In 2001 his film career gained momentum when he was chosen by director Daoud Abdel Sayed for the lead in A Citizen, An Informant And A Thief ("Mowaten we Mokhber we Haramy)" (Arabic: مواطن و مخبر و حرامي). In 2002 he demonstrated his talent for singing in the musical comedy "Wust El-Balad" ("Downtown"). He was then offered a part in "Sleepless Nights" "(aka: "Sahar El Layali")" which became a box office hit in 2003–2004. Later in the same year Abol Naga was awarded Best Actor at the Damascus International Film Festival and the Best Actor Award from the Paris Arab Cinema Biennale of the Institute du Monde Arabe IMA Film Festival.