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Adel Emam
عادل إمام
Adel Emam on Dec 3, 2015.
Born
Adel Mohamed Emam

(1940-05-17) May 17, 1940 (age 84)
NationalityEgyptian
Other namesEl Zaeem (The Leader)
CitizenshipEgypt
EducationCairo University
Occupation(s)Actor, comedian
Years active1962–2024
SpouseHala Al Shalaqani
Children3, including Mohamed Emam and Ramy Imam
RelativesMustafa Metwalli (brother-in-law)

Adel Emam (Arabic: عادل إمام; born on 17 May 1940),[1] full name is Adel Mohamed Emam Mohamed Bukhariny and his artistic nickname is Al-Zaeem "The Leader",[1] is an Egyptian film, television, and stage actor, known for his extensive career with over 150 artistic works, including films, plays, and television series spanning comedy, social, and political genres.[2] He is regarded as one of the leading figures of the second generation of comedy artists in Egypt and the Arab world.[3] He is primarily a comedian, but he has starred in more serious works and, combined comedy with romance. Adel Emam stands as a towering figure in Egyptian and Arab cinema, celebrated for his versatility across genres. Starting in the 1960s, he became one of the most well-known figures in the industry.

Adel Emam earned a bachelor's degree in Agriculture from Cairo University. Since then he has appeared in over 103 movies and 10 plays.[4] Emam's personal life is connected to the world of arts. He is married to Hala El-Shalaqani and has three children, including director Ramy Emam and actor Mohamed Emam.

His contributions to the Egyptian film industry and theatre through addressing social and political issues in film and television earned him a cult following and a worldwide reputation that made him one of the most influential Arab public figures in the 1980s and 1990s. Adel Emam is considered by a huge mass of cult followers as a cultural icon in the history of modern Egypt.[5][6]

His career is marked by many awards solidifying his place as an icon of Arab cinema. He has received critical acclaim and international recognition, including Lifetime Achievement Awards and accolades from major festivals. Beyond acting, Emam is known for challenging societal norms and reflecting the culture of his time. His work remains influential, highlighting his lasting impact in a changing world. In January 2000, the United Nations appointed Emam as a Goodwill Ambassador for UNHCR.

Personal Life

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A photo of Cairo University, showing the university's theater (the Grand Celebration Hall), where Adel Emam trained on stage in his youth.

Adel Emam was born into a poor farmer family on May 17, 1940, in the Sayeda Aisha district of Cairo,[1] but his family's origins trace back to the village of Shaha in the Mansoura district of Dakahlia Governorate. Adel Emam mentioned that he loved his mother deeply and was profoundly affected by her death.[7] His father, Mohamed Emam, was religious and worked as a "Shawish" in the police force.[1] His father passed away in 1997 after suffering from Alzheimer's disease for some time.[8] Adel Emam has one brother and two sisters. His brother is the producer Essam Emam, and his sisters are Eman and Mona.[9] Mustafa Metwalli is his brother-in-law, being married to his sister Eman Emam.[1]

During his childhood, Adel moved with his family from the Sayeda Aisha district to the Helmiya district, then to Omrania district in Giza, then to Mohandiseen, and later to Mansouria.[1] Adel studied at Helmiya School before transferring to Benbaqdgan Secondary School and then to Marqosiya Secondary School in Alexandria. After completing school, he joined the Faculty of Agriculture at Cairo University, where some of his batchmates included actor Salah El-Saadany and former Syrian Prime Minister Mahmoud Al-Zoubi.[10] Adel Emam stated on a talk show hosted by Hala Sarhan that Amin Shalaby and the late Younes Shalaby as well as Saeed Saleh and Salah Al-Saadani were his best friends since university.[11] He began his artistic career at Cairo University's theater, where he worked in theater and cinema. He participated in the play Ana Wa Howa Wa Heya (1963) during his third year at university.[12]

