The Washington Post runs this Reuters piece on the phenomenon of a Turkish soap opera, ‘Noor’, that has become a sensation in the Arab world—most certainly including Saudi Arabia—and a pretty good piece of advertising for Turkey. Worth a glance.
Turkish soap opera flop takes Arab world by storm
Farah al-SweelRIYADH (Reuters) – A Turkish soap opera that flopped when first broadcast in its native Turkey three years ago has taken the Arab world by storm, provoking a flood of Gulf Arab tourists to Turkey that even includes royalty.
“Noor” became an immediate hit when Saudi-owned MBC satellite television began airing it earlier this year, partly because of its unconventional usage of colloquial Arabic dubbing — and because its blond-haired, blue-eyed leading man had women swooning.
Turkey is expecting the number of Saudi tourists this year to top 100,000, including King Abdullah’s wife Hissa al-Shaalan, who has been the subject of YouTube videos showing her swanning through the markets and sweet-shops of Istanbul.
ad_icon“From 41,000 (tourists) last year to 100,000 this year — the same year this show became phenomenally successful,” said Turkish diplomat Yasin Temizkayn. “It’s more than just a coincidence.”
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July:27:2008 - 05:10
“Noor” is indeed so popular that there is a cute joke circulating in the Kingdom…
A Saudi family were on holiday in the Kingdom and became separated from their husband/father. The wife went to the police and asked them to help her find her husband. The police asked for a description and she began telling the police what her husband looked like. The daughter interjected “but mom…Dad looks nothing like that.” To which the mother replied “hush, perhaps they’ll bring us (head male actor in Noor whose name escapes me) instead.
July:28:2008 - 05:28
i wouldnt b surprised if a good no. of females especially married ones in saudi wish they had da male actor in noor as their boyfriend/lover—ha ha ha!!