Meet the finalists of The Voice Ahla Sawt

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Four contestants will compete for the crown on Saturday night. Beside the lofty title and regional bragging rights, the winner will receive a contract with JMR Studios to record an album with renowned Lebanese composer and record producer Jean-Marie Riachi, and will also join celebrities on a special cruise next year. The winning mentor, on the other hand, walks away with the prestige of perhaps having found the next Arab pop superstar. We take a look at the four finalists:

Christine Said

Mentor: Kadim Al-Sahir

From her first audition, when she played the piano and sang the Alicia Keys's classic Fallin', to her latest take on Celine Dion's I Surrender, Lebanese-American singer Christine Said remained nothing short of consistent. Currently studying law at UCLA in the hopes of becoming an entertainment lawyer, the 21-year-old might be set to abandon those plans and enter the industry as a bona fide talent if the voters swing her way.

Instagram: @christinesaid_official

Nedaa Shrara

Mentor: Sherine Abdel-Wahab

Nedaa Shrara is the audience favourite. As the first hijab-wearing contestant on The Voice, the Jordanian singer has been praised by Abdel-Wahab for being "artistic and talented; that's who we are, not terrorists". Vocally, Shrara is daring, often choosing complicated songs by Umm Kalthoum, and nailing it each time. Shrara works in Jordan as a teacher of children with special needs.

Instagram: @nedaashrara_official

Hamza Fadhlaoui

Mentor: Saber Rebaï

The only contestant with a solid education in classical Arab music, the 20-year-old Tunisian singer has been studying at the Higher Institute of Music in his homeland, where he specialises in the technicalities of oriental music and Arabic singing. Like Shrara, he does not shy away from tackling the music of the greats, especially Umm Kalthoum and Mohammed Abdel Wahab. Judges have described his performances as “flawless” and “beautifully done”.

Instagram: @hamzafadhlaoui

Ali Yousef

Mentor: Assi El Hallani

Young and charismatic, Iraqi contestant Ali Yousef has become the heartthrob of the show. An artist and sculptor, Ali Yousef also plays the oud and the keyboard. “He’s the full package; he has the voice and the look and the presence,” said El Hallani. “He’s not just an Iraqi star; he’s already an Arab star.”

Instagram: @aliyoussefff

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