# Amr Diab

Amr Abdel Basset Abdel Azeez Diab (Arabic: عمرو عبد الباسط عبد العزيز دياب,; born 11 October 1961) is an Egyptian singer, composer and actor. He has established himself as a globally acclaimed recording artist and author. He is a Guinness World Record holder, the best selling Middle Eastern artist, a seven-times winner of World Music Awards and five-times winner of Platinum Records.

## Early life

Diab was born as Amr Abdel Basset Abdel Azeez Diab on 11 October 1961 in Port Said to a middle-class Egyptian Muslim family from the countryside of Menia Elamh in Sharqia Governorate. Diab graduated with a bachelor's degree in music from the Cairo Academy of Arts in 1986.

## Music career

Diab released his first album entitled Ya Tareeq in 1983. Diab's second album, Ghanny Men Albak (1984), was the first of a series of records he released with Delta Sound; including Hala Hala (1986), Khalseen (1987), and Mayyal (1988). His later releases include Shawa'na (1989), Matkhafesh (1990), Habibi (1991), Ayyamna (1992), Ya Omrena (1993), Weylomony (1994), and Rag'een (1995).
By 1992, he became the first Egyptian and Middle Eastern artist to start making high-tech music videos.
In 1996, Diab released his first album with Alam El Phan entitled Nour El Ain, and he won the World Music Award for the first time, which proved an international success and gained Diab recognition beyond the Arabic-speaking world. Diab recorded four more albums with Alam El Phan, including Amarain (1999). Diab also collaborated with Khaled (on the song "Alby") and with Angela Dimitriou (on the song "Bahebak Aktar").
According to research by Michael Frishkopf, he has created a style in the song "Nour El Ain", termed as "Mediterranean music", a blend of Western and Middle Eastern/Egyptian rhythms.
In the summer of 2004, Diab, having left Alam El Phan, released his first album with Rotana Records, Leily Nahary, which he followed up with the hugely successful Kammel Kalamak (2005), and El Lilady (2007).
Wayah was released for sale on the internet on 27 June 2009; however, the album was leaked online and was downloaded illegally amid complaints of slow download speed on the official site. Diab's fans initiated a massive boycott of the sites with the illegal copies.
On 18 October 2009, Diab won four 2009 African Music Awards in the categories of best artist, album, vocalist and song for "Wayah"; Diab had been nominated by the Big Apple Music Awards.
In February 2011, Diab released his hit single Masr Allet ("Egypt spoke"), followed by the release of his album Banadeek Taala in September, produced by Rotana. In 2012, Diab hosted the first Google Hangout in the Middle East during his performance in Dubai. In October 2014, Diab released his album Shoft El Ayam, which topped his last album El Leila (2013) and again became the best-selling album in Egypt on iTunes andp eaked at No. 1 on the Billboard World Albums Charts, making him the first Egyptian and Middle Eastern performer to accomplish such a feat. In July 2015, Diab released a music video for his song "Gamalo" from his album Shoft El Ayam. In March 2016, he released Ahla w Ahla, his first album since he left Rotana Music. The album was produced by the record label Nay For Media. His new album Maadi el Nas was released in July 2017 with Nay Records.
In October 2018, he released a new album called Kol Hayaty. In 2019, he released a mini-album, Ana Gheir, and in February 2020, he released his 30th album, Sahran, which included 16 songs. In the same year, Amr Diab released another album, Ya Ana Ya La, at the end of the year, December 31, 2020.
From April 2021 to July 2023, Amr Diab released a huge amount of singles, many of which topped the charts on digital listening platforms until his album release in 2023.
In February 2022, Anghami announced an exclusive partnership that will see the Diab's entire Nay Label audio and video catalogue and future releases available only on Anghami.
In December 2023, Amr Diab released an album called “Makanak” which contains 12 songs exclusively on Anghami.
Then released two singles called El Kelma El Helwa it was an Ad for Vodafone MUSIC (Egypt) and Hekyatna Helwa for Hyde Park both of them on the same March 11, 2024.
In April 2024, Rolling Stone picked Tamally Maak to top the Best Arabic Pop Songs of the 21st Century. In July of that year, his exclusive contract with Anghami expired.

## Musical style

Diab is known as the "father of Mediterranean music". David Cooper and Kevin Dawe refer to his music as "the new breed of Mediterranean music". According to author Michael Frishkopf, Diab has produced a new concept of Mediterranean music, especially with his international hit, "Nour El Ain". Moreover, Diab is known as a composer, having composed more than 97 of his own songs.

