Beirut, SANA- Syrian talented singer Hazem Sharif was crowned Saturday Arab Idol 2014, the most watched show in the Middle East, beating off his two rivals Palestinian Haitham Khalailah and Saudi Majid al- Madani.
On Friday, the contestants sang for the last time at Beirut studio staging the MBC program.
Twenty-six contestants out of thousands of Arabs who auditioned made it through to the live shows of the third season of the program.
Sharif,born in Aleppo,is the third to be crowned since the popular contest came to TV screens in 2012.
With his strong voice and firm performance, Sharif sang various types of songs gaining huge audience cheering him on enthusiastically throughout the live shows as he has never been in danger of elimination in any episode.
After declaring his winning, Sharif sang a national song, dedicating his success to “his family and to every Syrian who is waiting for happiness.”
“I thank every Syrian and Arab citizen who supported me and voted for me during the program … I thank all the Syrian people,” Sharif said.
It is the first time a Syrian singer obtains the title of the program since it was launched in 2003 under the name “Super Star” as its name was later changed to “Arab Idol” in 2012.
Syrian singers have been able to reach finals of the program three times.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJAM0-PiCjE
R.al-Jazaeri/ Ghossoun