Top 10 Best Female Arab Singers

The Arab music scene is packed with talent, and some of the most unforgettable voices come from its leading ladies. These women have ruled charts, lit up stages, and given us songs that never get old no matter how many times we play them.

Some have been around for decades, while others are more recent names blowing up fast. But what they all have in common is that they've made you dance, cry, or hit replay more times than you can count.

Now it's your turn to decide who deserves the spotlight. Scroll through the list and vote for the singers you think have earned their place at the top. Your votes help shape the list, so make sure your favorites get the love they deserve.

The Top Ten

Najwa Karam

Najwa Karam is a Lebanese multi-platinum singer and songwriter. Known for her powerful vocals, she gained an international audience by blending traditional Lebanese music with contemporary sounds. She has significantly contributed to popularizing the Lebanese dialect in modern Arabic music.

You are the best, and you are the greatest, madam.
Nawal El Kuwaitia

Nawal El Kuwaitia is a prominent Kuwaiti singer and a respected musical figure in the Middle East. She studied at the Music Institute in Kuwait, where she developed her craft. She is widely recognized by titles such as Shaikhat Al Tarab (The Queen of Classic Music) and Qaitharat Al Khaleej (Harp of Khaliji... read more

We love you, "Diva" Nawal. You are the best. We will support you forever.
Sherine

Sherine Sayed Mohamed Abdel Wahab, known simply as Sherine, is an Egyptian singer, actress, and music judge. She was born on October 8, 1980, in Cairo, Egypt. Sherine served as a coach on MBC's Arabic version of The Voice: Ahla Sawt and has earned the nickname The Voice of Egypt for her emotive singing... read more

I am Australian from Finland, and Sherine is one of the best singers ever. She has never received the recognition she deserves.
Assala Nasri

Assala Nasri is a Syrian musical artist known for her powerful vocal range and emotive performances. She was born on May 15, 1969, in Damascus, Syria. Assala gained prominence in the Arab music scene in the 1990s and has released numerous albums across various genres including classical Arabic and pop... read more

From the early nineties till now, she has been in the top five female singers in the Arabic world, if not the first. She masters at least five Arabic accents and performs in a wide range of techniques.

A legend. Assala has displayed that she has what it takes to sing Arabic music in all its dialects and colors.
Ahlam

Ahlam Ali Al Shamsi, commonly known as Al Maleka ("The Queen") Ahlam, is an Emirati singer recognized for her exceptional vocal range. She has earned a reputation for her strong personality and outspoken views.
Ahlam is one of the most prominent figures in the Arab music scene. She has served... read more
Elissa

Elissar Zakaria Khoury, professionally known as Elissa, is a Lebanese recording artist. She rose to fame with her debut album Baddi Doub in 1999 and has since become one of the most successful female singers in the Arab world. Elissa is known for blending Arabic pop with romantic ballads and has won... read more

She has been among the highest-selling female Middle Eastern artists since 2005. In 2005, 2006, and 2010, she received the World Music Award for Best Selling Middle Eastern Artist. She became the first Lebanese singer to receive the World Music Award for Best Selling Middle Eastern Artist in 2005. She has currently sold over 30 million albums worldwide.

The Queen of Arab Modern Music. No other female artist has reached her heights in this day and age.

Absolute legend. My favorite singer in the world.
Nancy Ajram

Nancy Ajram is a Lebanese singer and multi-platinum recording artist. She won the World Music Award for World's Best-Selling Middle Eastern Artist in 2008, 2011, and 2014. Ajram rose to fame with hits like Ah W Noss and has become one of the most influential figures in Arabic pop music.

She is very beautiful. She is number one. No one can ignore that she is the most popular Arab singer. She sings for love, for kids, and for life. She represented Lebanon worldwide with her kindness, beauty, and nice voice.

No need to even say a word. The best female singer in the world. She can sing everyone else's songs even better than themselves.

She is the best! So beautiful and talented. I love her so much. She should be #1 here and on any other list.
Samira Said

Samira Said is a Moroccan-Egyptian pop singer, born on January 10, 1958, in Rabat. She began performing as a child and gained fame in Morocco before moving to Egypt in the late 1970s to expand her career. In 1980, she represented Morocco at the Eurovision Song Contest with the song Bitakat Hob, which... read more

The queen of Arabic pop songs! Still going strong after more than 40 years.
Angham

Angham Mohamed Ali Suleiman is an Egyptian singer, record producer, and actress. She began her music career in the late 1980s and is considered one of the most successful contemporary female singers in the Arab world. Angham has released over 20 studio albums and continues to perform and record music... read more
Umm Kulthum

Umm Kulthum was an internationally renowned Egyptian singer, songwriter, and film actress active from the 1920s until her death in 1975. Her powerful voice and emotive performances made her a cultural icon across the Arab world. She remains one of the most celebrated and influential singers in Arabic... read more

Seriously!
Putting Umm Kulthum among this crowd is blasphemy.
No offense to anyone here, and with all due respect to all, you're not comparing apples to oranges. You're comparing the rarest gem of all to ordinary talents from ordinary people.
Leave her alone in a league of her own, and practice your voting games among the commoners.

