The best of current Arabic music will reverberate in the halls of Dubai International Exhibition Centre as it plays host to the Arabian Music Awards on May 15.
The 10 live performances lined up for the day will also feature top Western artists in the Grammy-style ceremony.
Additional glamour will be lend by international celebrity presenters at the musical extravanganza held under the patronage of Dubai Media City.
The nominations for the first Arabian Music Awards were announced yesterday. Abbas Ibrahim, Louay and Cheb Jilani are in the race for the Best New Artist prize while Haifa Wehbeh and Shahinaz are among eight women hoping the clinch Best New Female Artist award.
Nancy Ajram, Elham Madfai and Wael Kafori from Levant all want to claim the category of Best Album.
Leading performers like Fadel Shaker, Cheb Rizki, Nawal, Amr Diab, Cheb Mami, Latifah and Elham Madfai are in the fray for the top people's choice awards.
It is literally the People's choice, as winners are selected by online and SMS voting. To ensure security, top accountants Ernst and Young will tally the votes.
Online and SMS voting for the artists begins on April 15. By logging onto: www.arabianmusicawards.com, voters can choose their favourite artist from the GCC, Egypt, Levant and Maghreb.
Carolina Di Oliveira, a presenter with the event's official broadcaster MBC, who will compere the contest, said: "Music fans from across the region will enjoy watching their favourite Arabic music artists perform live in Dubai at the region's most spectacular and unique music awards ceremony.
"The ceremony will be broadcast live for three hours to millions of viewers across the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia."
Bilal Dayani, Director of Arabian Music Academy, added: "The audience will enjoy a lovely surprise because a legendary artist will be honoured from among a long-list of renowned music figures including Fayrouz, Sabah Fakhri, Wardah, Wadie El Safi and many others. The organisers and the music award sponsors will choose the artist."
People's Choice Awards* Best Song - Male & Female: Overall, GCC, Levant, Egyptian, Maghrabi (separate awards)* Best Album: GCC, Levant, Egyptian, Maghrabi
(separate awards)* Best Artist, Overall - Male & Female* Best New Artist, Overall - Male & Female* Best Arabic Video * Best Arabic Dance Act * Best Arabic Modern Act (new style music) * Best Collaboration Act* Best International Artist - Male & Female* Best International Group* Best International Pop Act* The Peer Awards has also been introduced so the artists can vote each other for the Best Overall Artist (male/female).
Gulf News
