and for Naaman and Jones, it is still a thrill singing in front of an audience every night.

“Standing backstage and listening to the overture, which is so loud and big and it goes through your chest, that is almost when it starts for me. It’s an incredible feeling,” said Jones.  

Why has the musical been a hit with millions? Naaman believes it is the universality of its story that has made it popular until today, finding its way to new audiences in the Middle East.

“The show has been around for 40 years, but there is a new generation of audiences getting to experience it for the first time,” he said.

“Those key themes of love, unrequited love, and wanting to fit in and be accepted are relatable to all cultures, all ages, backgrounds. The key ingredients just keep people engaged the whole way through.”


Cartier exhibition brings regional celebrities to Dubai

Updated 11 February 2025
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Cartier exhibition brings regional celebrities to Dubai

DUBAI: French luxury label Cartier this week hosted its “A Journey of Wonders” high jewelry exhibition in Dubai, drawing a star-studded lineup of regional celebrities. 

Among the attendees were Egyptian Montenegrin actress Tara Emad, Tunisian actor Dhafer L’Abidine, TV presenter Raya Abirached and entrepreneur and host Anas Bukhash. Each guest showcased Cartier’s signature pieces.

Emad wore pieces from the Trinity Collection, featuring a mix of pink, yellow and white gold. Her ensemble included Trinity earrings with black lacquer and diamonds, a matching Trinity necklace and bracelet, and a Trinity ring incorporating the same materials.

The actress, who recently debuted a new short haircut on Instagram to her three million followers, paired her jewelry with a tailored black pantsuit by Lebanese designer Elie Saab. The ensemble featured a structured blazer with sharp lapels and intricate gold stitching along the edges and pockets.

Abirached wore a black Magda Butrym midi-length dress. (Supplied)

Abirached wore a black Magda Butrym midi-length dress featuring a strapless, structured bodice and an asymmetrical draped detail at the waist. She accessorized with Cartier’s Grain de Café collection, known for its intricate detailing. Her jewelry included Grain de Café earrings, a necklace and a ring, all crafted in yellow and white gold and set with diamonds. She completed the look with black open-toe heels adorned with floral embellishments. 

Meanwhile, L’Abidine, who sported a black suit, chose a refined selection of classic Cartier designs, wearing a Santos de Cartier watch in steel paired with a Love bracelet in white gold. 

L’Abidine sported a black suit. (Supplied)

Bukhash, on the other hand, opted for a mix of the brand’s signature pieces, including a Santos Dumont watch in yellow gold, a Juste un Clou bracelet in white gold, and a Love ring in white gold. 

Bukhash opted for a mix of the brand’s signature pieces. (Supplied)

These stars, who also serve as ambassadors for the brand, have previously collaborated with Cartier and attended its events.

In 2023, Emad, L’Abidine and Bukhash walked in the brand’s runway show in Dubai. 

That same year, in April, Emad starred in a Cartier campaign alongside L’Abidine, Tunisian-Egyptian actress Hend Sabri and Egyptian actor Ahmed Malek.


Review: Hulu’s ‘Muslim Matchmaker’ has heart, but not enough spark

Updated 11 February 2025
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Review: Hulu’s ‘Muslim Matchmaker’ has heart, but not enough spark

TORONTO: “Muslim Matchmaker” premiered on Hulu this week. The series is directed and produced by Smriti Mundhra (of Netflix’s “Indian Matchmaking” fame).

But this time around it’s not Sima Aunty and her outrageous comments, but rather two older sister types – Hoda Abrahim and Yasmin Elhady – who are helping eight Muslim Americans find love.

The premise of their matchmaking business is the “Rules of Three: Three dates, three months, and three hundred questions.” In an era of dating apps and superficial swipes, the duo urges couples to approach their search for love with intention. They emphasize the importance of giving the relationship time and space to grow while asking the right questions.