Adel Emam is married to Hala El-Shalaqani and has three children: the director Ramy Emam, Sarah Emam, and Mohamed Emam, who also starred in the movie The Yacoubian Building as Taha ElShazli. He also has eight grandchildren. Three of them, Adel, Ezz El-Din, and Roqaya, are Rami's children; three daughters, Hala, Camellia, and Amina, are Sarah's; and two daughters, Khadija and Qismat, are Mohamed's.[13] Rami's wife is named Yasmine, Sarah's husband is Ahmed Mokbel, and Mohamed's wife is Nouran Talaat.[14][15]

In February 2012, Emam was sentenced (in absentia) to three months in jail for offending Islam.[16] Emam said he would appeal the sentence.[17] On September 12, 2012, Emam won his appeal when a Cairo misdemeanours court cleared him of defaming Islam in his films.[18]

Career

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1960s

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Adel Emam began his career in the 1960s, making his debut in 1967 with small roles in films.[3] He launched his career in theater in Ana w Howa w Heya (1962) with Fouad El-Mohandes and Shwikar. In cinema, his early work included roles in films like My Wife, the Director General (1966), My Wife's Dignity (1967), and his first significant role came in My Wife's Goblin (1968) with Salah Zulfikar and Shadia. He was part of the younger generation of actors who emerged during the 1960s, which was a time of social and political change in Egypt. He was known for his charming screen presence and his ability to perform both comedic and dramatic roles.

1970s

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Adel Emam (left) with Abdel Halim Hafez while recording Please, do not get me quickly (Arabic: أرجوك لا تفهمني بسرعة) in 1973.

In the early 1970s, Adel Emam became more prominent and gained a reputation for his comedic and versatile acting style. His career reached a new height with films like Virgo (1970) with Salah Zulfikar in the lead. He shared the lead with Mervat Amin and Samir Sabry in Searching for the Scandal (1973).

The early 1970s saw Emam take on roles in films that explored themes of love, youth, and societal pressures. Bahibek Ya Helwa (1970), in which Emam starred alongside Hassan Youssef and Nahed Sherif, was a romantic comedy that capitalized on the youthful energy and charm of the lead actors. This film reflected the societal changes of the time, focusing on the emerging youth culture and its influence on relationships. By the mid-1970s, Emam had established himself as a household name in Egyptian cinema. His roles in comedies and theatre, such as Madraset El Moshaghbeen (1973), helped cement his place as one of the leading comedic actors of the time. In Madraset El Moshaghbeen, Emam’s portrayal of Bahgat El Abasery, a mischievous and humorous character, resonated with audiences and became one of his most iconic roles. Also, in 1976, Emam performed one of his most powerful plays, Shahed Ma Shafsh Haga "Witness Who Saw Nothing", With Omar Al-Hariri and Nahed Jabr.

1980s

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Emam in the 1980s

The 1980s marked a period of both professional growth for Emam, as he took on various characters across genres between comedy and drama. One of his notable films during the early 1980s was The Suspect (1981). Emam's on-screen chemistry with actress Soad Hosny, another star of Egyptian cinema, added a special charm to their collaboration. This film, along with others such as Love in a Jail Cell (1983).

Emam’s portrayal in The Street Player (1983) marked a defining moment in his career. This film was notable for its mixture of humor and social commentary. In The Street Player, he balanced comic timing with insightful reflections on societal norms. The film became one of his many successful ventures that also helped him become a central figure in Egypt's evolving cinematic landscape. Also, he starred in Smart but Foolish (1980), a light-hearted comedy. His roles in films like and Searching for a Scandal solidified his status in Egyptian cinema.

Emam portrayed a man who undergoes a transformation after facing a series of personal challenges in The Human Lives Only Once (1981). His performance combined humor with emotional depth. In At the Minister’s Door (1982), Emam played a character caught up in the chaos of bureaucratic systems while seeking a government job. Known for his sharp comedic timing, Emam brought humor to the frustrations of dealing with corruption and the inefficiency of the system.

Hamada and Tutu’s Gang (1982) marked a departure from his typical comedic roles. His performance brought a mix of action and comedy, as he portrayed a character caught in a world of crime and chaos. In The Beggar (1983), Emam played a man who, after a life of wealth, finds himself on the streets as a beggar. The film was an important social commentary on the plight of the poor.

