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.
Cairo, Egypt, 4 September 2011 Casablanca, Morocco, 8 September 2011 Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 15 September 2011 Kuwait City, Kuwait, 19 September 2011 Amman, Jordan, 26 September 2011 London, UK, 1 October 2011 Tunis, Tunisia, 5 October 2011 Beirut, Lebanon, 14 October 2011 Damascus, Syria auditions were originally scheduled for 26 September 2011, but the city was excluded after political unrest in the country.
Top 20 On 13 January 2012, the hand-picked Top 20 was revealed. Representing 9 Arab countries were:
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 Meen Da Elli Nseek – Nancy Ajram Ahmed Abassi Wala Marra – Melhem Barakat Dounia Batma Magadir – Talal Maddah Amine Bourguiba Elly Nissak – Abdallah Al Rowaished Ghazal Shashaah Ah Ya Ainy Ya Leil – Loai Hassan Kharbech Ya Rait – Ragheb Alama Ghofran Fatouhi El Assami – Thekra Karim Mohammad Ya Bahr Al Nile – Diab Habiba Bouziri Deggou El Mahabej – Fairuz Mahmoud Noufli Mata Mata – Hussain Al Jasmi Imane Karkibou Harramt Ahebak – Warda Al-Jazairia Marwan Fagui Zaman Al Samt – Talal Maddah Nadia Manfoukh Aal Nadda Annada – Sabah Mohamed Oulwan Taala Min Beit Abuha – Nazem Al Ghazali Rasha Sharnoubi Mesh Ayza Gherak Enta – Sherine Mohamed Taher Metghayer Alai – Abdel Majeed Abdallah Shaza Youssef Kattar Khayre – Sherine Yahya Yacoub Wallah – Shirine Ljmi Ma Room – Yara Youssef Arafat Aala Babi Waaef Amarain – Melhem Barakat
Top 10
Contestants28 Jan4 Feb11 Feb18 Feb25 Feb3 Mar10 Mar17 Mar24 Mar 1 Carmen Suleiman Btm 2 Btm 2 Winner 2 Dounia Batma Runner-up 3 Youssef Arafat Btm 3 Elim 4 Nadia Manfoukh Btm 3 Btm 2 Btm 3 Elim 5 Mohammed Taher Btm 2 Elim 6 Hassan Kharbech Btm 3 Elim 7 Ghofran Fatouhi Btm 3 Btm 2 Elim 8 Mohammed Oulwan Btm 3 Elim 9 Sherine Lejmi Btm 2 Elim 10 Yahya Yacoub Elim
Repertoire
Week 1 (27 January 2012) Guest/Mentor: Saber Rebaï Hassan Kharbech Bataabni Aala Kelma – George Wassouf Yahya Yacoub Allah A'ala El Dounya – Saber Rebaï Mohammad Oulwan Bahlam Beek – Abdelhalim Hafez Ghofran Fatouhi E'z El Habayeb – Saber Rebaï Dounia Batma Youm Aleik – Thekra Shirine Ljmi Barsha – Saber Rebaï Youssef Arafat La Tashkki Feyeh – Melhem Zein Mohamed Taher Sidi Mansour – Saber Rebaï Nadia Manfoukh 3al Tayer – Saber Rebaï Carmen Suleiman Ana Fintizarak – Umm Kulthum
Week 2 (3 February 2012) Guest/Mentor: Sherine Mohammad Oulwan Ha Habibi – Kadim Al Sahir Nadia Manfoukh Debna A Ghyabak – George Wassouf Shirine Ljmi Aala Bali – Sherine Mohamed Taher Tihagag Mounaya – Rashed Al-Majed Carmen Suleiman Ibaad (Leila Leila) – Mohammed Abdu Hassan Kharbech El Nas El Rayaa – Rami Ayach Ghofran Fatouhi Aala Bali – Adam Dounia Batma Daret El Ayam – Umm Kulthum Youssef Arafat Andak Bahriya – Wadih El Safi
