From Cairo sets to Beirut stages, the 2000s were the halter top’s era—capturing Arab cinema, music, and red-carpet glamour in one neck-tied silhouette.
From Cairo’s film sets to Dubai’s music award stages, the halter neckline carved out a visible place in the 2000s Arab pop-cultural landscape.
It surfaced in moments that still circulate - Mona Zaki in powder blue at the height of her engagement buzz, Nancy Ajram sweeping into the Arabian Music Awards in white with a flower at the collar, Haifa Wehbe on the Muscat Festival stage in low-rise jeans and stacked gold bangles.
The cut proved adaptable: sequins and fire prints for Dolly Shahine, argyle matched with a wrap scarf for Ruby, minimal black softened with layered chains for Yousra. It shifted easily between the glamour of a Beirut award night and the casual intimacy of an on-set snapshot, carrying with it a kind of visual shorthand - when the halter appeared, the camera stayed a little longer.
Mona Zaki | Cairo (2001)
Fresh off her engagement announcement to Ahmed Helmy, Mona Zaki went full Y2K sweetheart in a printed blue halter layered under a sheer mesh cardi, topped with hair clips that could’ve walked straight out of a Teen Vogue magazine.
Nancy Ajram | Dubai (2004)
Channelling full Marilyn energy, Nancy Ajram floated into the Arabian Music Awards in a white halter and flowy skirt, topped with a statement flower at the collar—Hollywood glam, but make it early-2000s Dubai.
Haifa Wehbe | Muscat (2006)
On stage at the Muscat Festival, Haifa Wehbe paired a black halter with a pastel-orange bow detail, low-rise jeans, and enough stacked gold bangles to make a souk jealous. Casual, but still pure pop diva.
Dolly Shahine | Cairo (2006)
Kicking off filming for Weega, Dolly Shahine turned up in a sequined halter with a fire print to match, paired with beachy curls, razor-thin brows, and big earrings.
Ruby | Al-Mansuriya (2006)
On the Estoghomaya set, Ruby coordinated a halter top with a matching wrap scarf—equal parts playful preppy and unmistakably mid-2000s Cairo cool.
Yousra | New York City (2007)
On the Tribeca Film Festival stage, Yousra’s black halter came draped with layered silver chains—a minimal silhouette made magnetic with jewellery-as-garment flair.
Nicole Saba | Beirut (2007)
Mid-video shoot for ‘Tabaei Kida’, Nicole turned a sporty jumpsuit into a halter moment—unzipped to reveal a sports bra, brown hair sleek, and pink heels adding a wink of pop-star play.
Basma | Abu Dhabi (2008)
At the ‘Henna’ screening, Basma kept it sleek and understated—satin-silk halter tucked into a black skirt, straight hair with bangs framing a quietly elegant red-carpet moment.
Lebleba | Beirut (2009)
Accepting her lifetime achievement award at the Murex d’Or, Lebleba went bold in a shiny blue-green floral halter with a plunging V-cut—trophy in hand, confidence on full display.
Nelly Karim | Dubai (2010)
At the Six, Seven, Eight premiere, Nelly Karim brought understated edge in a black halter jumpsuit with button details and styled with layered pendants.
