Mohamed Abdel Wahab
| Muhammad Abd al Wahhab محمد عبد الوهاب |
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| Background information | |
| Born |
March 13, 1902 Cairo, Khedivate of Egypt (now Egypt) |
| Origin |
 Egypt
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| Died | May 4, 1991 (aged 89) Cairo, Egypt |
| Years active | 1917–1991 |
| Labels | EMI Arabia |
Mohammed 'Abd al-Wahhab (Arabic: محمد عبد الوهاب), also transliterated Mohammed Abdel Wahab (March 13, 1902 – May 4, 1991) was a prominent 20th-century Egyptian singer and composer.
He composed "Ya Beladi" (also known as "Libya, Libya, Libya") the National anthem of Libya used by the Kingdom of Libya from 1951 to 1969 and again by the post-Gaddafi transitional government in 2011. He also composed the national anthem of Tunisia, "Humat al-Hima" as well as the United Arab Emirates national anthem "Ishy Bilady" and many Egyptian nationalist songs.
Mohammed 'Abd al-Wahhab was born in 1902 in Cairo, Egypt, in a neighborhood called Bab El-Sheriyah, where there is now a statue of him. He began his singing career at an early age and made his first public performances at age seven at local productions. He was 13 when he made his first recording.
Mohammed 'Abd al-Wahhab was a very close friend to singer Abdel Halim Hafez.
In 1933 'Abd al-Wahhab began composing his own style of Arabic film musical after visiting Paris and familiarizing himself with French musical film. He introduced a lighthearted genre of musical film to Arabic culture eventually composing eight musical comedies between 1933 and 1949. His films portrayed Western social elite and included music that veered off from the traditional Arabic tune. He starred in his 1934 film The White Flower which broke records in attendance and still plays frequently in Egyptian theaters. In 1950 'Abd al-Wahhab left film to focus on being a more profound singer.
'Abd al-Wahhab composed more than 1820 songs. 'Abd al-Wahhab is considered to be one of the most innovative Egyptian musicians of all time, laying the foundation for a new era of Egyptian music with his use of non-Arabic rhythms and refined oud playing.
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