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

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

Cultural Bridges & Sonic Traffic

House of Yanos Built an Embassy for African Music in Dubai

Inside House of Yanos, the creative collective that made African music’s arrival in Dubai feel like a homecoming.

By Sydney Miranda

Second Thoughts

No Clear Way Out: How Iranians View U.S. Intervention Six Weeks In

How six weeks of war, economic strain, and escalating threats have reshaped Iranian sentiments on U.S. intervention in Iran.

By Shirin Hakim & Diba Mohtasham

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

Binge Therapy

Binge Therapy: 24 Titles to Stream in MENA This April

By Yasmina Bitar

Decolonized Self

Nene H’s Primal Techno Rebirth on Second Skin

By Bhanuj Kappal

Edbek!

Saria Al Sawas Teams Up With Qusai Khouli in ‘Wajh El Amar’ Video

Saria Al Sawas and Qusai Khouli spark buzz across the Levant with the viral “Wajh El Amar” video.

By Rolling Stone MENA Staff

Role Reversal

Dana Salah Flips Gender Roles in New Single ‘Dori Dorak’

Dana Salah returns with “Dori Dorak,” a new single flipping gender norms through tender lyrics, oud-led production, and subtle pop bite.

By Rolling Stone MENA Staff

Monster Energy

Ziad Zaza Flaunts Raw Rap Flow on ‘Banaty’

Ziad Zaza drops “Banaty,” a collaboration with Monster Energy that marks his second solo release this year.

By Rolling Stone MENA Staff

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

Soft Launch

Yonyo Softens the Rough Edges on ‘Beny w Benak’

On “Beny w Benak,” Yonyo leans into romantic pop, previewing a softer, more melodic direction for his upcoming EP.

By Rolling Stone MENA Staff

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

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

Oops, AI Did It Again

Beyond the Backlash: What Do We Do About AI in Ramadan TV?

This Ramadan’s AI controversy isn’t hysteria. It’s a demand for clarity before standards quietly erode.

By Ahmed Amin

(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

(Sub)Culture

Beyond the Graft: The 5 Pillars of a Modern Hair Transplant Standard

In recent years, hair transplants have changed significantly, moving beyond the old way of just transplanting hair follicles. Today’s hair…

By Chris Gallagher

Cultural Frequency

How Qatar Turned the Arab World’s Biggest Football Night Into a Song the Region Could Hear

On Qatar’s approach to transforming global sporting moments into platforms for shared Arab cultural expression.

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 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

TECH

Cadiz Inc. Maps a Practical Path to Southwest Water Security

If you ask Cadiz Inc. what progress looks like, they point to pipes, permits, and people served. The company’s work…

By Chris Gallagher

Democratizing Longevity

Democratized Longevity? UK Startup Bien-Être Tests It in the UAE

UK startup Bien-Être enters the UAE, testing whether longevity tech can become everyday health rather than a luxury for the wealthy.

By Rolling Stone MENA Staff

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