Adel Emam acted in a unique experience in 1984 in his film So That the Smoke Doesn’t Fly. It is based on the novel by Ihsan Abdel Quddous, Emam portrayed a man who navigates the complications of addiction and personal life. His performance was marked by emotional depth as he handled both the personal turmoil and societal judgment. Another unique film was The Humans and the Jinn (1985). It was Emam’s only foray into the horror genre, where he played a man caught between the worlds of humans and supernatural entities. He bring a unique touch to a genre that was not common in Arab cinema at the time. Emam also participated in theatrical production Al-Wad Sayed Al-Shaghal (1993), where he played the character of Sayed, a charming and witty young man navigating the complexities of love and social expectations.

1990s

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The 1990s marked the peak of Adel Emam's career, as he became one of the leading figures in Egyptian cinema. His collaborations with directors like Sherif Arafa produced iconic works such as Terrorism and Kebab (1992), though technically just outside this decade, and Jazeerat al-Shaytan (1987). Emam’s style in the 1990s was often characterized by strong social criticism laced with humor. His performances in these films resonated with wide audiences across the Arab world, earning him massive popularity.

In the 1990s, Adel Emam maintained his dominance in the Egyptian film industry. He continued to take on socially relevant roles that reflected the political and social realities of Egypt. One of his most famous films from this era is Al-La'ib Ma'a Al-Kibar (Playing with the Big Boys, 1991) which is a black comedy in which Emam starred as an ordinary man who gets entangled with powerful individuals in a game of high stakes. The film's satirical tone was a commentary on the power dynamics and corruption within society. Another famous film is The Terrorist, which was one of Emam's most critically acclaimed works, combined humor with a profound social and political message. The movie focused on a terrorist who seeks redemption, and Emam's portrayal brought depth to a character who was tragic. In 1998, Emam took on the role of a man who becomes an unlikely hero after being asked to deliver an important letter to a corrupt governor in Risala Ela Al-Wali (1998).

His films were the highest-grossing during that period. He earned the title of Al-Zaeem "The Leader" after mastering his role in the play Al-Zaeem (1993), in which he portrayed a role that resonated with themes of political power and leadership. Adel Emam was the number one actor in the Arab world during the 1980s and 1990s.[4]

2000s

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Adel Emam on February 2, 2006

The 2000s saw Adel Emam evolve into an elder statesman of Egyptian cinema. He continued to act in both films and television series, maintaining a strong presence in Egyptian entertainment. One of his key films from the 2000s was The Embassy in the Building (2005), where he took on the role of a man who gets caught up in a political thriller involving international intrigue. Emam played a Cairene everyman inconvenienced when the Embassy of Israel moves into his apartment building. In the following year, Emam was one of the ensemble cast of The Yacoubian Building, a film reputed to be the highest-budgeted in Egyptian cinema and adapted from the novel of the same name. The story is a sharp look at contemporary Egyptian life through the prism of a faded downtown Cairo apartment building. Emam portrays an aging roué whose misadventures form a central strand of the film's complex narrative.[19][20]

Emam was an important national figure in Egypt largely because of the Egyptian political roles he took on in many of his films and plays, he always focused on Egypt's politics and religious problems. These roles, whether he intended it or not, often put him in a critical position vis-à-vis the president or the government, such as The Terrorist (1994) alongside Salah Zulfikar in Zulfikar's final film role. He has been cast several times by the producer Emad Adeeb in movies like Morgan Ahmed Morgan (2007), and Hassan and Marcus (2008) starring Omar Sharif.

Retirement

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On January 21, 2024, it was officially confirmed that Emam has retired, as his son, Rami Emam, stated that his father decided to step away from artistic endeavors to dedicate his time to family life. He retired from acting after a 60-year career.[21][22][23]

