Arab Idol season 1 explained

Network:MBC 1

The first season of Arab Idol was launched on MBC 1 on 9 December 2011. MBC decided to launch a more stylish version of Pop Idol after the 5 seasons of Super Star, the previous Arabic license of the show. The season was presented by Lebanese model Annabella Hilal and Kuwaiti actor Abdallah Tulehi. The judging panel consisted of Lebanese singer Ragheb Alama, Emirati diva Ahlam and Egyptian music producer, record producer and musician Hassan El Shafei. On finale night, 24 March 2012, Carmen Suleiman from Egypt was crowned the winner of the first season of Arab Idol in a tough competition against Dounia Batma from Morocco. The high ranking of this first season encouraged MBC to launch a second season in 2013.

Auditions

In July 2011, the following audition cities were revealed on the official MBC 1 website, and in August the dates were revealed.

Top 20

On 13 January 2012, the hand-picked Top 20 was revealed. Representing 9 Arab countries are:

From Egypt: Carmen Suleiman (17), Yahya Yacoub (27), Rasha Sharnoubi (22), Shaza Youssef (17), Karim Mohammad (24)
From Tunisia: Hassan Kharbech (23), Ghofran Fatouhi (19), Shirine Ljmi (16), Amin Bourguiba (17)
From Morocco: Dounia Batma (20), Imane Karkibou (23), Habiba Bouziri (23)
From Jordan: Youssef Arafat (18), Ghazal Shashaah (23)
From Saudi Arabia: Mohamed Taher (23), Marwan Fagui (24)
From Iraq: Mohammad Oulwan (20)
From Oman: Mahmoud Noufli (21)
From Palestine: Ahmad Abbasi (25)
From Syria: Nadia Manfoukh (28)

Top 10 Females Top 10 Males
Carmen Suleiman Ahmed Abassi Wala MarraMelhem Barakat
Dounia Batma Amine Bourguiba Elly NissakAbdallah Al Rowaished
Ghazal Shashaah Hassan Kharbech Ya RaitRagheb Alama
Ghofran Fatouhi Karim Mohammad Ya Bahr Al NileDiab
Habiba Bouziri Mahmoud Noufli Mata MataHussain Al Jasmi
Imane Karkibou Marwan Fagui Zaman Al SamtTalal Maddah
Nadia Manfoukh Mohamed Oulwan Taala Min Beit AbuhaNazem Al Ghazali
Rasha Sharnoubi Mohamed Taher Metghayer AlaiAbdel Majeed Abdallah
Shaza Youssef Yahya Yacoub Wallah – Ziad Bourji
Shirine Ljmi Youssef Arafat Aala Babi Waaef AmarainMelhem Barakat

Top 10

Contestants28 Jan4 Feb11 Feb18 Feb25 Feb3 Mar10 Mar17 Mar24 Mar
1Carmen SuleimanBtm 2Btm 2Winner
2Dounia BatmaRunner-up
3Youssef ArafatBtm 3Elim
4Nadia ManfoukhBtm 3Btm 2Btm 3Elim
5Mohammed TaherBtm 2Elim
6Hassan KharbechBtm 3Elim
7Ghofran FatouhiBtm 3Btm 2Elim
8Mohammed OulwanBtm 3Elim
9Sherine LejmiBtm 2Elim
10Yahya YacoubElim

Repertoire

Week 1 (27 January 2012)
Guest/Mentor: Saber Rebaï

Hassan Kharbech Bataabni Aala KelmaGeorge Wassouf
Yahya Yacoub Allah A'ala El DounyaSaber Rebaï
Mohammad Oulwan Bahlam BeekAbdelhalim Hafez
Ghofran Fatouhi E'z El HabayebSaber Rebaï
Dounia Batma Youm AleikThekra
Shirine Ljmi BarshaSaber Rebaï
Youssef Arafat La Tashkki FeyehMelhem Zein
Mohamed Taher Sidi MansourSaber Rebaï
Nadia Manfoukh 3al TayerSaber Rebaï
Carmen Suleiman Ana FintizarakUmm Kulthum

