Pakistani wins ‘Sing like a star’ contest to perform live with AR Rahman

• Jibran Raheel wins dream date with destiny

The ninth of December will forever be engraved in Jibran Raheel’s memory, as the day he had his dream date with destiny, and was given the chance to perform live on stage in Dubai with AR Rahman, the Indian music maestro. 23-year-old Raheel is the winner of Emirates NBD’s “Sing Like a Star with AR Rahman” contest, which saw more than 200 aspiring singers vie for a chance to sing live with the internationally acclaimed Indian composer, singer-songwriter, record producer, musician, and philanthropist.

“We are extremely delighted that a truly deserving singer has been given the chance of a lifetime, and hope that this contest will open the doors of opportunity for Raheel,” said Vikram Krishna, Head – Group Marketing and Branding, Emirates NBD, congratulating the winner on his achievement.

Singing has always been a passion with Raheel, who hails from Karachi, Pakistan, although he has not had any formal training in music. A resident of Sharjah, Raheel has been in the UAE for about nine months, and is currently working with a UAE-based courier company.

All the contestants went through auditions before 10 singers were shortlisted for the final round. Selected by A R Rahman himself, the final deserving winner also received training from the maestro, before accompanying him live on stage. The contest was sponsored by Emirates NBD, a leading bank in the region.