Selected works

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Year Film/TV Series/Play in Arabic Name Translation Role
1963 Ana Wa Howa Wa Heya (play) Me, him and her
1965 Ana Feen W Enti Feen (play) Where am I and where are you?
1966 Mirati Modeer Aam My Wife, the Director General
1966 3 Losoos Three Thieves
1966 Al-Nassabeen (play) Scammers
1967 Karamat Zawgaty My Wife's Dignity
1967 Dhat Al-Bijama Al-Hamraa (play) Red Pajamas
1968 Afreet Mirati My Wife's Goblin
1970 Borj El-Athraa Virgo
1971 Sahira (short) Witch Waiter
1973 Madrast Al-Mushaghebeen (play) The School of Mischievous Bahgat
1975 Shahed Ma Shafsh Haga (play) The Witness Who Didn't See Anything Sarhan Abdelbaseer
1975 Gharameyat Afifi (play)
1978 Ahlam Al fata Al ta2r Dreams Of The Fugitive Boy Ibrahim El-Tayer
1979 Ihna Bitua' al-Autobis We are the Bus people Jabir
1981 Al-Mashbouh The Suspect Maher
1982 Dumu Fi Uyun Waqeha Tears In Insolent Eyes Gomaa El-Shawwan
1983 El Harrif The Professional Fares
1983 Al-Motasawel The Beggar Hasanin
1983 El Avocato The Advocate Hasan Sabanekh
1984 Hatta La-Yeteer Al-Dukhan So that smoke won't fly Fahmi
1984 Al Ins wa Algen Humans and The Devil Jalal (The Devil)
1984 Al-Wad Sayed Al-Shaghal(play) The Boy Sayyed The Servant Sayyed
1985 Al Halfout Arafa
1987 Al-Nemr Wal-Ontha The Tiger And The Female Waheed
1991 Al-La'ib Ma'a Al-Kibar Playing with the Big Boys Hassan Behnasi Behloul
1991 Shams Elzanaty Shams Elzanaty Shams Elzanaty
1992 El Erhab Wal Kabab Terrorism and Kebab Ahmed
1993 El Mansy The Forgotten Youssef El Mansy
1993 Al-Zaeem (play) The Leader Zeinhom
1994 Al-Erhabi The Terrorist Ali
1995 Bekheet Wa Adeela Bekheet And Adeela Bekheet
1995 Toyoor Al-Zalaam Birds Of Darkness Fathy Nofal
1996 Al-Nom Fil-Assal Sleeping In The Honey Colonel Magdi
1997 Bekheet Wa Adeela 2: El-Gardal wel-Kanaka Bekheet and Adeela 2: The Pail and the Coffeepot Bekheet
1998 Risala Ela Al-Wali A Message to the Governor Harfoosh
1999 El-Wad Mahroos Betaa El-Wazeer Mahroos; The Minister's Guy Mahroos
1999 Body Guard (play) Body Guard Adham
2000 Bekheet Wa Adeela 3: Hello America Bekheet And Adeela 3: Hello America Bekheet
2002 Ameer Al-Thalaam Prince of Darkness Saeed Al-Masri
2003 Al-Tagroba Al-Danemarkeya The Danish Experiment Qadri
2004 Arees Menn Gehha Amneya A Security Service Groom Khattaab
2005 El-Sefara fi El-Omara The Embassy Is In The Building Shereef
2006 Emaret Yaqubian The Yacoubian Building Zakki
2007 Morgan Ahmad Morgan Morgan Ahmad Morgan Morgan
2008 Hassan w Morqos Hassan and Marcus Boules
2009 Bobbos Bobbos Mohsen Hendawi
2010 Zahaimar Alzheimer's Mahmoud
2012 Firqit Naji Atallah (TV Series) Naji Atallah's Team Naji Atallah
2013 Al Aaraf (TV Series) The Fortune-teller Abd-El-Hamid El-Bakry / Hazem Ghorbal / Mostafa Zahran / Araby El-Kahky / Sobhy Abou-El-Fadl / Abou-El-Haggag El-Masry
2014 Saheb El Saada (TV Series) His Majesty Bahgat Abou-Kheir
2015 Ostaz wa rayees kesm (TV Series) Professor and Head of Department Fawzy Gomaa
2016 Ma'amoon wa shorakaah (TV Series) Ma'amoon and his partners Ma'amoon Mobasher
2017 Afareet Adly Alam (TV Series) Adly Alam's Ghosts Adly Alam
2018 Awalem Khafyah (TV Series) Hidden Worlds Helal Kamel
2020 Valentino (TV Series) Valentino Noor Valentino

Awards and honours

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Adel Emam at the Doha Tribeca Film Festival on December 28, 2009.

