Coveted Yemeni-Emirati singer Balqees Fathi has been revealed as the first Middle East wax figure at the long- anticipated Madame Tussauds Dubai, which is expected to open to the public this year. Balqees met her wax figure for the first time at the unveiling, which took place in partnership with Madame Tussauds at Caesars Palace Dubai, Bluewaters Island.

“I feel privileged to be the first Arab artist to stand side by side with my wax figure at the iconic Madame Tussauds Dubai,” Balqees said in a release. “I’m overwhelmed with the incredible likeness that this wax figure holds to my physical appearance and to the impeccable attention-to-detail that captures my personality. I can’t wait for people to visit Madame Tussauds and to finally be able to enjoy this unique experience in the Arab world.”

The wax figure was created with meticulously by a team of expert Madame Tussauds sculptors, who travelled to Dubai to take 500 measurements of Balqees, before heading back to London where they spent three months crafting the figure by hand and adding real hear, strand by strand. The resulting figure adorns a luxe gown paired with Balqees’ signature voluminous high ponytail, and will sit among a string of movie stars and musicians from around the world.

“We’re thrilled to reveal our first side-by-side and offer a glimpse into the magic that’s Madame Tussauds. Balqees is a music icon from the region, and we can’t wait for our guests to meet her and feel the fame when they step into the attraction when it opens this year,” commented Sanaz Kollsrud, General Manager of Madame Tussauds Dubai.

Madame Tussauds Dubai is the first-ever eponymous experience in the Gulf region and will house 60 global stars, including 16 new figures from the Middle East.