The 11 Arab stars to watch on and off the red carpet in 2025

Filmmakers, directors and actors promise an exciting year ahead on the global stage

Actress Yasmine Sabri was one of the rising Arab stars in attendance at the Red Sea International Film Festival last year. Getty Images

Arab stars are increasingly under the global spotlight by bagging Baftas, serving on the jury at the Cannes Film Festival or joining the DC Universe. With 2025 set to bring even more opportunities, here are the names destined for more amazing things.

Ramy Youssef

Egyptian-American Ramy Youssef is a stand-up comedian, actor, screenwriter and director. He shot to fame by portraying Ramy Hassan in the comedy series Ramy, earning him a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor and a Peabody Award in 2020. While known for his low-key style – and beanie hats – he's also no stranger to a designer suit, as demonstrated at last year's Emmy's, where he donned a Giorgio Armani tuxedo.

Amir El-Masry

Amir El-Masry is an Egyptian-British actor who picked up a Scottish Bafta for his role in the 2020 film Limbo, which also earned him a nomination for a British Independent Film Award. In 2020, he was named a Bafta Breakthrough Brit, as well as the 2021 Screen International Star of Tomorrow. Recently spotted at the Red Sea International Film Festival in Jeddah, he looked slick in a tuxedo.

Dhafer L'Abidine

Dhafer L'Abidine has already lived several lives. A former professional football player in his native Tunisia, he relocated to the UK at 22 to pursue acting. Now, he is known as an actor, director, screenwriter and producer. Recently, he was seen at the closing ceremony for the Red Sea International Film Festival wearing an all-black outfit, down to the shirt.

Yasmine Sabri

Egyptian actress and model Yasmine Sabri broke boundaries as the first Middle Eastern woman to star in a Cartier campaign, becoming one of the faces of Panthere de Cartier. In 2019, Sabri was named Ambassador of African Women during the Arab African Conference on Women's Empowerment. A fixture on the social scene, Sabri can be relied on to dial up the glam, as seen in this embellished ombre dress she wore at the Red Sea International Film Festival.

Salma Abu Deif

Egyptian actress and model Salma Abu Deif found fame in 2017 in two Ramadan series, La Totfe' Al Shams and Halawet EL Donia, followed by her first film role in the Egyptian movie Sheikh Jackson. In addition to acting, in 2022, she became a Middle Eastern face for the Italian house Valentino and signed to star in a global campaign for MAC Cosmetics. She recently won the Arab Actress of the Year at the International Arab Festivals Awards, where she collected her trophy wearing an Empire line gown by Lebanese designer Georges Hobeika.

Razane Jammal

Razane Jammal is a Lebanese-British actress who appeared in 2023's Arabic drama Al Thaman as Sara. She is also the first and only Arab to have joined the DC Universe, as she appeared in The Sandman as Lyta Hall in 2022. Jammal was awarded Best Actress in a Supporting Role at the Cairo Film Society for her role in Marwan Hamed's Kira & El Gin and starred alongside Liam Neeson in A Walk Among the Tombstones. Jammal is also an ambassador for Dior in the Middle East and was recently a guest at Elie Saab's 45th-anniversary party in Saudi Arabia, 1001 Seasons of Elie Saab.

Sarah Taibah

Sarah Taibah from Saudi Arabia is the creator, writer and lead of the dark comedy series Jameel Jiddan and also wrote and starred in the series Nemra Etnen. In addition to being a filmmaker, Taibah is also an artist. She recently appeared at the Red Sea International Film Festival, which was held in her home city of Jeddah, wearing an on-trend leopard print fluid halter-neck dress and stole.

Firas Abou Fakher

Firas Abou Fakher from Lebanon won a Bafta last year for his soundtrack for the documentary The Shamima Begum Story and collected his award wearing a bespoke suit by Zaid Farouki. Before that, Fakher was part of the successful band Mashrou' Leila.

Sara Obeidat

Producer Sara Obeidat is behind programmes such as Pandemic 2020 (2020), The Other War (2022) and The Shamima Begum Story (2023). Like Fakher, Obeidat won a Bafta for her contribution to the documentary.

Nadine Labaki

Lebanese actress and director Nadine Labaki found fame with her debut film Caramel, which was released in 2007. Last year, she was invited to be a jury member at the Cannes Film Festival alongside Greta Gerwig, Eva Green and Lily Gladstone. Among the more eye-catching outfits she wore at the festival was a high-necked dress by Jean Louis Sabaji, with chunky rectangular beads around the neck and cuffs.

Mohammed Faisal Mostafa

Emirati actor Mohammed Faisal Mostafa starred alongside Idris Elba in the 2023 action thriller series Hijack, which is one of the most-watched shows on Apple TV+. He has also appeared in the film The Ambush (2021) and TV series Khattaf (2024). Mostafa is also a former athlete, yoga teacher and investor, and can easily hold his own next to Elba, looking effortless wearing a cream, double-breasted suit.