Assala

Assala has established a lasting legacy in Arabic music, influencing younger generations of Arab singers through her vocal ability, emotional expression, and commitment to her work. Her songs remain popular across the Arab world, featuring regularly at weddings, concerts, and on music playlists.

• Name — Assala • Native Name — أصالة • Birth Name — Aṣṣala Moṣṭafa Ḥatem Naṣri أصالة مصطفى حاتم نصري • Born — 15 May 1969 • Birthplace — Damascus, Syria • Years Active — 1983–present • Children — 4

Assala was born in Damascus, Syria to a middle class Arab family. Mostafa Nasri, Assala's father, was a revered composer and singer. Assala began her musical career by performing patriotic, religious, and children's songs when she was fourteen years old. She sang the theme song "Qessas Al Sho'oub" (قصص الشعوب), of the cartoon show, Hekayat Alamiyah (حكايات عالمية). In 1984, Mostafa Nasri died after suffering from internal bleeding caused by a car accident. Aged 15 she helped to take care of her siblings Aman, Ayham, Reem and Anas with her mother Aziza Al-Babelli.

Assala's commercial musical career debuted in 1991 with the hit Egyptian song Law Ta'rafou (Egyptian Arabic: لو تعرفو). The album had 4 Egyptian songs in the oriental operatic Classic Egyptian tarab style. The album was an instant hit in Egypt back at that time with heartbreaking songs like "Ya Sabra Yana" and "Samehtak Ketir". She quickly cemented her presence in the Arabic world a growing industry brimming with singers like Angham, Najwa Karam and Latifa. Throughout the 1990s, Assala released several successful albums, including ‘‘Ya Sabra Yana’’ (1993), ‘‘Ala Aini’’ (1996), and ‘‘Mohtama Bel Tafasil’’ (1999). Some of Assala’s awards includes Murex d’Or for Best Female Arabic Singer, Cairo International Festival Award for the second song of 1996 (Arab American Artist), Best Voice at various regional music festivals, Best Female Singer Award for the year 2005-2006 and Award Almyoriks role as the best Arab singer of 2007. In 2019, Assala performed "Right Where I'm Supposed to Be" as the Official Song of the 2019 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates in collaboration with Ryan Tedder, Avril Lavigne, Luis Fonsi, Hussain Al Jassmi and Tamer Hosny. In 2020, Nasri released her album ‘‘La Testaslem’’, which became the most-streamed album in Saudi Arabia and the third most-streamed album in the MENA region on Deezer that year. She was also Deezer’s fifth most-streamed Arab singer in MENA and ranked among the 50 most-streamed Arab artists on Anghami. By 25 March 2021, Nasri had more than four million YouTube subscribers, with her videos exceeding 1.5 billion views. By the end of 2020, she had also accumulated more than 30.6 million followers across Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Assala hosted a television program called Soula, on Al Hayat TV and Dubai TV. The show presented guest musicians as though they were visiting Assala in her home in Cairo, Egypt. Assala was also a judge on the panel of Saudi Idol on its debut in 2022, along with Aseel Abu Bakr, Ahlam, and Majid Al Mohandis.

Assala's first marriage was to Ayman Al Dahabi. Her first daughter, Sham, was born in 1992, and her first son, Khaled, in 1998. She divorced in 2005 after more than 15 years of marriage. After the divorce, she received the custody of her two children. Her second marriage was to a Palestinian-Egyptian director, Tarek Alarian, on 26 March 2006. She was pregnant with Alarian's child in early 2007, but suffered a miscarriage halfway through the pregnancy. In May 2011, she gave birth to twin boys, Adam and Ali, via IVF. Ever since the beginning of the Syrian civil war, in 2011, Assala Nasri claimed her support for the Syrian people and her commitment against Bashar al-Assad. Her positions towards the Civil War are humanitarian, in which she wants the conflict to end for the sake of the Syrian civilians. She had her first composing experience in the writing of one song, released in 2011. For her commitment in the conflict, Assala sang at the International Peace day as a new ambassador for "Peace Building Through Music." However, Assala was criticized for her position, due to the fact that Hafez al-Assad authorized her treatment from polio. She was arrested on Monday, 26 June 2017 in Beirut International Airport at the behest of Lebanese officials who support Bashar al-Assad for the perceived crime of fraternizing with Israel. She had recently performed in Palestine. She was placed under house arrest, then quickly released, for lack of evidence, but some pro-Assad outlets never corrected their claims that she was arrested for carrying drugs. In 2017, Assala was arrested in Lebanon due to allegedly carrying drugs at the airport. In an Instagram post dated 6 January 2020, Assala announced her divorce from her husband Tarek Alarian. Assala currently lives in Cairo with her four children. In September 2021, she married Faeq Hassan, an Iraqi national who lives in Saudi Arabia and works as the business manager of the Iraqi-Saudi singer Majid Al Mohandis. Assala is a Sunni Muslim. She was granted Bahraini citizenship by Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa a few days after she gave a performance in the operetta Love and Loyalty in celebration of Bahrain's Independence Day.

Assala is recognized for her versatility as a vocalist, performing operatic ballads, classical Arabic music, and contemporary pop with a high level of proficiency. Her singing is distinguished by its clarity, strength, and emotional expression. Her repertoire frequently explores complex emotions, including intense love and personal hardship, which she conveys with a sincere and expressive delivery. Her combination of contemporary musical styles with elements of traditional Arabic music has enabled her to appeal to audiences across different generations. While older listeners value her incorporation of classical traditions, younger audiences are attracted to her modern arrangements and relatable lyrics. Assala’s ability to perform in a range of Arabic dialects, including Egyptian, Gulf, and Levantine Arabic, has further expanded her appeal and helped her establish a broad audience throughout the Arab world.