## Music videos

Diab is one of the first singers to popularize music videos in the whole MENA region and is the first Egyptian singer to appear in music videos.

## Film career

Diab's fame in the music industry has led him to experiment with other forms of media, such as film. Diab played himself in his first film, El Afareet, which was released in 1989. It also starred Madiha Kamel. His second film was Hussein El-Imam's production Ice Cream in Gleam (Ays Krim fi Glym), in which Diab starred in 1992, was chosen as one of the best five Egyptian musical films by the University of California, Los Angeles (ULCA) School of Theater, Film and Television. The film was featured in the UCLA Film and Television Archive's new program "Music on the Nile: Fifty Years of Egyptian Musical Films" at James Bridges Theater at UCLA on 6, 8 and 10 April 1999. David Chute of the LA Weekly termed it "observant" and "a big leap". His third movie was released in 1993, and was named Deahk We La'ab (Laughter and Fun). The film premiered in the Egyptian Film Festival in 1993. Diab played alongside international Egyptian movie star Omar Sharif (Lawrence of Arabia, Doctor Zhivago) and Yousra. Overall, Diab did not experience the same level of success in film that he had with his music career. Since 1993, Diab has focused on his singing career.

### Amr Diab in movies

Diab's songs have been used in several films, including:
* "Wala Ala Baloh" in Divine Intervention (2002)
* "Awedouni" in The Dancer Upstairs (2002)
* "El Alem Alah" and "Nour El Ain" in O Clone (2001)
* "Nafs El Makan" in Double Whammy (2001)
* "Tamally Ma'ak" and "Nour El Ain" in Coco (2009)
* "Wala Ala Baloh" in The Dictator (2012)

## Egyptian Revolution

During the 2011 uprising, some protesters criticized Diab for staying silent, and for fleeing Egypt for London. A few days after former President Hosni Mubarak stepped down, Diab composed and sang a memorial song, "Masr A'let" (Egypt Said), and released it in conjunction with a music video showing pictures of the martyrs who died in the uprising. He initiated a charity campaign "Masry Begad" ("Truly Egyptian"). His online radio station Diab FM often presents talks and discussions about what the Diab FM team can offer to the community as well as applying it practically by being present in different sites across Egypt with a new humanitarian project each week.

## Personal life

Diab has an elder daughter from his first marriage to Egyptian actress Shereen Reda. In 1994, he was married to Saudi businesswoman Zeina Ashour. They have three children. In 2018, he went on to marry Egyptian actress, Dina El Sherbiny, after his relationship with Ashour ended. It is unknown whether they were separated or divorced. However, Diab and El Sherbiny separated in late 2020.

## Discography
### Main Studio Albums

| Year | Original Title | Translation | Label |
| 1983 | Ya Tareeq | O Road | Sawt Al Madina |
| 1984 | Ghanni Min Albak | Sing From Your Heart | Delta Sound |
| 1986 | Hala Hala | Welcome Welcome | Delta Sound |
| 1987 | Khalseen | We're Done | Delta Sound |
| 1988 | Mayal | Leaning | Delta Sound |
| 1989 | Shawa'na | Make Us Miss You | Delta Sound |
| 1990 | Matkhafesh | Don't Be Afraid | Delta Sound |
| 1991 | Habibi | Baby | Delta Sound |
| 1992 | Ayamna | Our Days | Delta Sound |
| 1993 | Ya Omrena | O Our Life | Delta Sound |
| 1994 | We Yloumouni | Let Them Blame Me | Delta Sound |
| 1995 | Ragein | We're Coming Back | Delta Sound |
| 1996 | Nour El Ain | Light of the Eye | Alam El Phan |
| 1998 | Awedony | Made Me Used To You | Delta Sound |
| 1999 | Amarain | Two Moons | Alam El Phan |
| 2000 | Tamally Maak | Always With You | Alam El Phan |
| 2001 | Aktar Wahed | The One That Loves You The Most | Alam El Phan |
| 2003 | Allem Alby | Teach My Heart | Alam El Phan |
| 2004 | Lealy Nahary | Night and Day | Rotana |
| 2005 | Kammel Kalamak | Keep Talking | Rotana |
| 2007 | El Lilady | Tonight | Rotana |
| 2009 | Wayah | With Her | Rotana |
| 2011 | Banadeek Ta'ala | Come I'm Calling You | Rotana |
| 2013 | El Leila | This Night | Rotana |
| 2014 | Shoft El Ayam | I saw the days | Rotana |
| 2016 | Ahla W Ahla | Prettier and Prettier | Nay For Media |
| 2017 | Meaddy El Nas | Greater than People | Nay For Media |
| 2018 | Kol Hayaty | All My Life | Nay For Media |
| 2020 | Sahran | Up All Night | Nay For Media |
| 2020 | Ya Ana Ya La | Either Me or No One | Nay For Media |
| 2023 | Makanak | Your Place | Nay For Media |

