On Thursday, the 16th of October 2008, a panel of judges will select and announce the winner of Monte Carlo Doualiya Music Prize for the year 2008 in a special ceremony to be held in the Great Hall of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina. This prize is organised by Monte Carlo Doualiya and seeks to encourage and honour young musicians (aged 30 or less) from the eight Mediterranean Arab countries (Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestinian Territories, Syria, and Tunisia). For this year, the three finalists are Ayham Abou Ammar (Syria), Nawel Ben Kraaiem (Tunisia) and Lounes Sabi (Algeria).

The ceremony will begin at 8:00 p.m, and during the evening each finalist will perform for a period of time. At the end of the ceremony there will be a performance by Wust El Balad, the popular Egyptian group.

For 2008, the jury which will select the winner is presided over by Maestro Sherif Mohie El Din, the Director of the Arts Centre at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina. Mr. Andreu Claret, Executive Director of the Anna Lindh Foundation will also be participating in the jury.

The winner of the prize will be awarded 6000 euros and will be presented in front of the media and music industry professionals in a special concert in Paris. Furthermore, the winner will benefit from a promotion campaign on the airwaves of Monte Carlo Doualiya.

The event is under the High Patronage of the Egyptian Tourism Authority and is organised with the generous support of EgyptAir, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina Arts Center, the French Centre for Culture and Cooperation (CFCC) in Alexandria and the SACEM.