Adel Emam has received numerous awards throughout his five-decade career. He won the Horus Award twice, for his leading roles in Omaret Yakobean and Al-irhabi, at the Cairo International Film Festival. Additionally, in 2014, a testament to his legacy he was honored with the Honorary Award at the Marrakech International Film Festival. His international acclaim continued as he received the International Jury Award at the São Paulo International Film Festival.[24] Furthermore, in both 2005 and 2008, the Dubai International Film Festival awarded Adel Emam the Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2017, he was presented with the first-ever Career Achievement Award at the El-Gouna Film Festival. Most recently, in January 2024, he was honored with the Arab Art Leader Award at the Joy Awards.[25]

Festival Year Category Nominated work Result Ref.
Cairo International Film Festival 1995 Best Actor Al-Irhabi (The Terrorist) Won
Dubai International Film Festival 2005 Lifetime Achievement Award All his works Won [26]
São Paulo International Film Festival 2006 Best Actor Omaret Yakobean (The Yacoubian Building) Won [27]
Tribeca Film Festival 2006 Actor in a Narrative Feature Omaret Yakobean (The Yacoubian Building) Won [28]
Cairo International Film Festival 2007 Best Actor Omaret Yakobean (The Yacoubian Building) Won
Dubai International Film Festival 2008 Lifetime Achievement Award All his works Won [29][30][31]
Marrakech International Film Festival 2014 Honorary Award Alzheimer's Won [32][33]
El Gouna Film Festival 2017 Career Achievement Award All his works Won [34]
Joy Awards 2024 Arab Art Leader Award All his works Won [25]

