Rolling Stone MENA - Music, Film, TV and Political News Coverage

Cover Story

The Return of Stormy

Stormy covers Rolling Stone MENA’s April issue, opening up on family, fame, fandom, and the road to Desperado.

By Danny Hajjar

Chosen by Song

How Accident, Intuition, and Desire Shape Yasmine Hamdan’s Work

Yasmine Hamdan reflects on making her latest album, the hiatus that led to it, and the emotions it helped her process.

By Oumeïma Nechi

Narein, Jazzed

TUL8TE Plays It By Ear

An exclusive interview with TUL8TE during the recording of the jazz rendition of his latest album, Narein.

By Ammar Manla Hasan

Fear & LOLing

Fear and LOLing: Arab Political Satire in The Age of Absurdity

From full-fledged newsrooms to a one-man IG parody account, inside the three outlets reviving Arab political satire.

By Adam Makary

Beyond Hybridity

On Traces, Shkoon Map What Memory Leaves Behind

On their debut full-length, Traces, Shkoon go beyond surface hybridity – into memory, exile, and the sounds that outlast the moment.

By Danny Makki

Cultural Bridges & Sonic Traffic

House of Yanos Built an Embassy for African Music in Dubai

By Sydney Miranda

Second Thoughts

How Iranians View U.S. Intervention Six Weeks Into The War

By Shirin Hakim & Diba Mohtasham

NEWS

Kordofani Doubles Down on Rhythmic Experimentation on ‘Kabasayba’

Kordofani blends hip-hop and afro-house on “Kabasayba,” pushing further into his new experimental era.

By Rolling Stone MENA Staff

MUSIC

Derik Fein Drifts Further Into Cinematic Obsession on “Ultraviolet”

Independent artist Derik Fein leans further into atmosphere on Ultraviolet, out May 22nd, a slow-burning single that explores obsession not…

By Ayush Shukla

MUSIC

Antonio “Tony” Underwood: Advancing Tuba Performance and Jazz Education

As a leader in the music industry, Underwood has embarked on a mission that aligns education and community impact. As…

By Ethan Stone

Warrior-Poet

The Warrior-Poet Never Left: On Shabjdeed and Touch’s ‘Kattal’

Othman Shahin traces the faris – the warrior-poet of classical Arab tradition – revived by Shabjdeed, Touch, and Smokaholic in Kattal.

By Othman Shahin

Open Wound

Syria Arrests Tadamon Massacre Identified Perpetrator Amjad Youssef

More than a decade after the Tadamon massacre, Syrian authorities say Amjad Youssef, long linked to the killings, is now in custody.

By Rolling Stone MENA Staff

Hormuz, Reopened

Iran Reopens The Strait of Horumuz

Following the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, Iran announced on Friday the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping.

By Rolling Stone MENA Staff

Israel's Eternal Darkness

Israel Jeopardizes Truce by Launching ‘Eternal Darkness’ on Lebanon

The Israeli bombardment campaign has resulted in 70 confirmed deaths and over 200 injuries.

By Rolling Stone MENA Staff

Winners & Losers

Trump’s Iran War Has Clear Winners and Losers

After weeks of intensive strikes, Iran is emerging from the war with potentially more sovereignty, fewer sanctions, and a weaker opposition.

By Ammar Manla Hasan

Hell & Cold Water

The Complete Hell-ification of Israeli Prisons for Palestinians

A new Israeli law permitting the execution of Palestinian prisoners adds to a brutal system officials themselves have called “hell.”

By Naqaa Hamed

Binge Therapy

Binge Therapy: 24 Titles to Stream in MENA This April

Rolling Stone MENA’s monthly streaming guide to the films, TV series, and documentaries available across platforms in the MENA region.

By Yasmina Bitar

Hustlers & High Ratings

Heroes, Hustlers, and High Ratings: The Mohamed Samy Era of Egyptian TV

A look back at fifteen years of Mohamed Samy’s directing during the most prolific production era in Egyptian television.

By Youssef Ali

Egy Ma3lesh

Egybest Sacrifices Its Original Story on the Altar of Eid Cinema

A promising piracy drama slips into formula, as Egybest trades a rich story for safe, trope-heavy Eid entertainment.

By Ammar Manla Hasan

Law & Wasta

A Solid Second Season: Sahbek Rajel Continues to Explore Police as Workplace

Sahbek Rajel turns the police into a workplace comedy, exposing power, class, and street influence inside the institution.

By Youssef Ali

Slow Decay

Hekayet Narges Refuses the Easy Villain

A well-rounded and textured Ramadan drama, Hekayet Narges looks past the crime to the society that made it possible.

By Ammar Manla Hasan

Palestinian Arab men reading the Huna Al-Quds magazine, 1940

A Media Renaissance?

Inside the MENA Media Boom: Who Are These Magazines Really For?

Arab media is booming as Western outlets shrink – who are these new titles for, and can they balance culture, commerce, and identity?

By Salma Mousa

Home Brew

The Cookout Brew Events in Dubai That Taste Like Home

Inside Dubai’s Cookout, a community-driven event blending music, food, and culture into a space that truly feels like home.

By Jason Coke

(Sub)Culture

Baden Bower’s CEO Visibility Report Reveals Founders With Publicity Drive 278% More Revenue Over Five Years

A study of 527 businesses finds that founders with three or more editorial features generate 3.7 times more leads, attract…

By Chris Gallagher

(Sub)Culture

5 Entrepreneurs Redefining Success in 2026

Success looks very different in 2026 than it did even a few years ago. Today’s most influential entrepreneurs are no…

By Chris Gallagher

(Sub)Culture

Sovereign Diversification and the Ambition Economy Rising Across MENA

The Middle East and North Africa are no longer emerging markets. They are acceleration markets. Across Dubai’s financial corridors, Riyadh’s…

By Anthony Burr

The Ibtihal Effect

Microsoft Restructures Israel Operations Amid Military Use Allegations

Microsoft places Israel unit under French oversight amid investigation into Azure-linked military use against Palestinians.

By Rolling Stone MENA Staff

Q-Day Apocalypse

Could Bitcoin Go to Zero? Something Happened Yesterday Says: Maybe

Bitcoin faces a growing quantum threat that could test its security, governance model, and long-term dominance.

By Ammar Manla Hasan

TECH

How AI Audio Tools Are Expanding Creative Possibilities in Music

AI technology has grown to present artists with new musical possibilities through its enhanced ability to generate and distribute music.…

By Chris Gallagher

TECH

How the Hint App Repositions Astrology as Emotional Insight, Not Fortune Telling

Across digital culture, astrology and symbolic systems have returned to everyday use. This time, the focus is not on predicting…

By Matthew Kayser

TECH

Intelligence and Aesthetics for Growth with MyIQ

Intelligence seems to have become an aesthetic. While dark academia styling trends handle appearance-based intelligence, what books you’re reading, by…

By Ethan Stone

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