Finalists Unveiled for the First Ever Billboard Arabia Music Awards

After a year of chart-topping trends, Billboard Arabia is set to celebrate the Arab world’s finest talent.

Marrakech – The first-ever Billboard Arabia Music Awards (BBAMAs) is set to light up the King Fahad Cultural Center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on December 11.

All year long, Billboard Arabia’s 10 charts have tracked what’s been trending across four key dialects and four musical genres, alongside heavy hitters like the Artist 100 and Hot 100.

The winners? They’ll be crowned based on their performance across these flagship charts and the dialect-specific ones – Khaleeji, Egyptian, Levantine, and Maghrebi, as well as genre charts for Arabic Hip-Hop, Arabic Indie, Shelat, and Mahraganat.

With over 40 award categories unveiled, the BBAMAs are shaping up to be a full-blown celebration of the region’s vibrant music scene, covering everything from top artists to diverse genres.

Here are some of the standout categories to watch for:

The “Artist of the Year” category at the BBAMAs features an impressive lineup of regional icons: Amr Diab, Al Shami, Nancy Ajram, Sherine Abdel Wahab, Ahmed Saad.

In the “Top Male Artist” category, the competition is fierce with chart-toppers like Al Shami, Dystinct, Ahmed Saad, the iconic Amr Diab, and Tamer Ashour vying for the crown.

Meanwhile, the “Top Female Artist” category is equally dazzling, featuring powerhouse performers Nancy Ajram, Elissa, Assala, Sherine Abdel Wahab, and rising star Elyanna.

The “Top Band” category brings together some of the region’s most dynamic groups: “Cairokee,” “Massar Egbari,” “Miami Band,” “Sharmoofers,” and “Al Massrieen,” each offering a unique sound that has captured the hearts of fans across the Arab world.

For “Top New Artist,” the spotlight shines on fresh talent like Dystinct, Elyanna, TUL8TE, Siilawy, and Al Shami, who are quickly making their mark with exciting music and standout performances. These rising stars are shaping the future of the industry.

The “Top Arabic Collaboration of the Year” category is packed with unforgettable musical pairings, including Ameen Khattab and Essam Sasa’s powerful track “Ehna Say’ Monharifin,” Assala Nasri and Ahmed Saad’s heartfelt “Sabb Farhety,” and Nassif Zeytoun and Rahma Riad’s smooth “Ma Fi Leil.”

Joining them are Saint Levant and MC Abdul bringing the Palestinian pride with their bold “Deira,” and Tawsen and Ayoub Anbaoui’s captivating “Dawini.“

The BBAMAs are about more than just crowning this year’s biggest stars – they’re a celebration of the incredible talent that pulses through the Arab world.

Expect to be blown away by an electric lineup of live performances and unexpected collaborations, with a mix of legends and fresh faces from across the region and its vibrant diaspora.

And don’t worry, Morocco World News Lifestyle will bring you all the updates and more. Stay tuned for part 2!