Arab Idol season 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.

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, Yahya Yacoub, Rasha Sharnoubi, Shaza Youssef, Karim Mohammad

From Tunisia: Hassan Kharbech, Ghofran Fatouhi, Shirine Ljmi, Amin Bourguiba

From Morocco: Dounia Batma, Imane Karkibou, Habiba Bouziri

From Jordan: Youssef Arafat, Ghazal Shashaah

From Saudi Arabia: Mohamed Taher, Marwan Fagui

From Iraq: Mohammad Oulwan

From Oman: Mahmoud Noufli

From Palestine: Ahmad Abbasi

From Syria: Nadia Manfoukh

Repertoire

Week 1

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

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 – 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

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 – Abdel Rab Idris
Ghofran Fatouhi	El Ayoun El Soud – Warda Al-Jazairia

Week 4

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 – Sherifa Fadel
Mohamed Taher	Moo Aala Kefak – Majid Al Muhandis
Youssef Arafat	Misheet Khalas – Wael Jassar

Week 5

Guest/Mentor: Nawal Al Zoghbi

Youssef Arafat	Khatarna Aala Balak – Tony Hanna
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

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

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

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

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