It’s March 21, which means one thing: it’s Mother’s Day across much of the Arab world—and what better way to celebrate than by honoring the women who’ve shaped not just our homes, but our screens, too? Whether they were delivering emotional monologues or hurling slippers across the room with Olympic precision, these moms shaped Arab pop culture. Arab TV moms have long been the real MVP’s of some of the region’s most iconic series, whether they made us laugh, cry, or hide the remote, they all gave us something unforgettable. Below, in honor of Mother’s Day today, the most iconic Arab TV moms who, in many ways, mirrored the real-life heroines we all grew up with.
Mama Noona in Yetraba Fi Ezzo
Throughout her decades-spanning career, Egyptian actress Karima Mokhtar took on several successful motherly roles. Her most iconic? Mama Noona in Yetrubba Fi Ezzo. Endlessly loving and hilariously overprotective, she didn’t just raise Hamed—she raised a generation.
Fatma in Lan Aish fi Jilbab Abi
Abla Kamel lit up screens across the Arab world, but her turn as Fatma—the loyal, no-nonsense wife in Lan Aish Fi Jilbab Abi—remains unforgettable. A true icon in the ultimate rags-to-riches tale who gave us a treasure trove of memes.
Suhair in Ayza Atgawez (and Finding Ola)
Sawsan Badr as the mother of Hend Sabry’s character was comedic gold. Her obsession with marrying off her daughter before it’s “too late” was hilarious, painfully relatable, and very on-brand for Arab auntie energy. She reprised the role years later in Netflix’s Finding Ola, proving that some moms never change (and we love them for it).
Khalti Qemasha in Khalti Qemasha
Khalti Qumasha, played by the legendary Hayat Al-Fahad, is Kuwait’s original sitcom matriarch. Sharp-tongued, stubborn, and hilariously out of touch with modern life, her parenting clashes made for some of the funniest (and most relatable) moments on ’80s Arab TV. A pop culture icon to this day.
Amina in Aelat Al-Hajj Mutualiy
Amina, portrayed by Magda Zaki, in Aelat Al-Hajj Metwally redefined what it means to be a mother. Calm, wise, and endlessly supportive, she raised Saeed like her own—proving that motherhood is about love, not biology.
Ruqaya in Tash Ma Tash
Ruqaya is a fan-favorite character from the iconic Saudi sketch show Tash Ma Tash, which aired during Ramadan and became a cultural staple across the Arab world. The twist? She was played by Abdullah Al-Muzaini in full drag—a hilarious parody of the classic Saudi tata— and quickly became one of the show’s most beloved recurring characters.