• Ya Sabra Yana (Patient Me) (1990) • Assala Performs Umm Kulthum (1990) • O'zorni (Forgive Me) (1991) • Ghayar Awi (He's So Jealous) (1991) • Taw'am Al Rouh (My Soul's Twin) (1992) • Ighdab (Be Angry) (1993) • Wala Tessadda (Don't Believe It) (1994) • Rahal (He Left) (1995) • Erja' Laha (Return to Her) (1996) • Al Mushtaka (The Complaint) (1997) • Alby Bayrtahlak (My Heart Is Comfortable For You) (1998) • Ya Magnon (O Madman) (1999) • Yakhy Esaal (Ask About Me) (2000) • Moshtaah (I'm Missing You) (2001) • Yamin Allah/Haqiqat Waqe'i (I Swear/My Reality) (2002) • Ad El Horouf (As Much as the Number of Letters) (2003) • Awgat (Sometimes) (2004) • Ady (Ordinary) (2005) • Hayati (My Life) (2006) • Sawaha Qalbi (My Heart Has Done It) (2007) • Nos Hala (Half State) (2008) • Qanon Kaifak (Law of Your Fancy) (2010) • Shakhseya Aneeda (A Stubborn Personality) (2012) • 60 De'ee'a Hayah (60 Minutes of Life) (2015) • Alleg El Deneia (I Hang the World) (2016) • Mohatamma Bel Tafasil (Interested in the Details) (2017) • Fi Orbak (Near You) (2019) • La Testaslem (Don't Give Up) (2020) Refkan • Shayfa Feek (See You) (2022) • Lehekt Nafsi (I Followed Myself) (2023) • Thumma Ana (Then I) (2024) • Daribet El Bo3d (Cost of Separation) (2025)

• "Law Ta'rafou" (If You Know) from Law Ta'rafou • "Ighdab" (Get Angry) from Ighdab • "Al Mushtaka" (The Complainer) from Al Mushtaka • "Alf Leila We Leila" (One Thousand and One Nights) from Al Mushtaka • "Ya Magnoun" (O Madman) from Ya Magnoun • "Ma Oultelish" (Why Didn't You Tell Me?) from Ya Magnoun • "Moushta'a" (I'm Missing You) from Moushta'a • "E'tef Habibi" (Have Mercy My Love) from Moushta'a • "Mab'ash Ana" (I Haven't Lived Up to My Name if I Don't) from Moushta'a • "Leih El Ghorour" (Why the Arrogance?) from Ya Akhi Es'al • "Yamin Allah" (I Swear) from Yamin Allah/Waqe'i • "Misheit Senin" (I Walked for Years) from Ad El Horouf • "Tassawar" (Imagine) from Ad El Horouf • "A'taz Bek" (I Am Proud of You) from Ad El Horouf • "Gemarhom Kellohom" (You Are the Moon Among Them) from Awgat • "Meta Ashoufek" (When Will I See You?) from Awgat • "Fein Habibi" (Where is My Love?) from Aadi • "Khalik Shiwaya" (Stay) from Aadi • "Asfa" (I'm Sorry) from Aadi • "Aktar" (More) from Hayati • "Khaliha 'Ala Allah" (Leave It In God's Hands) [Ramadan Single] • "Jarhi Fel Hawa" (My Injury in Love) • "Allah Ya Omri Aleik" (You're Amazing) • "Arod Leih" (Why Reply?) from Hayati • "Bein Eideik" (In Your Hands) from Hayati • "Alamtni" (You Taught Me) from Hayati • "Hayati" (My Life) from Hayati • "Egrab Gerrib" (Get Closer) from Sawaha Galbi • "Sawaha Galbi" (My Heart Did It) from Sawaha Galbi • "La Tekhaf" (Don't Be Afraid) from Sawaha Galbi (shot as a music video in 2009) • "Wala Dary" (Doesn't Care) • "Sum wa 'Asal" (Poison and Honey) 2010 Single • "Ah law hal korsy Bye7ki" (If This Chair Would Talk) 2011 - this song is dedicated for the Syrian revolution against Bashar al-Assad. Assala composed this song. It's her first experience in composing. • "Right Where I'm Supposed to Be" (Ryan Tedder with Avril Lavigne, Luis Fonsi, Hussain Al Jassmi, Assala Nasri and Tamer Hosny) - this was the official song of the Special Olympic World Games Abu Dhabi 2019. • "Shakhseya Anida" (A Stubborn Personality) 2012 • "El Hakika" 2018 • "El Mustafa" 2018 • "Bent Akaber" 2019 • "Shamekh" 2020 • "Al Farq Al Kabir" 2020 • "La Tashkou Le Nas" 2022 EP • "Tegoul Tebghani" 2022 • "Goraah" 2022 • "Ghalban" 2022 • "Shayfa Feek" 2022 EP • "Bi El Salama" 2022 • "Zay El Mougezat" 2022 • "Manni Wafi" 2022 • "Elly Medayea Yefarea" 2022 • "Shayfa Feek" 2022 • "Sid Lghram" (feat. Asma Lamnawar) 2022 • "Ma Aaraftik" 2023

• Title — Year — Peak chart position — Album • MENA • "Ma Aaaraftik" — 2023 — 13 — Non-album single