DUBAI: Lebanese singer and actress Haifa Wehbe, who was named Spotify’s Equal global ambassador for July — marking the latest international recognition for one of the Arab world’s most enduring pop stars — was featured on Spotify’s iconic Times Square billboard in New York City.
Wehbe was also the face of Spotify’s Equal Arabia program for July, highlighting her influence as an Arab pop icon across the region and beyond.
Launched in 2021, Spotify Equal aims to amplify and empower women artists around the world. Through Equal Arabia, the scheme celebrates the talent, creativity and cultural impact of women artists across the Arab world, connecting their music with audiences regionally and globally.
Over work spanning more than two decades, Wehbe has built a career across music, television, film and fashion. She has also fronted international campaigns and starred in Arab television series and box-office films. Recognized by People magazine and other international and regional media outlets as one of the world’s most beautiful women, Wehbe has also established herself as a cultural and fashion icon.
Over the course of her career, Wehbe has released a string of hit albums, including “Badi Eish” and “Habibi Ana,” helping to cement her status as one of the Arab world's most recognizable pop stars. Her music has amassed more than 150 million streams on Spotify, highlighting her enduring popularity and influence.
“Being the global ambassador for Spotify Equal means a great deal to me,” Wehbe said in a statement. “The program aligns closely with my belief in empowering women to rise beyond the limitations placed around them and claim their space on the stages of the world, fully owning their identities, careers, art and stories. It celebrates the legacies of women from around the world, and I’m honored to have mine celebrated through this program as well.”
Sarah Zaki, Spotify’s artist and label partnerships manager for Egypt, said: “Haifa has spent over two decades shaping Arab pop culture through her music, artistry and fearless self-expression. She has helped create space for women in Arab music to be seen and heard on their own terms, which is exactly what Spotify Equal is here to champion. Through this program, we celebrate women artists shaping culture today, Haifa among them, and the impact they continue to have on music and culture.”