### Singles

| Year | Original Title | Translation | Label |
| 1999 | Eleos - with Angela Dimitriou | Mercy | EMI |
| 1999 | Ana Mahma Kibirt | Whatever I Get Old, I Still Young | Alam El Phan |
| 2000 | El Quds De Aredna | Quds is Our "Arabs" Land | Rotana |
| 2000 | El Helm Da Helmena | This Dream is Ours | Rotana |
| 2002 | Bahebak Nefsi Aaolhalak | I Hope to Say I Love You | Alam El Phan |
| 2003 | Rouh Alby | Soul of My Heart | Alam El Phan |
| 2005 | Elly Beiny We Beinak | That Between You and Me | Rotana |
| 2007 | Allah Aliha | God Bless Her | Rotana |
| 2008 | Oldies Singles | | Rotana |
| 2009 | Leh Youm Ma Abeltak | Why That Happened When I Met You? | Rotana |
| 2009 | Makontsh Nawy | I didn't intend to | Rotana |
| 2010 | Nokia 5800 Releases | | Rotana |
| 2010 | Aslaha Betefre’a | It's different | Rotana |
| 2011 | Masr Alet | Egypt Said | Nay for Media |
| 2011 | La' Yestaheil | She deserves | Rotana |
| 2012 | Fe Haga Feek | There's Something With You | Rotana |
| 2012 | We Redet | I'm Satisfied | Rotana |
| 2012 | Ayesh Maak | I Spend Days With You | Rotana |
| 2013 | Dawam El Haal | What Goes around Comes around | Rotana |
| 2014 | Mesh Kol Wahed | Not Everybody | Rotana |
| 2014 | Ya Hob Dawebna | Oh love, Melt us in you | Rotana |
| 2015 | Balash Teb'ed | Don't Go Far | Nay for Media |
| 2016 | Al Qahera - ft. Mohamed Mounir | Cairo | Nay for Media |
| 2017 | El Farha El Leila | The Joy is tonight | Nay for Media |
| 2018 | Bahebak Ana | Me, Love You | Nay for Media |
| 2019 | Maa'darsh Al Nesyan | I cannot afford to forget | Nay for Media |
| 2019 | Gamaa Habybak | Gather Your Loved Ones | Nay for Media |
| 2019 | Africa (2019 Edition) | | Nay for Media |
| 2019 | Aha Gheir | I'm Different | Nay for Media |
| 2020 | Ya Baladna Ya Helwa | Our Country is Beautiful | Nay for Media |
| 2020 | Amaken El Sahar | Nightlife places | Nay for Media |
| 2021 | Inta El Haz | You're the Luck | Nay for Media |
| 2022 | El Ser | The Secret | Nay for Media |
| 2023 | Shokran Min Hena Le Bokra | Thank you from here on out | Nay for Media |

