[8] The following year, Cosmopolitan included her among "The 15 Most Inspiring Women In The Middle East",[9] and Forbes named her one of the "Top 10 of Arab Stars On The Global Stage".
Karam frequently worked with the renowned musician and composer Melhem Barakat and collaborated with the legendary singer, Wadih el Safi on their critically acclaimed 2004 duet titled, W Kberna ("We Grow Old Together").
Showcasing her vocals through the traditional Lebanese Mawwal, Karam won first place and the Gold Medal, along with modest public exposure and her father's approval.
In 1987, she participated in another television contest named Laylat Haz, where she gained greater exposure that would prepare her for her first attempt at breaking into the Arabic music industry in 1989.
Karam's fortunes took a turn for the better when she was approached by the Middle East's largest recording label, Rotana, owned by the Saudi Arabian Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal.
Expert poets, writers, and composers were enlisted to help Karam make a fresh new musical image for herself to revitalize public interest and draw attention from the wider Arab audience.
The wide success of Naghmet Hob led to a concert tour and a number of awards, including a prize from the Lebanese Broadcasting Association for the Best Artist of 1994.
Riding the wave of her celebrity, two of the songs were hits, namely "Ma Bassmahlak" ("I Won't Allow You") and "Hakam el-Qady" ("The Judge Has Spoken").
The title track, "Hazi Helo" and three other songs, "Khayarouni"(Made me Choose), "Ala Mahlak" (Take it Easy) and "El-Ghorbil", were the most popular from the album.
Following the release of Hazi Helo, Karam set off on a large-scale world concert tour, which would take in many Arab states, parts of Europe, and America.
Its songs included "Majboura" ("I Have to") which had a modern jazz influence, and the "power ballets", "Oyoun Qalbi" ("Sweetheart") and "Khaleek al Ard" ("Stay down to Earth").
This was shown through songs like Tahamouni ("They Accused Me") which included attempts at rapping, and Ew'a Tekoun Ze'alt ("I Hope You're Not Mad at Me)" which seemed to have a complete Western influence.
Rotana set up a large launch party in Downtown Beirut, where over fifteen thousand of Karam's fans packed the streets, waiting for her to appear and sing her new material.
Saharni (Charmed) was the kind of album that was a rebirth of the "old Najwa Karam", and took the public by surprise, as they had at this point come to expect contemporary pop from the Shams el-Ghinnieh.
Karam made a world tour to complement Saharni's success, taking in the Middle East as well as destinations such as France and the US with Wadih el Safi.
Coupled with this harrowing topic, was a revolutionary new music video (directed by Sa'aed el-Marouk), which would transform modern day Beirut into a bleak and harsh wasteland in 2020.
Najwa continued her many live appearances to promote the album, and a notable event for 2004 was her sell-out concert in Carthage, Tunisia where she performed to thousands of enthusiastic fans.
The tracks Bi Hawak (In your love) and Shu Mghaira (How you've changed) were shot in an expensive duel video clip which was riddled with special effects.
The album gained widespread attention through its rigorous advertising campaign, which included the billboard posters, many television appearances [on popular variety programs such as Dandana, and Akeed Maestro], and music video clips for singles.
Kibir'el Hob topped the highest selling album chart in Lebanon for Rotana during the Christmas sales period, and remained in the number one position through the New Year.
In mid April 2006, Karam released a third and last single from the Kibir'el Hob album, accompanied by a video clip, and proved to be among the most popular Arabic songs of the year 2006.
In response to the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict, Karam teamed for the first time with popular Lebanese singer/songwriter Melhim Barakat to record the song Rah Yeb2a El Watan.
Hayda Haki was the next song (after her 2006–2007 huge hit Shu Hal Hala) that Najwa Karam shot as a video clip with Lebanese director Said el Marouk.
In June she released her video clip Hayda Haki, which displayed her character in a romantic atmosphere and love shots and in its first day on the charts she landed on the 1st spot.
It is worth mentioning that along with the lead single "Khallini Shufak", three other songs are receiving huge success: "Eidak" (your hand), "Allah Yesghello Balo" (may God make him worry), and "Aboos Eynak" (kiss your eye).
The song, along with its video clip, which featured in it the Guinness world record for the largest plate of tabbouleh, sponsored by Karam, were well received and reached great success.
The opening sequence of the video features Season 1 Arabs' Got Talent contestant, Abdelmalek Al Baljani, from Morocco, in a break dance solo.
The three-day shoot took place in Northern Lebanon, at Nahr Ibrahim, in the Kesserwan area of Basateen Al Ossi, Jeita Grotto, and at the studio of Mansourieh.
The spread of the album was a reason for Najwa Karam to enter the list of the most listened to singers on Yotta radio in Japan and topped the Malaysian Akshak magazine cover.
She announced her matrimony on stage in Bucharest, Romania, wearing a long, white custom wedding gown by Lebanese designer Rami Kadi.