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6 Arab Musicians Triumph In TikTok MENA LIVE’s #GimmeTheMic
Aimed at discovering talented music creators, the competition has already revealed some of the most promising regional acts.
The TikTok LIVE #GimmeTheMic competition has concluded, providing a platform for rising musicians across the MENA region to share their unique sounds. The grand finale, held on September 9 at the Theatre of Digital Art and streamed live on the @TikTokLive_MENA page, featured standout performances from the finalists, all vying to represent the MENA region on the world stage.
Since debuting last year, #GimmeTheMic has evolved into more than just a competition. It has become a showcase of creativity, resonating with TikTok’s vast community. Aimed at discovering and promoting talented music creators, this initiative has already revealed some of the most promising artists in the region. The 12 finalists, chosen through in-app voting by TikTok users, are part of a new wave of talent ready to make their global mark.
The road to the final performance was marked by intense preparation and overseen by an esteemed panel of judges. Celebrity experts included Arab pop sensation Sandy, Syrian singer and actor Samo Zaen — winner of the Best Middle East Artist Award — and Moroccan artist Grini, a recipient of the MTV European Music Award.
Through dedicated coaching sessions, the judges offered insights and personal experiences from their own careers. The sessions helped the contestants not only improve their skills but also gain confidence in their abilities. As a result, the competition served as a unique learning experience for all participants.
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Reflecting on the event, Samo Zaen noted, “These performers aren’t just picking up the mic; they’re taking control. TikTok has become a space for artists to showcase their work and connect with a global audience”.
The competition’s six winners — Fathy Samir (@fathysamirrofficial), Balqees Raed (@balqees7890), Ahmed Yaser (@ahmedyassersinger), Amira Aly (@merooamira000), Jan Georg (@jaaan.official), and Amr Tarek (@amrtarek.tv) — will now represent the MENA region in the global #GimmeTheMic contest. Their success in the competition has already set the stage for a brighter future in the region’s music industry, fostering a community of creators passionate about sharing their craft with the world.
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Visa’s Return To Syria Starts With A Test And A Bank In Lebanon
Foreign visitors will be the first users to benefit, but whether Syria’s own banks and cardholders follow is still an open question.
Visa is returning to Syria. Its first live international card transaction in the country was a test rather than a launch, and the milestone event ran through a Lebanese bank.
The acquirer (the bank on the merchant’s side of a card payment) was Fransabank Lebanon, with Paymera as the other named partner. Nadim Moujaes, who heads a Fransabank Group subsidiary, describes the test as both the culmination of “longstanding efforts to link Syria back to international payment networks” and “the first step in a larger path”.
Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa makes the first electronic payment in Syria using a @Visa card at a store in Damascus, following the lifting of US sanctions on Syria. pic.twitter.com/lpAN7nQ6Fc
— Tech Magazine (@TechMGZN) August 27, 2026
“We are excited to have successfully tested live transactions today as we plan to enable international visitors to use their Visa cards while in Syria,” says Leila Serhan, Visa’s senior vice president and group country manager for the North Africa, Levant and Pakistan region. Although a significant first step, that plan doesn’t come with a hard date for when a visitor’s card will work normally.
Mohammed Safwat Raslan, governor of the Central Bank of Syria, says the test paves the way for international card acceptance in Syria and that maintaining strong compliance, risk management and operational controls will remain essential. Serhan likewise stresses that Visa has worked within applicable legal, regulatory and compliance requirements. For a test transaction, it seems there was a great deal of attention paid to the rules, with the entire operation being carefully managed.
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The test is the latest step in a sequence that began in December 2025, when Visa announced a strategic roadmap to support Syria’s integration into the global digital economy. In February 2026 it hosted its first industry gathering of banks, ecosystem partners and policymakers in Damascus and, the same month, signed an agreement with Syria’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology in San Francisco.
Michel Kattouah, Paymera’s CEO, called the test “the return of international card acceptance,” but while that’s positive news, there’s no word yet on when a Syrian bank will issue a Visa card to a Syrian customer.
Visa’s Return To Syria Starts With A Test And A Bank In Lebanon
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