### Famous Songs

| Year | Original Title | Translation | Composers | Producers | Album |
| 1984 | Ghanni Min Albak | Sing From Your Heart | Hani Zaki, Azmi Al Kilany | Mohamed Helal | Ghanni Min Albak |
| 1984 | Ashof Ainaik | I See Your Eyes | Traditional, adaptation Issam Abdallah | Mohamed Helal | Ghanni Min Albak |
| 1986 | Hala Hala | Welcome Welcome | Magdi El Naggar, Amr Diab | Mohamed Helal | Hala Hala |
| 1987 | Khalseen | We're Done | Reda Ameen, Khalil Mostafa | Fathy Salama | Khalseen |
| 1988 | Mayal | Leaning | Magdi El Naggar, Haggag Abdel Rahman | Fathy Salama | Mayal |
| 1989 | Shawa'na | Make Us Miss You | Magdi El Naggar, Haggag Abdel Rahman | Hamid El Shaeri | Shawa'na |
| 1990 | Matkhafesh | Don't Be Afraid | Magdi El Naggar, Amr Diab | Hamid El Shaeri | Matkhafesh |
| 1991 | Aeh Pas Ille Ramak | What made you love? | Medhat El Adl, Amr Diab | Hossam Hosny | Habibi |
| 1992 | Ice Cream Fi Glym | Ice Cream in Glym | Medhat El Adl, Amr Diab | Hossam Hosny | Ice Cream in Glym |
| 1992 | Raseef Nemra Khamsa | Sidewalk Number Five | Medhat El Adl, Amr Diab | Hossam Hosny | Ice Cream in Glym |
| 1992 | Wehna Maak | We'll Sing With You | Medhat El Adl, Amr Diab | Hossam Hosny | Ice Cream in Glym |
| 1992 | El Mady | The Past | Magdi El Naggar, Abdel Azeez Al Nasir | Hamid El Shaeri | Ayamna |
| 1993 | Ya Omrena | Our Days Together | Magdi El Naggar, Amr Diab | Tarek Madkour | Ya Omrena |
| 1994 | Africa | Africa | Magdi El Naggar, Amr Diab | Modi El Emam | Zekrayat |
| 1995 | Ragein | We're Coming Back | Medhat El Adl, Reyad El Hamshari | Tarek Madkour | Ragein |
| 1996 | Nour El Ain | Light of the Eye | Ahmed Sheta, Nasser Al Mezdawy | Hamid El Shaeri | Nour El Ain |
| 1998 | Awedouny | Made Me Used to You | Abdel Monem Taha, Amr Tantawy | Hamid El Shaeri | Awedouny |
| 1999 | Alby (featuring Khaled) | My Heart | Magdi El Naggar, Amr Mahmoud | Farid Awamer | Amarain |
| 1999 | Amarain | Two Moons | Mohamed Refahey, Sherif Tag | Tarek Madkour | Amarain |
| 1999 | Bahebbak Aktar (featuring Angela Dimitriou) | I Love You More | Mohamed Refahy, Sherif Tag, Panos Falaras | Tarek Madkour | Amarain |
| 2000 | El Alem Allah | God Knows | Amir Teima, Amr Mostafa, Amr Diab | Tarek Madkour | Tamally Maak |
| 2000 | Tamally Maak | Always With You | Ahemd Ali Mousa, Sherif Tag | Tarek Madkour | Tamally Maak |
| 2000 | We Heya Amleh Eih | And How is She Doing | Bahaa El Din Mohamed, Essam Karika | Tarek Madkour | Tamally Maak |
| 2001 | Wala Ala Balo | Not On Her Mind | Mohamed Refahey, Mohamed Rahim | Tarek Madkour | Aktar Wahed |
| 2001 | Aktar Wahed | The One Who Loves You Most | Ahmed Ali Mousa, Amr Mostafa | Tarek Madkour | Aktar Wahed |
| 2001 | Kan Tayeb | He Was Good | Ayman Bahgat Kamar, Amr Diab | Tarek Madkour | Aktar Wahed |
| 2001 | Baed El Layaly | I Count The Nights | Mohamed Refahey, Khaled Ezz | Tarek Madkour | Aktar Wahed |
| 2003 | Allem Alby | Teach My Heart | Waleed Galal, Amr Diab, Khaled Ezz | Fahd | Allem Alby |
| 2003 | Ana Ayesh | I'm Alive | Rabea El Seuofey, Amr Diab, Amr Mostafa | Hani Yacoub | Allem Alby |
| 2004 | Lealy Nahary | Night and Day | Khaled Tag Eldeen, Amr Mostafa | Nader Hamdy | Lealy Nahary |
| 2004 | Qusad Einy | In front of My Eyes | Khaled Tag Eldeen, Amr Mostafa | Nader Hamdy | Lealy Nahary |
| 2005 | We Maloh | Why Not? | Khaled Tag Eldeen, Amr Mostafa | Tarek Madkour | Kammel Kalamak |
| 2005 | Kammel Kalamak | Keep Talking | Amir Teima, Nasser El Mezdawi | Tarek Madkour | Kammel Kalamak |
| 2007 | El Lilady | Tonight | Ayman Bahgat Kamar, Amr Mostafa | Hassan El Shafei | El Lilady |
| 2007 | Khalik Ma'aya | Stay With Me | Ayman Bahgat Kamar, Mohamed Yehia | Hassan El Shafei | El Lilady |
| 2009 | Wayah | With Her | Tamer Hussien, Amr Mostafa | Hassan El Shafei | Wayah |
| 2009 | Yehemak Fe Eih | What does it matter to you? | Ayman Bahgat Kamar, Mohamed Yehia | Hassan El Shafei | Wayah |
| 2010 | Aslaha Betifrek | It's Different | Magdy El Naggar, Amr Diab | Adel Hakki | Single Release |
| 2011 | Banadeek Taala | Come I'm Calling You | Tamer Hussien, Amr Diab | Adel Hakki | Banadeek Taala |
| 2011 | Ma'drrsh Ana | I Can't Handle | Tamer Hussien, Amr Tantawi | Adel Hakki | Banadeek Taala |
| 2013 | El Leila | This Night | Tamer Hussien, Amr Tantawi | Osama Elhendy | El Leila |
| 2013 | Sebt Faragh Kebeer | You've left a trail | Magdi El Naggar, Khalil Mostafa | Adel Hakki | El Leila |
| 2014 | Shoft El Ayam | Did You See the Days | Tamer Hussien, Shady Hassan | Adel Hakki | Shoft El Ayam |
| 2014 | Gamalo | Her Beauty | Tamer Hussien, Shady Hassan | Osama Elhendy | Shoft El Ayam |
| 2016 | Ragea | You're Back! | Tamer Hussien, Islam Zaki | Osama Elhendy | Ahla W Ahla |
| 2016 | Amentak | I have Placed a Trust in You | Tamer Hussien, Mohamed El Nady | Osama Elhendy | Ahla W Ahla |
| 2017 | Ya Agmal Eyoun | Most Beautiful Eyes | Turki Al Alsheikh, Amr Mostafa | Osama Elhendy | Meaddy El Nas |
| 2018 | Yetalemo | They Learn from You | Tamer Hussien, Amr Mostafa | Osama Elhendy | Kol Hayaty |
| 2018 | Da Law Etsab | If It Got Left | Ayman Bahgat Kamar, Mohamed Yehia | Osama Elhendy | Kol Hayaty |
| 2019 | Youm Talat | On Tuesday | Tamer Hussien, Aziz El Shafei | Osama Elhendy | Sahran |
| 2019 | Odam Merayetha | In Front of her Mirror | Tamer Hussien, Aziz El Shafei | Tarek Madkour | Sahran |
| 2020 | Zay Manty | You are as You are | Aziz El Shafei | Nader Hamdy | Sahran |
| 2020 | Ya Ana Ya La | Either Me or No One | Ayman Bahgat Kamar, Mohamed Yehia | Adel Hakki | Ya Ana Ya La |
| 2020 | Amaken El Sahar | Nightlife places | Tamer Hussien, Aziz El Shafei | Osama Elhendy | Single Release |
| 2021 | Inta El Haz | You're the Luck | Tamer Hussien, Aziz El Shafei | Wesam Adel Munem | Single Release |
| 2021 | Ray'a | When You're in the Mood | Ayman Bahgat Kamar, Mohamed Yehia | Tarek Madkour | Single Release |
| 2022 | Hatedalaa | You'll be spoiled | Mohamed El Kayaty, Mohamed Yehia | Ahmed Ibrahim | Single Release |
| 2022 | Elly Beina Hayah | What Between Us, is a Life | Aziz El Shafei | Wesam Abdel Munem | Single Release |
| 2023 | El Hafla | The Party | Ahmed Marzouk, Mohamed Kammah | Mohamed Kammah | Single Release |
| 2023 | Makanak | Your Place | Tamer Hussien, Amr Diab | Ahmed Ibrahim | Makanak |
| 2023 | Ya Amar | Oh Moon | Mostafa Hadouta, Amr Diab | Wesam Abdel Munem | Makanak |

