Profile: Etab, Saudi Arabia’s first female singer

CAIRO – 30 December 2017: Today marks the birthday of Etab, Saudi Arabia’s first female singer. To honor the remarkable artist, Egypt Today presents a profile about her life and career.

December 30, 2017 would have been the 70th birthday of Etab, Saudi Arabia’s first female singer to perform publically, pioneering the music of the nation.



Born in Saudi Arabia in 1941 as Tarfa Abdel-Kheir Adam, Etab was of Bedouin descent. She earned her stage name when she began performing at the young age of 13, and was first discovered by influential Saudi musician Talal Maddah in the late 1960s.



Her first successful performance was in Kuwait, which paved the way for her to become popular across the Arab world.

Etab later married the Egyptian Farouk Farouq and moved to Cairo with him, where she also proved to be popular. She received the Egyptian citizenship in 1983.

Much of Etab’s music is influenced by her Bedouin roots. She would mix it with contemporary Arab music in order to create her own unique style, which was immensely popular within the region. One of her most popular songs was an adaptation of a traditional Iraqi folk song, “Gani Al-Asmar” (The Dark One Approached Me).

In total, she produced over 15 albums, and was loved for her husky, soothing voice.


Etab briefly worked as an actress, starring in three movies.

In addition to performing, Etab was a prominent voice for female equality within the field of music and a Member of the Union of Arab Artists and the Egyptian Music Syndicate.

After her divorce, Etab moved to the UAE but when she was diagnosed with cancer in 1997, she moved back to Egypt, where she died on August 21, 2007 at the age of 66.