She is number one by far. You can't put her name in a list. She is above and beyond.

With all due respect everyone, you just can't compare!

The Newcomers

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Parwaz Hussein
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Rahaf Guitara

The Contenders

Carole Samaha

Carole Samaha is a Lebanese-Egyptian singer, actress, and performer, born on July 25, 1972, in Beirut. She began her career in musical theater and later transitioned to a successful solo music career. She has released at least six studio albums, including Helm (2003), Adwa' Al Shohra (2006), Hdoudi... read more
Rania "Ruby" Hussein

The Queen of Egyptian music. She once again reintroduced the Arab world to Egyptian music.
Julia Boutros

Julia Boutros is a Lebanese singer who rose to stardom in the 1980s with a series of songs like "Ghabet Shams El Haq" and "Wen el malaieen". Her music often incorporates themes of patriotism and resistance. She has maintained a loyal following in the Arab world over the decades.
Jannat

Jannat Mahid, known professionally as Jannat, is one of the youngest female Arab artists to emerge on the Middle East music scene. She was born in Morocco and began her musical career at a young age. Jannat has released several albums and is known for her powerful voice and romantic ballads.
Yara

Carla Nazih Berkachi, known professionally as Yara, is a Lebanese pop singer. She rose to fame in the mid-2000s with the success of her single Hob Kbeer and has released numerous albums in Arabic. Yara continues to be active in the Middle Eastern music scene.
Maya Nasri
Nawal Al Zoghbi

Nawal is the greatest and strongest singer of all time! Vote 1.
Haifa Wehbe

Haifa Wehbe is a Lebanese singer and actress. She has released seven studio albums and made her acting debut in the 2008 Pepsi-produced film Sea of Stars. In 2006, she was featured on People Magazine's list of the 50 most beautiful people.

Wonderful Arab singer. Beautiful voice. With love from South Africa.

She is the best in life/stage performance.
Thekra

Thekra Mohammed Abdullah el-Daly, better known as Thekra, was a Tunisian singer. She gained popularity across the Arab world for her vocal ability and emotional performances. Thekra tragically died on November 28, 2003, in Cairo, Egypt.

One of the most powerful voices of the Arab world. Gone too soon.
Carmen Suleiman

Carmen Essam Suleiman is an Egyptian singer, better known by her stage name Carmen Suleiman. She won the first season of Arab Idol in 2012, which was broadcast live on MBC. Following her win, she signed a recording contract with Platinum Records and began her professional music career.
Fairuz

Nouhad Wadie' Haddad, known as Fairuz, also spelled Fairouz, Feyrouz, or Fayrouz, is a Lebanese singer. She is one of the most widely admired and deeply respected living singers in the Arab world. Fairuz's career began in the 1950s and she remains an enduring cultural icon in the Middle East.

This woman is for the history books. Undoubtedly, she is the best Arabic singer to ever grace this earth. She has created her own path in the industry and showed the Arab culture what was missing from it.

One of the greatest (if not the best) Arab singers of all time!
Myriam Fares

Myriam Fares is a Lebanese singer, dancer, and entertainer. She has released five albums and became the most played artist on the music streaming service Anghami, with her fifth album "Aman" also becoming the most played album on the platform. In addition to her music career, she made her acting debut... read more

She's better than Nancy Ajram. Yeah, I said it!
Nicole Saba
Dalida

Iolanda Cristina Gigliotti, better known by her stage name Dalida, was born on January 17, 1933, and died on May 3, 1987. She was an Italian-French singer and actress who was born in Cairo, Egypt. Dalida achieved international fame and was known for her multilingual abilities.... read more
Rouwaida Attieh

Rouwaida Attieh is a Syrian vocalist born in the town of Talkalakh, located about 40 kilometers from Homs. She rose to fame as the runner-up on the first season of the television talent show Super Star in 2003. Since then, she has built a successful music career with numerous songs and performances across... read more