The eight-episode show provides a fresh perspective on Muslim Americans as they navigate both their Muslim and cultural identities in the West. It offers captivating discussions on topics like cultural expectations when dating an older woman, the appropriate timeline to “date,” and finding a partner with an equal “halal-to-haram ratio.” These discussions are sure to resonate with many. And perhaps, offer a glimpse into a Muslim world that’s rarely seen in mainstream Western media.

The show comes with good intentions. For one, it acknowledges dating app fatigue. It offers a refreshing take with matchmakers who approach singles’ choices without judgment or sacrilegious remarks about “wanting too much” (looking at you, Sima Aunty).

But that’s also probably the biggest failing of the show. Dating shows thrive on drama – and there’s none here.

Tension doesn't surface until episode four. A Bengali-American woman is older than the man she’s dating, and cultural norms deem this unacceptable. We’re left on a cliffhanger, wondering how the Bengali-American man will disclose the relationship to his family.

It shouldn’t take that long to get us hooked.


Saudi creative Sarah Taibah stars in Loewe’s Ramadan campaign

Updated 10 February 2025
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Saudi creative Sarah Taibah stars in Loewe’s Ramadan campaign

  • Taibah shared behind-the-scenes photographs from the campaign shoot on Instagram, jokingly captioning the post “GCCCCC. The Gulf Cooperation Council Countries’ Cutest Creatives Crew, brought together by @loewe”

DUBAI: Spanish luxury fashion house Loewe has unveiled a Ramadan campaign directed by Lebanese Sudanese auteur Dana Boulos and starring Saudi actress and filmmaker Sarah Taibah and Saudi Olympic rower Husein Alireza.

The cast is rounded out by Omani artist Mays Almoosawi, Kuwaiti visual artist Najd Al-Taher, Emirati film director Sarah Al-Hashimi, Kuwaiti DJ Cascou and Bahraini contemporary artist Salman Al-Najem.

Taibah shared behind-the-scenes photographs from the campaign shoot on Instagram, jokingly captioning the post “GCCCCC. The Gulf Cooperation Council Countries’ Cutest Creatives Crew, brought together by @loewe.”

The campaign promotes the brand’s Silver Capsule Collection, its first-ever release for Ramadan by designer JW Anderson. With the concept, creative direction, casting and production by Between Us Boys Studio, and post-production handled by DAHOUL Studio, the clip focuses on a clock ticking down until iftar, the meal that breaks a Muslim’s fast during Ramadan.

The Silver Capsule Collection released at select stores the Middle East and at Harrods in London, on Sunday.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Dana Boulos (@danaboulos)

The collection sees the brand’s signature bags get a Ramadan makeover; the Puzzle bag appears in vetiver crocodile, while the Flamenco clutch and Squeeze bag are offered in metallic textures with intricate beading. The ready-to-wear selection boasts silky belted pajamas, soft nappa leather sets, and day-to-night silk dresses.

Los Angeles-based Boulos, who directed the campaign, has worked on short films, music videos, and fashion commercials for the likes of Mercedes Benz, Glossier, and Farfetch.

For her part, Taibah shot to fame for her show “Jameel Jeddan,” the first Saudi show starring, written, and created by a Saudi woman.

The plot of the 2022 release was anything but typical. Strong-headed Jameel wakes up from a five-year coma and is forced to finish her last year in high school and rejoin a society she no longer associates with. As a coping mechanism, she begins to experience glitches in the form of an animated alternative reality.

Taibah is currently working on off-beat Saudi romcom “A Matter of Life and Death,” which she wrote. The film is being directed by Anas Batahaf and will star Taibah and Yaqoub Al-Farhan.


Saudi-backed film ‘Seeking Haven for Mr. Rambo’ gets US festival debut

Updated 10 February 2025
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Saudi-backed film ‘Seeking Haven for Mr. Rambo’ gets US festival debut

DUBAI: Backed by Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Film Fund, Egyptian filmmaker Khaled Mansour’s “Seeking Haven for Mr. Rambo” had its US premiere at the 40th Santa Barbara International Film Festival.

With screenings on Feb. 9, 11, and 14 at the US festival, the film travelled to the country after screenings at the Venice Film Festival and Jeddah’s Red Sea International Film Festival (RSIFF) in 2024.

