Last year Mohammed Assaf travelled from the Gaza Strip to Egypt to audition for Arab Idol, the trip taking him two days due to car complications at the border. Little did he know that the real journey was just ahead. His take on classic Arabic songs saw him crowned winner of the second series of Arab Idol, gaining widespread popularity throughout the Arab world in the process. Assaf has since been named goodwill ambassador for peace by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees and ambassador of culture and arts by the Palestinian government.