"National Orchestra" It launches its inaugural season with a historic ceremony in Abu Dhabi

2026/01/16 3:50:06 PM

4 minutes read

ABU DHABI, 16 JANUARY / WAM / The National Orchestra of the United Arab Emirates held its first concert entitled “The Beginning, an Emirati Symphony” at the Emirates Palace Theater yesterday evening, in an international show that wrote a new chapter in the history of Emirati culture.

This concert, which falls within the activities of the inaugural season of the National Orchestra, marked the first real meeting between the audience and the National Orchestra, which consists of 70 musicians and 30 singers.

The ceremony was attended by His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, a number of senior figures and officials, and a group of ambassadors and prominent leadership names in the fields of culture and arts.

The concert was met with a storm of applause from the audience, who stood tall to express their respect for this musical narrative, which reflected the strength of the performance and the importance of the evening as a pivotal milestone in Emirati heritage and culture.

On this occasion, Her Excellency Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, Minister of State and Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the National Orchestra of the United Arab Emirates, said: Music has a unique ability to unite people, accommodate differences between cultures, and enhance the sense of belonging. Based on these values, the National Orchestra of the United Arab Emirates was established as a national institution that celebrates our identity, inspired by the Emirates’ musical heritage, to present it in a modern way, and reflects the Emirati identity based on trust and pride. This opening concert came to begin a long journey filled with ambition. It opens the door for the public to participate in a musical march that expresses our established values, our creative spirit, and our national unity.

The evening opened its program with a distinguished performance that celebrated the musical heritage rooted in Emirati culture, presenting a symbolic scene that combined melody, rhythm, sound and place, within an artistic framework that depicted the features of Emirati music that were formed through the interaction between poetry and narratives coming from memory, society and nature.

The show drew its inspiration from various traditional styles of Emirati art, including Al-Taghrooda, Al-Ayyala, Al-Aahla and Al-Nadba, to present a creative scene that recalled the first audio productions with all their stories expressing steadfastness, unity and belonging.

He also highlighted the role of music in preserving heritage, strengthening community ties, and contributing to shaping collective identity across generations.

This performance established the emotional and cultural context for the concert that followed, linking the UAE’s musical past to the emerging voice of the UAE National Orchestra as the flag bearer of the national heritage into the future.

“The Beginning, an Emirati Symphony” show includes a series of concerts scheduled to be held across the United Arab Emirates.

Sheikha Alia bint Khalid Al Qasimi, Director General of the National Orchestra of the United Arab Emirates, said: The National Orchestra aims to celebrate the Emirati musical heritage and present it in a modern spirit to represent the country’s ambition to build a contemporary musical sound, and at the same time reflect the national identity that is proud of its culture and confident in its ability to create and contribute to the global cultural scene. Through its first show, the National Orchestra has transcended the boundaries of music, to present an integrated narrative that enriches the Emirati voice and showcases various paths.

She added: The meeting between the band members, including musicians and singers, represents the beginning of the journey towards an authentic national orchestra that dialogues with its audience throughout the Emirates.

The show was a starting point towards a broader musical programme, which was widely welcomed by the audience through exceptional pieces that combined local heritage and international spirit in a unique symphonic form.

The first part of the program included an inspiring performance of Alexander Bordin’s famous icon, “Polovtsian Dances,” from the opera Prince Igor, in an orchestral arrangement with an oriental flair, in addition to two zither pieces accompanied by the orchestra, represented by “Alishmadim” by the artist Arjan Saçi and “Kaybulan Yillar” by the creator Sezen Aksu.

The show also included the two pieces “Ishraq” and “Journey of Souls” by international oud player Naseer Shamma, in cooperation with qanun player Aytaş Dogan and musical accompaniment by all members of the orchestra.

The concert concluded with the first performance of “The Beginning”, an Emirati symphony composed by Nadim Tarabay, composed in honor of the musical journey of the UAE.

The symphony was presented as a large-scale orchestral work, drawing its elements from Emirati culture, history and environment, and reformulating them within a contemporary symphonic vision.

This work is based on authentic Emirati musical forms, including Al-Ayyala Al-Sahel, Ayyala Al-Ain, Nadbat Al-Shuhouh, Mawal Al-Azi and Rizfa Al-Harbiyah, within a contemporary musical treatment, to celebrate the musical heritage of the UAE and express its vision looking to the future.

For his part, Amin Qwaider, Artistic Director and Conductor of the National Orchestra of the United Arab Emirates, said: This concert revealed the features of the Emirati National Orchestra based on combining Eastern and Western music, which demonstrated its ability to build a musical sound that reflects the Emirati identity, and at the same time expresses the true value of music as a tool for cross-cultural communication. This was evident in all the details, from the distinctive sounds of the instruments specific to the cultures of the region to the full power of the orchestra and its accompanying choir. Therefore, this opening represents the beginning of a long journey for a national orchestral sound that resonates. It resonated throughout the Emirates.

A series of performances of “The Beginning, an Emirati Symphony” are scheduled to run across the Emirates throughout January, with additional concerts continuing in February and March 2026 as part of the National Orchestra’s first season.