UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: Lebanese pop diva murdered in Dubai

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From the spotlights of concert halls to the dark corners of tribunals and police stations, Suzanne Tamim experienced a full life with the tragedies that come along with it.

This Lebanese pop star certainly knew the glamour of fame, but she also suffered the tribulations of a troubled marriage.

And finally, after months of hiding away from the showbiz scene, Tamim was found brutally murdered in her apartment in a chic Dubai district. The mysterious death of the sultry pop star made headlines this morning across the Arab world.

Authorities in the United Arab Emirates remained tight-lipped about the details of her murder, saying that the police were still investigating. But media reports said that the 31-year-old singer was repeatedly stabbed before her disfigured body was found on Monday night.

As of last night, no suspect was arrested in connection to her death.

Tamim was projected into stardom after winning a television talent show in Lebanon in 1996. She released two albums and was celebrated for several hit singles.

The singer’s assassination unleashed a flurry of gossip stories about her tragic life.

Tamim was entangled in legal battles with Adel Matook, her second husband and agent, which placed major obstacles in her path to pop stardom, according to Arab newspapers and magazines.

Matook reportedly wanted the pop star to become a housewife and quit her career after their marriage. He won a court ruling in Lebanon to ban her from traveling. She managed to escape to Cairo then London before settling in Dubai eight months ago.

Meanwhile, the husband, who had signed a an exclusive 15-year contract with the star, reportedly used his clout as a businessman and an impresario to oust her from the Arab music world. He also accused her of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from him.

-- Raed Rafei in Beirut

Video: A music video clip of a song by Suzanne Tamim.