MGM Grand and Dawn Elder World Entertainment
proudly present the world premiere of Sahra on Saturday, Nov. 21, at the MGM Grand
Garden Arena. Sahra is an unprecedented multi-media event celebrating Arabic culture
in the Middle East and North Africa. Performances and presentations bring together
international music and film celebrities, Arab film stars and other with the
Hollywood'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 benefit
leading children's charities focused on the Middle East and North Africa (ACCESS and
NAAMA). With its ambitious program and bold humanitarian mission, Sahra marks a
watershed for Arabic culture in the United States.

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

Assala Nasri has been called the voice of the Arab world today, and the heir
apparent to legendary Arab singer Fairouz. Born in Syria, and raised in a musical
milieu, Assala launched her career in 1991 with the release of Law Ta'rafou (If You
Know). The album had four songs in the classical tarab style, art compositions whose
aim is to bring about a shared experience of musical ecstasy (tarab) among
listeners. As with so many of the albums to follow, it included a song for her
father. 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 Sayed
Makkawi. A dynamic and charismatic diva with an unmatched vocal range and style,
Nasri records and performs worldwide. Having released more than 20 studio albums and
more than 40 No. 1 hits, and selling more than 20 million albums, it is no surprise
her 2008 CD Nos Hala (Half Mood) debuted at No. 1 on Rotana's Top 5 in Egypt and
Lebanon, and most of the Arab World. Her appearance at MGM Grand will be her first
return to the United States since 2003.

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

Joining these international legends on stage will be a host of recognized performers
from North Africa, the Middle East, France and the United States, including guest
appearances by the 11-time GRAMMY Nominated Palestinian oud and violin virtuoso
SIMON SHAHEEN and multi-Tele Award-winning Lebanese Choreographer ADAM BASSMA with
his dance company. The evening will also include guest appearances by American
celebrities, 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. The
Sahra concert promises a multi-national summit of brilliant and committed
performers, breathtaking performances and a show of unity in the tradition of "We
Are the World," and the Live 8 concert, all focused on making a better future for
kids.

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

In recognition of Universal Children's Day, all profits from Sahra will benefit two
organizations with unmatched track records when it comes to uplifting the lives of
Arab children around the world: NAAMA Foundation (National Arab American Medical
Association) 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 provide
help for populations affected by war in the Middle East. Executive Director Mouhanad
Hammami says NAAMA is a "non-profit, non-political, and non-religious" humanitarian
enterprise whose current initiatives range from creating a burn unit in Nablus, to
establishing pediatric oncology standards in Egypt, serving the needs of Iraqi
refugee children in Jordan, and providing emergency relief in the aftermath of
Hurricane Katrina, the 911 attacks, and the 2008 Gaza crisis. NAAMA's membership of
medical professionals of Arabic descent, and its many good works, have made it one
of the most respected charitable organizations operating today.

For the past 35 years, ACCESS has been an award-winning social service organization
committed to developing and supporting the Arab-American community. ACCESS
initiatives include Detroit's acclaimed Arab-American National Museum (opened in
2005) and more than 90 programs serving Arab-American communities in seven different
locations. The organization's most recent initiative involves creating fitness
centers to serve the largest population of Arab-descended children in the United
States, those in the Detroit metro area. The focus, once again, is children, in
particular preparing them for healthy and productive lives.

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

Sahra is produced by Dawn Elder who is recognized in the American media landscape
for her expertise on the cultural interplay among American, Middle Eastern and North
African societies. Elder is a composer, producer, director, artist manager, public
speaker and creator of more than 1,000 events, including some of the most ambitious
cultural festivals and conferences the United States has seen. Elder's wide-ranging
achievements are unified by a fierce humanitarianism and a dedication to the
principle that culture - especially music - has a vital role to play in resolving
hostilities between nations, faiths, and ethnic communities.

The MGM Grand Garden Arena is home to concerts, championship boxing and premier
sporting and special events. The Arena offers comfortable seating for as many as
16,800 with excellent sightlines and state-of-the-art acoustics, lighting and sound.
Prominent events to date have included world championship fights between Evander
Holyfield and Mike Tyson as well as Oscar De La Hoya vs. Floyd Mayweather and George
Foreman vs. Michael Moorer; and concerts by The Rolling Stones, Madonna, Elton John,
Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, Bette Midler, George Strait, Janet Jackson, Phil
Collins, Billy Joel, U2, 'N Sync, Sting, Coldplay, Alicia Keys, Jimmy Buffett and
the Barbra Streisand Millennium Concert. The MGM Grand Garden Arena also is home to
the annual Academy of Country Music Awards (ACMA), Frozen Fury NHL pre-season game
and the U.S. Open of Motocross.

© 2009 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)