UAE National Orchestra Inaugural Tour Across Emirates Highlights Cultural Dialogue And Audience Engagement

The UAE National Orchestra has ended its first concert series, The Beginning, in Sharjah after drawing more than 3,500 attendees across the country. The tour introduced the new national ensemble to audiences in six Emirates and received strong public support, confirming interest in orchestral music across the UAE.

The series started with a debut performance in Abu Dhabi and continued in Al Ain, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah and Sharjah. Each city welcomed the UAE National Orchestra with warm reactions, reflecting sustained interest in live orchestral concerts and in a national ensemble representing the country.

Prev

Next

From the opening night in Abu Dhabi to the finale in Sharjah, audiences responded with visible enthusiasm. Listeners showed appreciation through sustained applause and attendance, which the UAE National Orchestra viewed as clear support for its mission to build an accessible orchestral scene and reach communities across the Emirates.

The Beginning also highlighted the ensemble’s cultural approach, which places Arabic musical heritage beside Western classical traditions. Programmes were designed to present this exchange on stage, allowing audiences to hear familiar regional influences within a symphonic setting, while also experiencing established international works interpreted by the UAE National Orchestra.

Sheikha Alia bint Khalid Al Qassimi, Managing Director of the UAE National Orchestra, described the tour’s impact. "The Beginning was an incredibly powerful moment for us, as it marked the first time the Orchestra performed in front of audiences across the UAE. Seeing the emotional response in each city, reflected in people’s expressions and reactions, was deeply moving," said Sheikha Alia bint Khalid Al Qassimi.

Sheikha Alia bint Khalid Al Qassimi also underlined the musicians’ performance level and public engagement. She added, "I felt an immense sense of pride in the level of artistry and commitment shown by the musicians throughout the performances. The enthusiasm from the public, alongside the presence of senior dignitaries and leaders, affirmed the importance of creating an orchestra that people feel connected to and proud of.”

UAE National Orchestra musicians, The Beginning repertoire and cultural diversity

The UAE National Orchestra brought together 70 musicians and 30 choir members, drawn from 30 nationalities. Performing on 18 different instruments, the ensemble presented a unified sound that mirrored the UAE’s diverse society, a point that the organisation considers central to its identity and to The Beginning concept.

The main work in the series, “The Beginning: an Emirati Symphony”, is a world premiere by composer Nadim Tarabay. The piece draws on Emirati musical heritage and reshapes those ideas within a symphonic structure. The programme also included “The Polovtsian Dances” from Prince Igor, arranged in a way that placed Eastern and Western musical languages in close dialogue.

UAE National Orchestra season after The Beginning concert series

Artistic Director and Conductor Amine Kouider stressed what the tour meant internally for the UAE National Orchestra. Amine Kouider said, “For the musicians, this tour was especially meaningful, as it marked the first time they shared this collective sound with audiences in the UAE, city by city. This response gives us great confidence as we move forward into the next phase of the season and continue sharing our music with even wider audiences.”

Following the positive reception to The Beginning, the UAE National Orchestra is continuing its inaugural season with further concerts in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Fujairah. The next performances maintain the focus on varied repertoire and on presenting different cultural influences within orchestral formats for audiences across the Emirates.

{TABLE_1}

The UAE National Orchestra’s upcoming schedule includes "Vivaldi: A Journey East – Abu Dhabi" on 7th February and "Russian Classics – Abu Dhabi" on 14th February. The season then moves to Dubai for "Echoes of Time: Ibn Arabi" on 5th March, before concluding this phase with "Faces of Love – Fujairah" on 26th March.

The completion of The Beginning marks an important early stage for the UAE National Orchestra, establishing a nationwide presence and building a direct link with audiences. With diverse musicians, new Emirati repertoire and planned concerts through March, the organisation now continues its first season with clearer understanding of public interest across the Emirates.

With inputs from WAM