Arab fans experienced moments of anxiety during Lebanese artist Elissa's concert in the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi, as the "Queen of Feelings" nearly suffered a severe fall on stage, an incident that quickly became a trending topic on social media platforms.

Details of Elissa's stumble and how the situation was rectified

While performing one of her popular romantic songs, Elissa suddenly tripped, momentarily losing her balance. However, the Lebanese artist's extensive stage experience allowed her to quickly regain her composure, avoiding a full-blown fall in front of the audience. She then confidently continued her performance with a smile, amidst enthusiastic applause from the audience who praised her skillful handling of the situation.

A night of musical entertainment and artistic surprises in Abu Dhabi

This brief incident did not detract from the enchanting atmosphere of the concert, as Elissa presented a diverse selection of her most beautiful songs, blending the old with the new. The audience enthusiastically responded to hits such as "Aishalak," "Ta'ebt Mennak," and "Faker," in addition to "Habeit Ayami." A highlight of the evening was the participation of the multi-talented star Marwan Khoury, with whom she performed a duet of "Kermalak," a performance reminiscent of the successful collaborations between this iconic duo in the Lebanese music scene.

A huge concert tour in America and Canada

This concert comes as part of an intense artistic schedule for Elissa, who is preparing to pack her bags and head to North America for a series of major concerts this February. This tour holds particular significance for Arab communities abroad, with the dates scheduled as follows:

• February 6: The tour kicks off from Canada.
• February 7: A huge party in Brooklyn, New York City, USA.
• February 13: Moving to San Diego.
• February 14: A special Valentine's Day party in Detroit.
• February 28: The tour concludes in the Canadian city of Funen.

New album postponed: Art in the shadow of crises

On the artistic front, the repercussions of the political and security situation in Lebanon continue to cast a shadow over Elissa's artistic plans. Despite the completion of recording and distribution for her new album, the artist has decided to postpone its official release. This decision reflects Elissa's sense of national responsibility, as she previously stated her desire to avoid repeating the experience of her previous album, "Sahbet Ra'y" (A Woman of Opinion), which was released during a difficult period. She emphasized that art is a message whose release timing must be carefully considered out of respect for the feelings of the public and the general circumstances facing her homeland, Lebanon.

In a move reflecting a strong commitment to literary quality and high artistic standards, Dar Al Saqi officially announced the withholding of the May Ghosoub Prize for Fiction in its fourth edition for the year 2026. This decision came after careful reviews and extensive discussions conducted by the judging committee, which concluded in its final statement that the participating works, despite appreciating the efforts made in them, did not reach the required artistic level on which the prize was founded.

A responsibility towards literature and the reader

The publishing house explained that the decision to withhold the award was not easy, but stemmed from the committee's awareness of its significant responsibility towards Arabic literature, the discerning reader seeking quality, and emerging writers who need genuine standards to evaluate their talent. This award is a vital platform dedicated to writers who have not previously published a book, aiming to discover and encourage promising new voices in the Arab cultural landscape.

Context and importance of the award

The prize is named after the late May Ghosoub, the Lebanese artist, writer, and publisher who founded Dar al-Saqi and was known for her advocacy of freedom of expression and support for unconventional creativity. The decision to withhold this year's award underscores that it is not merely a routine annual accolade, but rather a testament to quality, granted to works that make a genuine contribution to Arabic literature. This approach strengthens the credibility of Arabic literary prizes and protects them from the pitfalls of favoritism or compromising artistic standards, thus raising expectations for future cycles and encouraging young writers to further refine their narrative skills.

Details of the entries and the judging panel

This edition witnessed a wide turnout, with the publishing house receiving over 100 manuscripts from various Arab countries, including Tunisia, Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, Lebanon, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Yemen, Oman, Libya, and Palestine. The judging panel consisted of prominent literary figures, including the Lebanese novelist Alawiya Sobh, the Yemeni novelist Habib Abdulrab Sarouri, and Pierre Fadel, an editor at Dar Al Saqi.

Themes of reality and fantasy

In its detailed report, the committee noted that the manuscripts reflected sensitive issues from the Arab world, both social and political. The topics ranged from civil wars and the repercussions of the Arab Spring uprisings to brutal violence, sexual assault, the struggle with mental illness and disorders, and even a critique of the superficiality of virtual life.

The committee also observed a striking phenomenon: the tendency of many writers to gravitate towards fantasy fiction, creating parallel worlds and invoking supernatural elements in an attempt to symbolically reconstruct the world to express profound anxieties and concerns. Although the committee engaged with texts that showed promise and provided their authors with valuable feedback for improvement, the revised versions remained below expectations, necessitating the decision to withhold the award in order to preserve its moral and literary value.

In a move reflecting the Kingdom's commitment to developing and empowering national talent in vital sectors, the Cultural Fund sponsored the graduation and employment ceremony for 500 chefs who graduated from the Culinary Arts Management Diploma program. The ceremony was held at the King Fahd Cultural Center in Riyadh, with a remarkable attendance of over 2,000 guests, including a select group of partners, entrepreneurs, and the graduates' families, who witnessed their sons and daughters receive certificates that qualify them to lead the future of hospitality in the Kingdom.

This program, implemented by the Higher Institute for Tourism and Hospitality with support from the Cultural Fund, is a model of successful on-the-job training programs. The trainees' educational journey spanned two and a half years and included strategically located regions such as Riyadh, Al-Baha, and Jazan. The program's primary objective was to bridge the skills gap in the labor market by equipping young Saudis with the academic knowledge and practical experience necessary to excel in the rapidly growing culinary arts sector, in line with the goals of the Kingdom's Vision 2030.

Given the strategic importance of this event, the culinary arts sector is gaining significant momentum as a cornerstone of national culture and a vital element of the tourism and hospitality industry. This initiative aims to enhance the presence of Saudi cuisine and local talent in international hotels and luxury hospitality establishments, contributing to an authentic cultural experience for visitors and tourists and reflecting Saudi identity with a modern and professional touch.

The program was distinguished by offering diplomas accredited by the Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF), giving graduates a significant competitive edge. The achievement extended beyond graduation, encompassing direct employment contracts for all graduates with leading brands in the hospitality sector, most notably the Radisson Blu and Marriott hotels. The ceremony also witnessed the institute signing a number of new agreements with hospitality establishments and hotel groups, and honored outstanding graduates and partners who contributed to the success of this initiative.

From an economic perspective, the CEO of the Cultural Fund, Basel Al-Aloula, explained during his speech at the ceremony that the program had achieved a tangible impact that went beyond mere employment. He pointed out that this project contributed approximately 76 million riyals to the GDP, confirming the viability of investing in human capital and in cultural projects that transform into a sustainable economic and developmental driver.

This achievement confirms the role of the Cultural Fund as a center of excellence and financial empowerment for the sector, as it seeks to maximize the economic and social impact of cultural projects, increase their contribution to quality of life, and support entrepreneurs and creators to be an active part of the comprehensive renaissance that the Kingdom is witnessing.