## Awards

He has been awarded the World Music Award for Best Selling Middle Eastern Artist four times: 1996 for album Nour El Ain, 2001 for album Akter Wahed, 2007 for album El Lillady and 2013 for El Leila album. He has also won (Best Egyptian Artist, Best Male Arab Artist and World's Best Arab Male Artist Voted Online) at the World Music Awards 2014. Amr Diab is the only Middle Eastern artist to have received 7 World Music Awards. Five of his albums reached the top 10 of Billboard's World Albums chart, with Shoft El Ayam reaching No. 1 in 2014, the first for an Arabic performer. Alongside that accomplishment, two of his albums (2014's Shoft El Ayam and 2016's Ahla w Ahla) both peaked at 29 and 14 respectively on Billboard's Heatseekers charts.
On 28 September 2016, Diab announced that he achieved a Guinness World Records title for "Most World Music Awards for Best Selling Middle Eastern Artist".

### List of awards received by Amr Diab

* Seven World Music Awards (1997/2001/2007/2014)
* Six African Music Awards (2009/2010)
* Two All Africa Music Awards (2016/2017)
* Guinness World Record (2016)

## Program "Al-helm"

A program produced by Amr Afifi, consisting of 12 parts aired on Rotana Music, Rotana Cinema and Egyptian Channel 1 station. The program detailed the biography of Diab and was scheduled to be launched simultaneously with the release of Amr Diab's new album, but the album's release was postponed to a later date.