Week 2 (3 February 2012)
Guest/Mentor: Sherine

Mohammad Oulwan Ha HabibiKadim Al Sahir
Nadia Manfoukh Debna A GhyabakGeorge Wassouf
Shirine Ljmi Aala BaliSherine
Mohamed Taher Tihagag MounayaRashed Al-Majed
Carmen Suleiman Ibaad (Leila Leila)Mohammed Abdu
Hassan Kharbech El Nas El RayaaRami Ayach
Ghofran Fatouhi Aala Bali – Adam
Dounia Batma Daret El AyamUmm Kulthum
Youssef Arafat Andak BahriyaWadih El Safi

Week 3 (10 February 2012)
Guest/Mentor: Assi El Helani

Carmen Suleiman Zay El AssalSabah (singer)
Youssef Arafat Donya El WalahAbdallah Al Rowaished
Nadia Manfoukh Ya Msafer WahdakMohammed Abdel Wahab
Mohamed Taher Awel MarraAbdel Halim Hafez
Dounia Batma Lashhad HobakNajwa Karam
Mohammad Oulwan Reddou HabibiMelhem Zein
Hassan Kharbech Leila – Abdel Rab Idris
Ghofran Fatouhi El Ayoun El SoudWarda Al-Jazairia

Week 4 (17 February 2012)
Guest/Mentor: Majid Al Muhandis

Hassan Kharbech Aa Hadeer ElbostaFairouz
Dounia Batma Habina wa Thabina – Mayada Al Henawy
Nadia Manfoukh AbeekAbdallah Al Rowaished
Carmen Suleiman MathasibneeshSherine
Ghofran Fatouhi Lamma Rah Alsabr Minno – Sherifa Fadel
Mohamed Taher Moo Aala KefakMajid Al Muhandis
Youssef Arafat Misheet KhalasWael Jassar

Week 5 (24 February 2012)
Guest/Mentor: Nawal Al Zoghbi

Youssef Arafat Khatarna Aala Balak – Tony Hanna
Hassan Kharbech & Carmen Suleiman Ya RabMarwan Khoury & Carole Samaha
Mohamed Taher SammiMohammed Abdu
Youssef Arafat & Nadia Manfoukh Mas Wa LouliCheb Khaled & Diana Haddad
Hassan Kharbech Law Aala AlbiFadl Shaker
Carmen Suleiman Seedi WesalakAngham
Mohamed Taher & Dounia Batma KhaynaRashed Al-Majed & Asma Lamnawar
Nadia Manfoukh MedleySamira Tawfiq
Dounia Batma Akthar Min AwalAhlam

Week 6 (2 March 2012)
Guest/Mentor: Elissa (singer)

Mohamed Taher Sahran Maak Elleila – Ahmed El-Sharif Wainak HabibiRashed Al-Majed
Carmen Suleiman La Tebki Ya Worood El DarNajwa Karam
Nadia Manfoukh Lazraalak Bostan Worood – Fouad Ghazi
Youssef Arafat Reda Wallah Wa Radeinak – Talal Salama
Dounia Batma Aal BalSamira Said

Week 7 (9 March 2012)
Guest/Mentor: Kadim Al Sahir

Dounia Batma AktharAsala Nasri
Youssef Arafat Omry KilloWael Kfoury
Carmen Suleiman Ya Mounyati – Abdelmohsen Almohanna Adwaa El ShohraCarole Samaha
Nadia Manfoukh Wahashtini – Souad Mohammad

Week 8 (16 March 2012)
Guest/Mentor: Nancy Ajram

Youssef Arafat Lalhin Ahebha – Nabil Shoail Alli Gara – Oulaya
Carmen Suleiman Alhin AhebakThekra
Dounia Batma Wagif Aala Babikom – Naima Samih TashakuratFulla

Week 9 (23 March 2012)
Guest/Mentor: Najwa Karam / Latifa (singer)

Carmen Suleiman El RasayelMohamed Abdu
Dounia Batma Hob EhUmm Kulthum