Arab World Music Icons and American Music Stars Share the Stage at MGM Grand.

Summary: For Benefit Celebration of Universal Children's Day; 'Sahra' Makes History Saturday, Nov. 21 Khaled (Algeria), Assala Nasri (Syria) and Rida Al Abdulla (Iraq) to

Headline and American GRAMMY Honorees K.C. Porter & Karina Pasian to Perform;

Surprise Guests to Appear as more than 100 Artists Join Forces in Star-Studded

Spectacle

MGM Grand and Dawn Elder World Entertainmentproudly present the world premiere of Sahra on Saturday, Nov. 21, at the MGM GrandGarden Arena. Sahra is an unprecedented multi-media event celebrating Arabic culturein the Middle East and North Africa. Performances and presentations bring togetherinternational music and film celebrities, Arab film stars and other with theHollywood's elite, and more than 100 master musicians and dancers from 23 countries.In recognition of Universal Children's Day, all profits from Sahra will benefitleading children's charities focused on the Middle East and North Africa (ACCESS andNAAMA). With its ambitious program and bold humanitarian mission, Sahra marks awatershed for Arabic culture in the United States.

International recording stars Khaled, Assala, and Rida Al Abdulla headline the Sahraconcert, the crown jewel in a weekend of multi-media events that includes videomontages of beloved works by Middle Eastern film celebrities, late-night dancingwith the latest hits in Arabic popular dance music, and much more. The MGM Grandundergoes an Arabian makeover for this historic weekend, beginning withspectacularly designed concert staging celebrating a stunningly diverse heritage.

Algerian-born Khaled (Cheb Khaled), pioneer and king of "pop rai" music, makes hislong-awaited return to the U.S. Khaled's 1991 hit "Didi" and "Aisha" 1996 swept theworld and made this homeland icon an international sensation. Collaborations withThe Wailers, Santana, Earth Wind & Fire, Quincy Jones and hundreds of others,cementing Khaled's reputation as one of the world's most moving and powerfulvocalists and performers of all time. His legacy includes 10 diamond, platinum, andgold albums, as well as the highest-selling Arab album in history. Khaled has playedto audiences of more than 100,000, and is set to make music history again with hislatest album release "Liberty," and this being the first time in U.S. history anAlgerian/North African artist will headline in Las Vegas.

Assala Nasri has been called the voice of the Arab world today, and the heirapparent to legendary Arab singer Fairouz. Born in Syria, and raised in a musicalmilieu, Assala launched her career in 1991 with the release of Law Ta'rafou (If YouKnow). The album had four songs in the classical tarab style, art compositions whoseaim is to bring about a shared experience of musical ecstasy (tarab) amonglisteners. As with so many of the albums to follow, it included a song for herfather. The album was an instant hit with heartbreaking songs like "Samehtak Ketir(I Forgive You)," which was given to her as a gift from the famous composer SayedMakkawi. A dynamic and charismatic diva with an unmatched vocal range and style,Nasri records and performs worldwide. Having released more than 20 studio albums andmore than 40 No. 1 hits, and selling more than 20 million albums, it is no surpriseher 2008 CD Nos Hala (Half Mood) debuted at No. 1 on Rotana's Top 5 in Egypt andLebanon, and most of the Arab World. Her appearance at MGM Grand will be her firstreturn to the United States since 2003.

Iraqi Rida Al Abdulla has been singing since the age of eight. Graduating from theBagdad School of music he began recording and performing throughout the regiongaining wide popularity and recognized as one of the best new voice of Iraq. Hiscareer was interrupted in 1993 by forced military service, imprisonment and tortureunder the regime of Saddam Hussein. Following a daring escape in 1997, Ridarelaunched his career in Dubai where his first three albums went gold. This year, hereleased a long-awaited fourth album "Yom Wa Sana" that breaks new ground inintegrating Western and Arabic instrumentation, rhythms and production style. Thetitle single has already climbed the charts to number two after only two months ofrelease. Abdulla is noted for his classical and composition style that preserves thetradition of Iraqi maqam, while delivering poignant lyrics.

