For years Google has been honoring celebrated figures from around the world and reminding the world of their incredible achievements and significant legacies with its artistic Doodles.
Throughout these years, Google Doodles certainly hasn't left out the Arab world's icons and heroes. From film and literature to pioneering innovators, these are the 15 best Google Doodles celebrating Arab figures and honoring their legacies.
1. Nizar Qabbani 's 93rd Birthday
The doodle paid homage to the places closest to the heart of the iconic Syrian poet and writer Nizar Qabbani, where he produced some of his most notable works. The four-part doodle depicts a jasmine courtyard in his hometown Damascus, the Moon Hotel in Beirut, the palm tree-ridden landscape in Iraq where he met his second wife – the love of his life – and his office at home.
2. Abdel Halim Hafez 's 82nd Birthday
The doodle paid homage to the iconic Egyptian singer Abdel Halim Hafez by a simple but beautiful black and white illustration portraying Hafez singing on stage while standing in his iconic pose in front of a sparkling mic.
3. Asmahan 's 103rd Birthday
The doodle paid homage to the iconic Syrian singer Asmahan by an animated black and white illustration of her performing in her signature style, in which she looked profoundly into the camera to sing directly to the viewers.
4. Faten Hamama's 85th Birthday
The doodle paid homage to the iconic Egyptian actress by memorializing one of the roles that defines her legacy as an influential actress who inspired generations of Egyptian women. It portrays her as Layla, the powerful lead in the 1964 film "Al-Bab Al-Maftouh," which highlighted the struggle for women's rights.
5. Youssef Chahine 's 89th Birthday
The doodle paid homage to the iconic Egyptian director Youssef Chahine by portraying him operating a film camera in his hometown Alexandria, which was the subject of some of his greatest films, with the famous Alexandria skyline and the Mediterranean in the background.
6. Umm Kalthoum 's Birthday
The doodle paid homage to the iconic Egyptian singer Umm Kalthoum with a colorful illustration portraying Kalthum singing on stage in her signature pose with her signature scarf flying through the air. The doodle also includes illustrations of Arab instruments such as the Oud, which was a prominent part of her music, surrounding her.
7. Farid Shawki's 94th Birthday
The doodle paid homage to the iconic Egyptian actor and filmmaker Farid Shawki by portraying a sample of the hundreds of characters he played in the nearly 400 films he starred in, wrote or produced. Some of his most beloved characters are depicted in the doodle, showcasing his diverse talent.
8. Warda Al-Jazairia's 74th Birthday
The doodle paid homage to the iconic Algerian signer Warda Al-Jazairia with a blue illustration portraying her singing into a recording mic with her signature haircut and hoop earrings.
9. Lotfia El-Nady 's 107th Birthday
The doodle paid homage to pioneering Egyptian aviator Lotifa El-Nady, who was the first Egyptian woman to fly a plane from Cairo to Alexandria. The illustration portrays El-Nady in her aviator hat and goggles with a plane flying over the Pyramids of Giza in the background.
10. Ismail Yasin's 96th Birthday
The doodle paid homage to the iconic Egyptian comedian and actor Ismail Yasin with a colorful illustration portraying three of his most iconic film roles with the title "Ismail Yasin In" which was famously used to introduce him in film titles and posters.
11. May Ziade's 126th Birthday
The doodle paid homage to the pioneering Palestinian-Lebanese poet and writer May Ziade, who was one of the key figures in the 20th century renaissance of Arabic literature. The simple colorful illustration portrays Ziade deep in contemplation.
12. Latifa Al-Zayyat’s 92nd Birthday
The doodle paid homage to the pioneering Egyptian novelist and scholar Latifa Al-Zayyat with an illustration portraying her holding the manuscript for her prominent novel "The Open Door," in which activist Layla was Al-Zayyat's semi-autobiographical heroine.
13. Sohair El-Qalamawy's 103rd Birthday
The doodle paid homage to pioneering Egyptian scholar and writer Sohair El-Qalamawy, who was the first female professor at Cairo University and one of the most influential figures who advocated for women's rights in Egypt. The illustration portrays the scholar in her office writing.
14. Naguib El Rihani ’s 127th Birthday
The doodle paid homage to iconic Egyptian comedian and actor Naguib El-Rihani, who is considered the father of Egyptian comedy, by portraying him in his natural environment acting on stage.
15. Khalil Gibran's Birthday
The doodle paid homage to the iconic Lebanese poet Khalil Gibran by a simple illustration portraying a young Gibran looking onward.