Legendary Egyptian Singer Abdel Halim Hafez to perform in hologram event in Dubai

The Dubai Opera will host its first hologram event of the late celebrated Egyptian singer Abdel Halim Hafez on 13 and 14 May.

The 90-minute show will feature some of the singer’s most popular songs during what promises to be an exhilarating evening of music and nostalgia.

Hailed as one of the greatest Egyptian musicians, along with Umm Kulthum, Mohamed Abdel Wahab, Mohamed Fawzi and Shadia, Abdel Halim Hafez was a prolific singer and actor whose music and films were adored by fans across the region and beyond.

A spectacular tribute to the star and the impact he had on the region, the Abdel Halim Hafez Hologram event marks the first time this innovative technology has been used to bring the much-loved singer and his songs to life in front of an audience.

The event is being staged by the Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment in cooperation with New Dimension Productions (NDP) and MBC Group.

Audiences at the hologram event will be able to watch Abdel Halim Hafez on stage thanks to NDP’s use of hologram technology and artificial intelligence to create a high-resolution 3D model that matches the artist’s face and body movements.

For the show’s audio content, NDP extracted the artist's voice over five months to produce vocals of the highest quality, which will be supported by a live 28-person band.

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Ahmed Al Khaja, CEO, Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), said: "We always strive to provide all that is new and distinctive to the residents and visitors of Dubai while maintaining the necessary health and safety measures, and the Abdel Halim Hafez Hologram event is a must-see event that will appeal to Arabic music fans of all ages and nationalities. The first-ever full hologram event to feature Abdel Halim Hafez, a true legend of Egyptian popular culture, the innovative and immersive live show will be a fitting tribute to the star and his family. "

Hasan Hina, Founder and Executive Producer of NDP, said: "Abdel Halim Hafez is a global icon in classical music. Presenting his legacy for fans through hologram technology is a new step in reviving Egypt’s and the region’s Arab musical heritage.

To protect and guarantee intellectual property rights, and as a commitment to Abdel Halim Hafez, NDP cooperated with rights holders from the family and heirs of the late artist, the association of authors, composers, publishers and prestigious government institutions in Egypt, to obtain all permits and approvals necessary.

The Abdel Halim Hafez Hologram event follows the success of a hologram show by the late artist Umm Kulthum by NDP and MBC Group in Dubai in 2019.

The Dubai Opera event will be held in accordance with all the important health and safety rules and procedures, including social distancing and the wearing of masks.