He watched as the hopes of four fellow contestants were shattered when the four judges told each of them they were not good enough to qualify for the final stages of the competition – the live episodes that begin this weekend and will be broadcast on Friday and Saturday.
But Abdouli, who lives in Fujairah, took it in his stride and calmed his nerves the only way he knows – by plastering a big grin on his face.
The Egyptian producer Hassan El Shafei, normally such a stern judge, said he had been impressed by Abdouli’s positivity throughout the audition process.
“I like the smile on his face – so confident,” he said, before the Emirati judge Ahlam proudly told Abdouli that he had made the cut.
Since then, the smile has never left Abdouli’s face. He is the only Emirati who made it through to the final stages and, as well as the fans he has already accumulated throughout the UAE, he says he is particularly touched by the compliments he has received from his home emirate.
“Of course, all Emirati people are proud of me, especially in Fujairah,” he says. “I am getting positive feedback from my family and friends. And I am receiving lots of messages and calls to congratulate me.”
Abdouli’s vocal talent emerged during his early days at school. He remembers singing with friends and family popular tunes by Emirati luminaries such as Hussain Al Jassmi, Mehad Hamad and Ahlam.
But it was only after he recently completed an electrical engineering degree at Abu Dhabi's Zayed University that he seriously began considering showcasing his talents by auditioning for the third season of Arab Idol.
“I had the thought ever since season one and my friends always encouraged me to participate, but my studies were my priority,” he says. “This season came directly after my graduation, so I didn’t hesitate to go to the auditions.
"I didn't think about Arab Idol as a goal in my life, but after getting my degree I asked myself: 'Why not give my talent a chance?'"
He took his opportunity, but with careful preparation. He chose to make his debut on the show with a cover of the Yemeni rising star Balkis Ahmed Fathi's Arbaa Dakayek (which translates to "four minutes") because of his passion for the ballad: "I love the feelings the song emanates."
In the second round, he explored his rich tenor with a rendition of Ahlam's hit Ghalat Oyounak.
From now on, each performance will be delivered live in front of an estimated audience of up to one hundred million viewers from across the Arab world. But Abdouli is keeping himself grounded by staying in touch with his Fujairah buddies.
“They are close to my heart,” he says. “I studied in Abu Dhabi and I have many colleagues there. But in Fujairah I have my childhood friends and I have lots of memories in this emirate.”
As for carrying the hopes of the country on his shoulders, Abdouli says he is embracing the challenge to spur him on throughout the competition.
“Of course, I am not representing the UAE only but all Gulf countries, and it is my responsibility to impress the entire Arab world,” he says.
If that was not enough, he says he will always rely on his default optimism to carry him through the pressures of live television.
“I believe that a smile could bring positive energy and thoughts,” he says. “It also facilitates communication and makes it less complicated, while bringing people closer to one another.”
• Arab Idol is broadcast live on MBC1 on Fridays and Saturdays at 10pm. Visit www.mbc.net for more information
sasaeed@thenational.ae
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
Jigra
Starring: Alia Bhatt, Vedang Raina, Manoj Pahwa, Harsh Singh
Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 201hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 320Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.7L/100km
Price: Dh133,900
On sale: now
UAE FIXTURES
October 18 – 7.30pm, UAE v Oman, Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
October 19 – 7.30pm, UAE v Ireland, Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
October 21 – 2.10pm, UAE v Hong Kong, Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
October 22 – 2.10pm, UAE v Jersey, Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
October 24 – 10am, UAE v Nigeria, Abu Dhabi Cricket Oval 1
October 27 – 7.30pm, UAE v Canada, Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
October 29 – 2.10pm, Playoff 1 – A2 v B3; 7.30pm, Playoff 2 – A3 v B2, at Dubai International Stadium.
October 30 – 2.10pm, Playoff 3 – A4 v Loser of Play-off 1; 7.30pm, Playoff 4 – B4 v Loser of Play-off 2 at Dubai International Stadium
November 1 – 2.10pm, Semifinal 1 – B1 v Winner of Play-off 1; 7.30pm, Semifinal 2 – A1 v Winner of Play-off 2 at Dubai International Stadium
November 2 – 2.10pm, Third place Playoff – B1 v Winner of Play-off 1; 7.30pm, Final, at Dubai International Stadium
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
'Midnights'
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
The%20specs
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'Avengers: Infinity War'
Dir: The Russo Brothers
Starring: Chris Evans, Chris Pratt, Tom Holland, Robert Downey Junior, Scarlett Johansson, Elizabeth Olsen
Four stars
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The biog
From: Upper Egypt
Age: 78
Family: a daughter in Egypt; a son in Dubai and his wife, Nabila
Favourite Abu Dhabi activity: walking near to Emirates Palace
Favourite building in Abu Dhabi: Emirates Palace
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
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The biog
Name: Atheja Ali Busaibah
Date of birth: 15 November, 1951
Favourite books: Ihsan Abdel Quddous books, such as “The Sun will Never Set”
Hobbies: Reading and writing poetry
Thank You for Banking with Us
Director: Laila Abbas
Starring: Yasmine Al Massri, Clara Khoury, Kamel El Basha, Ashraf Barhoum
Rating: 4/5
Frankenstein in Baghdad
Ahmed Saadawi
Penguin Press
Padmaavat
Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Starring: Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor, Jim Sarbh
3.5/5
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The%20specs
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Joker: Folie a Deux
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson
Director: Todd Phillips
Rating: 2/5
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