The first Egyptian film to screen at September’s Venice Film Festival in 12 years, “Seeking Haven for Mr. Rambo” tells the story of protagonist Hassan as he searches for a safe haven for his best friend, his beloved dog Rambo, after the canine is threatened by their landlord.

“The story of ‘Seeking Haven for Mr. Rambo’ focuses on my generation and, through Hassan’s journey, we went deep into our thoughts, beliefs, fears, and sense of belonging. This project took about eight years to make because I intended to present unique and genuine cinema,” Mansour told Arab News at December’s RSIFF.

The auteur, who has also directed three short films and a mini-series titled “Rawaa Reads” (2023), continued: “It is my first feature-length narrative film, and this film is not (just) about a dog and his friend, but it is about the complexities of our generation, highlighting (the) struggle … that we go through in our society.”

The film was inspired by a real incident that resulted in an Egyptian court jailing four men in 2015 over the brutal killing of a dog, which was filmed and sparked outrage when the video went viral.


Sotheby’s ‘Origins’ auction in Diriyah achieves more than $17 million in sales, with Saudi artists shining

Updated 09 February 2025
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Sotheby’s ‘Origins’ auction in Diriyah achieves more than $17 million in sales, with Saudi artists shining

RIYADH: Sotheby’s inaugural auction in Saudi Arabia, titled “Origins,” concluded on Saturday with a total of $17,283,840 in sales in the fine art and luxury categories.

The historic event at Diriyah’s Bujairi Terrace was a turning point for the Kingdom’s art and luxury scene, with Saudi artists garnering significant attention.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by (@visitdiriyah)

Jerry Inzerillo, CEO of Diriyah Company, highlighted the significance of the collaboration between Diriyah and Sotheby’s.

“A few years ago, we decided that Sotheby’s, as a 277-year-old brand, had to match up with Diriyah because the value systems were the same, and you can’t be Sotheby’s without being in Diriyah,” he said in his opening remarks.

The modern and contemporary art section featured works by Saudi artists that collectively realized $1.1 million in sales.

Abdulhalim Radwi’s vibrant 1984 market scene set a personal auction record, selling for $264,000 after fierce bidding online and in the room. (Supplied)

Mohammed Al-Saleem’s untitled work, sourced directly from the artist’s daughter, led the Saudi work on offer.

The piece, blending abstract Arabic calligraphy with Al-Saleem’s vision of Saudi landscapes, sparked intense competition among four bidders before selling for a remarkable $660,000 — triple its pre-sale estimate.

Abdulhalim Radwi’s vibrant 1984 market scene set a personal auction record, selling for $264,000 after fierce bidding online and in the room.

Ahmed Mater’s “Illumination Diptych (Makkiah Tale)” exceeded expectations at $102,000.

Mater, one of Saudi Arabia’s most acclaimed contemporary artists, is internationally celebrated, with works displayed by institutions throughout the Arab world, the UK and the US.

Rene Magritte’s “L’Etat de veille” sold for $1.2 million. (Supplied)

Maha Malluh’s “Magadeer” (from the “Food for Thought” series), inspired by the cultural and spiritual heritage of the Najd area of the Kingdom, sold for $84,000, also surpassing its estimate.

When it came to international works, surrealist Rene Magritte’s “L’Etat de veille” sold for $1.2 million and Fernando Botero’s “Society Woman” made $1 million. Meanwhile, Banksy’s “Subject to Availability” from his series of vandalised oils, sold for $1.2 million.

The luxury segment dazzled collectors with an extraordinary selection of rare items, such as a Patek Philippe Grand Complication watch, a Cartier diamond necklace from the Art Deco era, and a limited-edition Hermes Birkin bag crafted from exotic leather.

Collectors from 45 countries took part in the auction, demonstrating its global appeal, while nearly one-third of the lots were bought by buyers from Saudi Arabia.

Additionally, more than 30 percent of participants were under the age of 40, reflecting the growing interest in art and luxury items among younger generations.