Al Hayba

*Al Hayba*
Al Hayba
Genre	Drama
Created by	Sabbah Brothers; Cedars Art Production;
Developed by	Samer Barqawi
Written by	Hozan Akko; Basem Al Salka;
Starring	Taim Hasan; Nadine Nassib Njeim; Muna Wassef; Abdo Chahine; Valerie Abou Chacra; Cyrine Abdel Nour; Nicole Saba;
Country of origin	Lebanon
Original languages	Arabic (Lebanese standard, Lebanese Baalbeki, and Syrian dialects)
No. of seasons	3
No. of episodes	90 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers	Ali and Sadek Sabbah
Producer	Sabbah Brothers
Production location	Lebanese village near the Lebanese Mountain
Running time	45 minutes
Original release
Network	MBC Middle East Broadcasting Center and MTV Lebanon
Release	27 May 2017 –; present

Al Hayba (Template:Lang-ar) is a Lebanese-Syrian Arabic language drama television series directed by Samer Barqawi and starring Taim Hasan, Nadine Nassib Njeim ^[1] The series first aired on Middle East Broadcasting Center (MBC) to the Arab world on 27 May 2017. As an Arab Ramadan series, the drama is released during the month of Ramadan. Season 2 was released on MBC in May 2018. Netflix picked up season 1 and provided English, Chinese, French, and Spanish subtitles.

The series is set in a fictional Lebanese village of "Al Hayba" near the Lebanese-Syrian border, and is centered around the prominent Lebanese "Sheikh Al Jabal" clan.

Plot

The story follows members of a fictional Lebanese clan, Sheikh Al Jabal, near the Syrian border. The family is part of a larger tribe that has an ongoing historic feud with the Lebanese Al Said clan in the village of Al Hayba. The two families constantly struggle against one another, along with internal strife. The series is in Lebanese standard dialect, Lebanese Baalbek dialect, and the Syrian dialect of Arabic.

Cast

The cast includes a number of well known and novice Lebanese and Syrian actors and actresses.

Character	Actor	Actor's name in Arabic script	Actor's country of origin
Jabal	Taim Hasan	تيم حسن	Syria
Alia (Season 1)	Nadine Nassib Njeim	نادين نسيب نجيم	Lebanon
Nour Rahma (Season 3)	Cyrine Abdelnour	سيرين عبد النور	Lebanon
Nahed Imran	Muna Wassef	منى واصف	Syria
Sakher	Oweiss Mkhallalati	أويس مخللاتي
Chahine	Abdo Chahine	عبدو شاهين	Lebanon
Mona	Rozina Lazkani	روزينا لاذقاني	Syria
Ali (Season 3)	Said Serhan	سعيد سرحان	Lebanon
Majdi	Michael Hourani	ميشال حوراني	Lebanon
Dr. Ghada	Carla Boutros	كارلا بطرس	Lebanon
Em Chahine (Chahine's Mother)	Kitam Alaham	ختام اللحام
Rima	Zeinab Hind Khadra	زينب هند خضرة
Em Ali	Layla Qamri	ليلى قمري	Lebanon
Maternal Uncle of Jabal (Nahed's Brother)	Najah Safkouni	نجاح سفكوني	Syria
Ghazi (Jabal's paternal uncle, & father of Chahine)	Khalid Alsayed	خالد السيد	Lebanon
Essa "the attorney"	Patrick	باتريك	Lebanon
Maryam (Season 2)	Valerie Abou Chacra	فاليري أبو شقرا	Lebanon

Criticism

Regional stereotypes

In 2018, a lawsuit was filed against the show, alleging that it promoted stereotypes of Baalbek as criminal, including widespread drug use and violence.^[2] In response, Cedars Art Production referenced the show's disclaimer that all details are fictional. Viewers have linked the show's fictional setting to Baalbeck due to proximity to the Syrian border, use of regional dialect,^[3] and history of familial conflicts.^[2]

Representations of women and domestic violence

Lead actress Nadine Nassib Njeim turned down the season 2 contract due to lack of her role's prominence and described the show as a predominantly male story.^[4]

Critics claim that a season in which actor Taim Hasan's character beats his wife Sumaya, played by Nicole Saba, normalizes domestic violence.^[5]

Season 1

Alia (played by Nadine Nassib Njeim) is a Lebanese woman that lives in Canada with her son Joe (Jabal Jr), and her husband Adel. Adel was born to a Lebanese father Sultan Sheikh Al Jabal, and a Syrian mother Nahed (played by Muna Wassef). Adel passes away in Canada and based on his wishes is brought to Lebanon for burial. Adel's family are of the prominent Sheikh Al Jabal clan located in Al Hayba Lebanon. When Alia meets her deceased husband's family they want to keep her child with them. Her mother-in-law stipulates that she can only stay with her son if she marries her eldest son, Jabal Sr (played by Syrian actor Taim Hasan), Alia's deceased husband's brother. Alia lodges a complaint against the family at the Canadian embassy. Through a series of events, Alia falls in love with Jabal Senior who has many enemies that he, Alia, and his family must face.

Season 2

Season 2 was released on MBC and MTV Lebanon in May 2018, and included 30 episodes. Nadine Nassib Njeim (Alia) is not in season 2. The majority of the Season 2 is a prequel to Season 1 when Jabal's father Sultan Sheikh Al Jabal and his brother Adel Sheikh Al Jabal (Alia's husband) are still alive. His paternal uncle Ghazi Sheikh Al Jabal (Chahine's father) is not imprisoned. The season provides context for the feudal and interfamilial strife.

Season 3

In September 2018 it was announced that there will be a 3rd season of Al Hayba, which will be released in May 2019, starring Taim Hassan as Jabal Sheikh al Jabal and Cyrine Abdel Nour as Nour Rahme, a well-known presenter.

Country	Channel	Series premiere	Language	Title	Seasons released
Lebanon	Middle East Broadcasting Center and MTV Lebanon	May 2017	Arabic	Al Hayba	Season 1
Lebanon	Middle East Broadcasting Center and MTV Lebanon	May 2018	Arabic	Al Hayba	Season 2
Internationally	Netflix	September 2018	Arabic (English, French, Spanish, Chinese subtitles)	Al Hayba	Season 1

References

^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 14 October 2018. Retrieved 13 October 2018. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
^ ^a ^b "Lawyers seek to block popular TV show 'Al Hayba El Awda' - Annahar Staff". An-Nahar. 28 May 2018. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
^ "The controversy over Al Hayba-El Awda: Why now? - Sally Farhat". An-Nahar. 30 May 2018. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
^ "'Al Hayba' director Samer Al Barkawi says the third season is well under way with Cyrine Abdelnour in the lead". The National. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
^ Itani, Amani (12 June 2018). "This Ramadan series encourages domestic abuse, and people are furious". StepFeed. Retrieved 14 January 2019.

[1] "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 14 October 2018. Retrieved 13 October 2018. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

[:0-2] "Lawyers seek to block popular TV show 'Al Hayba El Awda' - Annahar Staff". An-Nahar. 28 May 2018. Retrieved 14 January 2019.

[3] "The controversy over Al Hayba-El Awda: Why now? - Sally Farhat". An-Nahar. 30 May 2018. Retrieved 14 January 2019.

[:1-4] "'Al Hayba' director Samer Al Barkawi says the third season is well under way with Cyrine Abdelnour in the lead". The National. Retrieved 11 December 2018.

[5] Itani, Amani (12 June 2018). "This Ramadan series encourages domestic abuse, and people are furious". StepFeed. Retrieved 14 January 2019.

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