Egypt's Minister of Culture Ines Abdel-Dayem said in a press release that the 28th edition of the Arab Music Festival set record numbers in the audience, artistic programming and revenues.

Some 15,000 audience members attended 37 concerts held at the festival's different venues in Cairo, Alexandria and Damanhour.

Ninety-two singers and musicians from seven Arab countries performed in the festival with a total of 114 hours of musical enchantment. The conferences held throughout the festival featured 45 renowned musicians and researchers from 15 countries.

Cairo Opera House Chairman Magdy Saber said the festival saw EGP 8.5 million in tickets' sales, a record number of revenues in the event's near three-decades-long history.

The Ratiba El-Hefny Arab Music and Singing Competition, held as part of the Arab Music Festival, presented 19 winners (out of 220 contestants) who were given a total of over EGP 150,000 in financial awards.

The final day of the festival featured Syrian star Asala, as well as renowned Egyptian singers Hanan Mady, Ali El-Haggar and Reham Abdel-Hakim, performing in three concerts,  and each attracting large audiences to the halls in Cairo and Alexandria.

The success of this year's Arab Music Festival encouraged Abdel-Dayem; Saber, and Jihan Morsi, the festival director, to initiate monthly concerts featuring well-know Arabic music stars.

The 28th edition of the Arab Music Festival was held from 1 to 12 November at the Cairo Opera House and other venues operating under its wings in the capital, Alexandria, and Damanhour. 

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