Week 3 (10 February 2012) Guest/Mentor: Assi El Helani Carmen Suleiman Zay El Assal – Sabah (singer) Youssef Arafat Donya El Walah – Abdallah Al Rowaished Nadia Manfoukh Ya Msafer Wahdak – Mohammed Abdel Wahab Mohamed Taher Awel Marra – Abdel Halim Hafez Dounia Batma Lashhad Hobak – Najwa Karam Mohammad Oulwan Reddou Habibi – Melhem Zein Hassan Kharbech Leila – Ghofran Fatouhi El Ayoun El Soud – Warda Al-Jazairia
Week 4 (17 February 2012) Guest/Mentor: Majid Al Muhandis Hassan Kharbech Aa Hadeer Elbosta – Fairouz Dounia Batma Habina wa Thabina – Mayada Al Henawy Nadia Manfoukh Abeek – Abdallah Al Rowaished Carmen Suleiman Mathasibneesh – Sherine Ghofran Fatouhi Lamma Rah Alsabr Minno – Sharifa Fadel Mohamed Taher Moo Aala Kefak – Majid Al Muhandis Youssef Arafat Misheet Khalas – Wael Jassar
Week 5 (24 February 2012) Guest/Mentor: Nawal Al Zoghbi Youssef Arafat Khatarna Aala Balak – Hassan Kharbech & Carmen Suleiman Ya Rab – Marwan Khoury & Carole Samaha Mohamed Taher Sammi – Mohammed Abdu Youssef Arafat & Nadia Manfoukh Mas Wa Louli – Cheb Khaled & Diana Haddad Hassan Kharbech Law Aala Albi – Fadl Shaker Carmen Suleiman Seedi Wesalak – Angham Mohamed Taher & Dounia Batma Khayna – Rashed Al-Majed & Asma Lamnawar Nadia Manfoukh Medley – Samira Tawfiq Dounia Batma Akthar Min Awal – Ahlam
Week 6 (2 March 2012) Guest/Mentor: Elissa (singer) Mohamed Taher Sahran Maak Elleila – Ahmed El-Sharif Wainak Habibi – Rashed Al-Majed Carmen Suleiman Mostaheel – Warda Al-Jazairia La Tebki Ya Worood El Dar – Najwa Karam Nadia Manfoukh Aahd Allah – Melhem Barakat Lazraalak Bostan Worood – Fouad Ghazi Youssef Arafat Kel El Asayed – Marwan Khoury Reda Wallah Wa Radeinak – Talal Salama Dounia Batma Olli Aamallak Eh Albi – Mohammed Abdel Wahab Aal Bal – Samira Said
Week 7 (9 March 2012) Guest/Mentor: Kadim Al Sahir Dounia Batma Ma Aad Badri – Mohammed Abdu Akthar – Asala Nasri Youssef Arafat Aala Remsh E'younha – Wadih El Safi Omry Killo – Wael Kfoury Carmen Suleiman Ya Mounyati – Abdelmohsen Almohanna Adwaa El Shohra – Carole Samaha Nadia Manfoukh Emmi Namet Aa Bakkir – Fairuz Wahashtini – Souad Mohammad
Week 8 (16 March 2012) Guest/Mentor: Nancy Ajram Youssef Arafat Lalhin Ahebha – Nabil Shoail La Trouhi – Joseph Attieh Alli Gara – Oulaya Carmen Suleiman Albi Dalili – Laila Mourad Ma Yhimmak – Yara Alhin Ahebak – Thekra Dounia Batma Mali – Warda Al-Jazairia Wagif Aala Babikom – Naima Samih Tashakurat – Fulla
Week 9 (23 March 2012) Guest/Mentor: Najwa Karam / Latifa (singer) Carmen Suleiman Wallah Oyonak – Samira Said Enta Omri – Umm Kulthum El Rasayel – Mohamed Abdu Dounia Batma Ebtaed Anni – Talal Maddah Marsoul El Hob – Abdelwahab Doukkali Hob Eh – Umm Kulthum