Latifa (singer) Biography: Songs, Age, Husband, Net Worth, Albums, Kids, Height, Religion

Biography

Latifa (Arabic: لطيفة), born Latifa bint Alaya El Arfaoui on February 14, 1961, in Manouba, Tunisia, is a renowned Tunisian pop singer, former actress, and one of the most prominent and best-selling artists in the Arab world.

A child prodigy who began performing at age six, she rose to fame in Tunisia through stage and television appearances before moving to Egypt in the early 1980s following her father’s passing. There, she studied at the Arab Academy of Music and was discovered by legendary composer Mohammed Abdel Wahab.

Active since the 1980s, Latifa has released numerous albums and over forty music videos, blending Arab pop, Egyptian and Tunisian styles, tarab, and influences from raï and Middle Eastern music. She performs in Arabic, French, and English.

In 2004, she made history as the first Tunisian to win a World Music Award for Best-Selling Artist in the Middle East.

Tunisian singer and former actress
Latifa
Wiki Facts & About Data
Real Name:	Latifa bint Alaya El Arfaoui
Stage Name:	Latifa
Born:	14 February 1961 (age 65 years old)
Place of Birth:	Manouba, Tunisia
Nationality:	Tunisian
Education:	Brothers’ School, Higher Institute of Arab Music
Height:	1.78 m
Parents:	Alaya El Arfaoui
Siblings:	N/A
Spouse:	Abdullah Saleh Kamel (div.)
Boyfriend • Partner:	Not Dating
Children:	N/A
Occupation:	Singer • Actress
Net Worth:	$60 million-$70 million (USD)

Early Life & Education

Latifa bint Alaya El Arfaoui, known professionally as Latifa, was born on February 14, 1961, in Manouba, Tunisia (specifically in the Sidi Omar area of Manouba Governorate).

As a child prodigy, she began performing at age six, appearing on stage and television in Tunisia, marking the start of her musical journey. In 1983, following her father’s death, she moved to Egypt with her family, a pivotal shift that influenced her career in the Arab music scene.

Latifa is of Arab ethnicity, reflecting her Tunisian heritage and her work in Arab pop music. She is Muslim by religion, as evidenced by her attempts to perform Islamic pilgrimage rituals.

Her father, Alaya El Arfaoui, was a military man who fought in the Maghreb region. Her mother was illiterate and not formally educated.

No siblings are mentioned in available biographical sources, suggesting she may be an only child.

Latifa completed her primary and secondary education at the Brothers’ School in Tunisia.

She then studied Dutch literature for a year and a half at a college in Tunisia due to financial constraints that temporarily delayed her move abroad.

After relocating to Egypt, she attended the Higher Institute of Arab Music (part of the Academy of Arts), earning a Bachelor’s degree with distinction and later a diploma with double distinction. She has also expressed interest in pursuing a master’s degree.

Career

Latifa has built a career in Arab pop music spanning more than 40 years, making her one of the most successful female artists in the region. She started performing on stage and television in Tunisia at age six, and became a full-time artist in the mid-1980s after moving to Egypt.

Her first album, Mesa Al Jamal (“Evening of Beauty“), was released in 1984 and brought her widespread fame in Egypt and the Arab world. She followed this with Akthar Min Roohi (“More Than My Soul“) in 1986, which helped her become a well-known figure in Egyptian music.

During the late 1980s and 1990s, she released several popular albums, including Ya Hayati Ana (1987) and Meen Yeqol? (1987), Dalleltni (1988), and Al Ghinwa (1997). Her music blended traditional Arab tarab, Egyptian styles, and new pop influences.

In 1999, she reached an international audience with Inchallah, an album that blended Western sounds and featured songs in French, English, and Arabic. This album helped her connect with listeners outside the Arab world.

Latifa continued to release albums in the 2000s and beyond, including Maaloumat Akida (“Definite Information“, 2007), Atahadda (“I Challenge“, 2009), Fil Kam Yom Illi Fato (2008), Aqwa Wahda (2020), Mafesh Mamnoua (2024), and most recently Qalbi Ertah (2025). Over her career, she has released more than 25 studio albums, many singles, and over 70 music videos.

She has often worked with well-known composers like Mohammed Abdel Wahab, Baligh Hamdi, Ammar El Sherei, Ziad Rahbani, and Kathem Al Saher. Besides music, Latifa has acted in films, including Youssef Chahine‘s Silence… We’re Rolling (2001), and appeared in TV dramas. She has also hosted music shows and performed at major venues, including London’s Royal Albert Hall.

Her achievements include being the first Tunisian artist to win the World Music Award for Best-Selling Artist in the Middle East in 2004. She has received Tunisia’s Cultural Merit Medal and started a charitable foundation to support education and social causes, becoming the first Arab artist to do so.

Social Media

• Wikipedia: Latifa (singer)
• Instagram: Latifa لطيفة التونسية‎ (@latifaofficial)
• YouTube: Latifa
• Grokipedia: Latifa (singer)

Personal Life

Latifa bint Alaya El Arfaoui, professionally known as Latifa, was born on February 14, 1961, in Manouba, Tunisia. She is 65 years old.

Latifa is believed to be currently unmarried and has no known children.

Sources indicate she was previously married to Abdullah Saleh Kamel, the son of Saudi businessman Saleh Kamel, but the marriage ended in divorce (details, including dates, are not publicly confirmed).

This appears to be her only documented marriage, though some unverified rumors from online forums in the 2000s suggested additional associations or that the relationship was informal rather than a legal marriage.

There is no substantial public information on her dating history or other romantic relationships.

Net Worth

Latifa bint Alaya El Arfaoui, the renowned Tunisian pop singer known professionally as Latifa, has an estimated net worth of $60 million to $70 million.

This figure reflects her long and highly successful career spanning over four decades as one of the Arab world’s best-selling and most prominent female artists.

Her wealth primarily stems from extensive album sales (with more than 25 studio albums and numerous hits), high-profile concerts and tours across the Middle East and beyond, music video productions, and strategic business moves such as acquiring shares in her production company and studio (La Reine) during her peak in the 2000s.

Additional income comes from international collaborations, endorsements, and her charitable foundation initiatives.

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