Joining these international legends on stage will be a host of recognized performersfrom North Africa, the Middle East, France and the United States, including guestappearances by the 11-time GRAMMY Nominated Palestinian oud and violin virtuosoSIMON SHAHEEN and multi-Tele Award-winning Lebanese Choreographer ADAM BASSMA withhis dance company. The evening will also include guest appearances by Americancelebrities, including GRAMMY-winners K.C. Porter, and GRAMMY-nominated rising star- Def Jam's KARINA PASIAN - as well as a number of noteworthy "surprise" guests. TheSahra concert promises a multi-national summit of brilliant and committedperformers, breathtaking performances and a show of unity in the tradition of "WeAre the World," and the Live 8 concert, all focused on making a better future forkids.

"We are thrilled to host a unique Middle Eastern concert for such an importantcause," said Gamal Aziz, president and chief operating officer of MGM Grand. "Thisevent allows us to continue our tradition of providing a stage for the top names inworldwide entertainment while supporting charities that assist refugee children invarious communities around the world."

In recognition of Universal Children's Day, all profits from Sahra will benefit twoorganizations with unmatched track records when it comes to uplifting the lives ofArab children around the world: NAAMA Foundation (National Arab American MedicalAssociation) and ACCESS (Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services).

NAAMA was formed in 1975 by a group of physicians in Los Angeles eager to providehelp for populations affected by war in the Middle East. Executive Director MouhanadHammami says NAAMA is a "non-profit, non-political, and non-religious" humanitarianenterprise whose current initiatives range from creating a burn unit in Nablus, toestablishing pediatric oncology standards in Egypt, serving the needs of Iraqirefugee children in Jordan, and providing emergency relief in the aftermath ofHurricane Katrina, the 911 attacks, and the 2008 Gaza crisis. NAAMA's membership ofmedical professionals of Arabic descent, and its many good works, have made it oneof the most respected charitable organizations operating today.

For the past 35 years, ACCESS has been an award-winning social service organizationcommitted to developing and supporting the Arab-American community. ACCESSinitiatives include Detroit's acclaimed Arab-American National Museum (opened in2005) and more than 90 programs serving Arab-American communities in seven differentlocations. The organization's most recent initiative involves creating fitnesscenters to serve the largest population of Arab-descended children in the UnitedStates, those in the Detroit metro area. The focus, once again, is children, inparticular preparing them for healthy and productive lives.

Ticket prices, event packages, and on-sale information for Sahra can be found atwww.mgmgrand.com/sahra.

Sahra is produced by Dawn Elder who is recognized in the American media landscapefor her expertise on the cultural interplay among American, Middle Eastern and NorthAfrican societies. Elder is a composer, producer, director, artist manager, publicspeaker and creator of more than 1,000 events, including some of the most ambitiouscultural festivals and conferences the United States has seen. Elder's wide-rangingachievements are unified by a fierce humanitarianism and a dedication to theprinciple that culture - especially music - has a vital role to play in resolvinghostilities between nations, faiths, and ethnic communities.

The MGM Grand Garden Arena is home to concerts, championship boxing and premiersporting and special events. The Arena offers comfortable seating for as many as16,800 with excellent sightlines and state-of-the-art acoustics, lighting and sound.Prominent events to date have included world championship fights between EvanderHolyfield and Mike Tyson as well as Oscar De La Hoya vs. Floyd Mayweather and GeorgeForeman vs. Michael Moorer; and concerts by The Rolling Stones, Madonna, Elton John,Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, Bette Midler, George Strait, Janet Jackson, PhilCollins, Billy Joel, U2, 'N Sync, Sting, Coldplay, Alicia Keys, Jimmy Buffett andthe Barbra Streisand Millennium Concert. The MGM Grand Garden Arena also is home tothe annual Academy of Country Music Awards (ACMA), Frozen Fury NHL pre-season gameand the U.S. Open of Motocross. 2009 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)

2009 Al Bawaba (Albawaba.com)

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