Egyptian honours

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Foreign honours

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f أشرف بيدس (2018-01-01). عادل إمام: الغالب مستمر (in Arabic). سما للنشر والتوزيع. p. 28. ISBN 978-977-781-148-4. Archived from the original on 12 February 2022.
  2. ^ "The Top 3 Arab Male Actors". Forbes Middle East. Retrieved 2017-09-18.
  3. ^ a b كمال, إيمان. ""الزعيم" عادل إمام.. 60 عاما من اللعب مع الكبار". الجزيرة نت (in Arabic). Retrieved 2024-12-06.
  4. ^ a b "Adel Emam: The biggest star in Arab cinema". Arab News. Retrieved 2024-12-06.
  5. ^ أمين, هبة (2020-05-16). "في عيد ميلاده.. أشهر إفيهات عادل إمام "زعيم القلش": هو الدين بيقول إيه". الوطن (in Arabic). Retrieved 2024-12-06.
  6. ^ "Notebook: adel emam". www.amazon.ae. أمازون. Archived from the original on 12 February 2022. Retrieved 2022-02-11.
  7. ^ "On his 80th birthday... These are the most important women in Adel Imam's life" (in Arabic). Al Arabiya. Archived from the original on February 12, 2022. Retrieved 2022-02-12.
  8. ^ "Surprise: Adel Imam's father suffered from Alzheimer's before his death | Sayidaty Magazine". www.sayidaty.net (in Arabic). Archived from the original on February 12, 2022. Retrieved 2022-02-12.
  9. ^ "5 unknown facts about "Madrasat Al-Mushaghibeen"". Laha Magazine. 2015-05-19. Archived from the original on June 7, 2022. Retrieved 2022-02-13.
  10. ^ Aḥmad ʿAlāwinah (1998), ذيل الأعلام (in Arabic), vol. 3 (1st ed.), Jeddah: Dar al-Manarah, p. 187, OCLC 39194562, Wikidata Q115452583
  11. ^ "لقاء الزعيم "عادل إمام" مع هالة سرحان من إحتفالية روتانا سينما". Rotana Cinema. December 31, 2014. Retrieved 2022-02-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. ^ "Yes, I Am Famous. Adel Imam - Episode 2. Minute 30:00" (in Arabic). Shahid.net. Archived from the original on December 4, 2020. Retrieved 2022-02-12.
  13. ^ Motawa, Walaa. "After Rami's son celebrated his graduation: These are Adel Imam's grandchildren". Layalina (in Arabic). Archived from the original on June 30, 2021. Retrieved 2022-02-12.
  14. ^ "Khabr Abyad | Sarah Adel Imam ventures into business, opens a restaurant in the North Coast with her husband Ahmed Mokbel". Khabr Abyad. 2021-06-08. Archived from the original on June 8, 2021. Retrieved 2022-02-12.
  15. ^ "After they welcomed their daughter Khadija: Mohamed Imam and Noura celebrate her arrival". Masrawy. 2019-06-17. Archived from the original on February 20, 2020. Retrieved 2022-02-12.
  16. ^ "BBC News - Egyptian court upholds actor Adel Imam's sentence". bbc.co.uk. 2012-04-25. Retrieved 2013-06-30.
  17. ^ "Islamists halt filming of Egyptian TV series". Daily News Egypt. 2012-02-09.
  18. ^ "Egyptian actor Adel Imam wins appeal in defaming Islam case". Ahram Online. 2012-09-12.
  19. ^ "الخميس.. عادل إمام يسافر للغردقة استعدادا لتكريمه بمهرجان الجونة السينمائى - اليوم السابع". اليوم السابع (in Arabic). 2017-09-16. Retrieved 2017-09-18.
  20. ^ "عادل إمام يتسلم جائزة الإنجاز الإبداعى فى الدورة الأولى للجونة السينمائى - اليوم السابع". اليوم السابع (in Arabic). 2017-09-05. Retrieved 2017-09-18.
  21. ^ "رامي إمام يطمئن الجمهور على عادل إمام: "الزعيم" قرر يتفرغ للحياة الأسرية". مصراوي.كوم (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 2024-01-20. Retrieved 2024-01-21.
  22. ^ "الزعيم يعتزل الفن". www.msn.com. Archived from the original on 2024-01-22. Retrieved 2024-01-21.
  23. ^ "عادل إمام يعتزل الفن.. نجله يؤكد". العربية (in Arabic). 2024-01-21. Retrieved 2024-12-06.
  24. ^ "41ª Mostra Internacional de Cinema - 30ª Mostra - Premiações". 41.mostra.org. Retrieved 2018-03-17.
  25. ^ a b "Adel Imam receives Arab Art Leader Award at Joy Awards 2024 amid retirement confirmation". 2024-01-21.
  26. ^ Bishara, Motez. "Dubai honours Arab film icon". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-12-06.
  27. ^ "São Paulo International Film Festival 2006". MUBI. Retrieved 2024-12-06.
  28. ^ "Tribeca Film - The Yacoubian Building". www.tribecafilm.com/.
  29. ^ "Celebrating the birthday of the one and only Adel Emam". EgyptToday. 2023-05-17. Retrieved 2024-12-06.
  30. ^ "Adel Imam: The Icon of Egyptian Art and Actor Nonpareil". en.majalla.com. Retrieved 2024-12-06.
  31. ^ "Adel Emam: 50 years of artistic leadership". EgyptToday. 2019-05-17. Retrieved 2024-12-06.
  32. ^ "14th EDITION 2014". Marrakech International Film Festival. Retrieved 2024-12-06.
  33. ^ "Adel Imam monte les marches (PHOTOS)". Al HuffPost Maghreb (in French). 2014-12-06. Archived from the original on June 25, 2015. Retrieved 2018-03-17.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  34. ^ "El-Gouna Film Festival to honour Egyptian actor Adel Imam with Career Achievement Award - Film - Arts & Culture - Ahram Online". english.ahram.org.eg. Retrieved 2018-03-17.
  35. ^ "Adel Imam évoque ses souvenirs avec Bouteflika chez le président tunisien (Vidéo)". 2016-12-04.
  36. ^ "LEBANON-EGYPT-IMAM". 2003.
  37. ^ "سلِّم لى على عادل إمام". 2019-01-16.
  38. ^ "عادل امام ــ توسيمه من لدن الملك الحسن الثاني رحمه الله".
  39. ^ "Adel Imam à Carthage : Décoré du Mérite culturel". 2016-11-03.
  40. ^ "Béji Caïd Essebsi reçoit Adel Imam à Carthage". 2016-11-03.
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