Guess who made it to Arabian Business's "100 Most Powerful Arabs Under 40" list?
You've guessed it: Mohammed Assaf!
There was no doubt in our minds that the Palestinian singer's name would be on the influential list in 2015. His continuous success and super speedy rise to stardom ranked him at no. 46.
Let's look back at the 25-year-old's journey from a humble wedding singer to an international superstar.
22 June 2013 - Palestine cheers hoorah! Mohammad Assaf wins Arab Idol 2.
23 June 2013 - Immediately after he was crowned, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) names him the first regional goodwill ambassador for peace.
3 June 2014 - With a 'lil helping hand from his fans, Assaf records World Cup anthem Live in 24 hours! #ASSAF360.
12 June 2014 - The singer performs at the World Cup opening ceremony in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
January 2014 - #Winning: Sayidaty.net awards Assaf with "Best Arab Male Artist 2013" trophy.
May 2014 - Mohammed's North America tour sells out. They've Assaf mania too!
17 July 2014 - Singing for peace: Assaf's song for Gaza becomes an instant YouTube hit.
15 October 2014 - The Arab King of Charts! Assaf's first ever album officially rocks the region at the #1 spot.
9 November 2014 - Always a winner! Assaf scoops the MTV EMA for best Middle East Act in Scotland.
November 2014 - May I have your autograph? Assaf's album-signing tour is a hit in Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine and the UAE!
28 November 2014 - Big Ben chimed as Assaf's concert gave Londoners something to smile about!
March 2015 - From the Arab Idol stage to the big screen, an Assaf biopic is coming soon.
29 March 2015 - Assaf fights the good fight for the troubled people of Gaza! The goodwill ambassador campaigns for a more peaceful and land mine-free Gaza.
April 2015 - Assaf will try out acting for the first time in his career. He will star in the TV drama "Heaven & Hell" alongside Egyptian veteran actor Nour el Sherif.
Assaf has become a household name in the Middle East and internationally, and his popularity will surely not be dying out any time soon, if ever.
Next on the jet-setter's agenda is a charity concert in Amman, Jordan, on May 1. The concert is being organized by the Research Centre for Refugee Studies (RCRS) to honor the memory of Palestinian and Jordanian martyrs.
By Arwad Khalifeh
