Lebanese singer Hiba Tawaji to release song with Despacito star Luis Fonsi

Lebanese singer Hiba Tawaji has announced a new song collaboration with Luis Fonsi, the Puerto Rican singer behind international hit 'Despacito'.

Tawaji announced earlier this week that the collaboration with Fonsi, titled ‘Que Sera Sera’ in Spanish and ‘Law Nebka Sawa’ in Arabic – respectively translating to ‘What Will Be Will Be’ and ‘If We Stay Together’ – will be released on 7 October.

Fans hope Tawaji – who was a contestant on talent show The Voice France in 2015 – will follow in the footsteps of Lebanese legend Nancy Ajram, whose latest collaboration with US producer Marshmellow 'Sah Sah' became the first Arabic song to reach a top 10 US iTunes chart.

Que sera sera - لو نبقى سوى#HibaTawaji ❌ @LuisFonsi

7 October 2022 🔥 pic.twitter.com/XKmIFWNYp9

— Hiba Tawaji (@hibatawaji) September 26, 2022

Fans shared their excitement for the song's potential for success, given 'Despacito', released in 2017, remains the second most played song on Youtube with over 7.9 billion views.

"This is going to be epic," one Tawaji fan page wrote on Twitter, while one fan said the song would be a "hit for sure".

"It keeps getting better, your voice will keep spreading joy and touching hearts around the world," a fan named Bassam wrote.

It keeps getting better 🥳 Your voice will keep spreading joy and touching hearts around the world #HibaTawaji 🧚‍♀️#unique

— Bassam 🇱🇧🇩🇪🇫🇷 (@beaubase) September 26, 2022

Tawaji came under fire earlier this year after agreeing to perform in Damascus, a city controlled by a regime internationally condemned for committing crimes including murder, forced disappearances and torture.

Some fans had dubbed the move "shameful", particularly as many Syrians are unable to return to their homes in regime-held areas due to threats to their safety.