Attracting over 3,500 attendees nationwide, The Beginning, the UAE National Orchestra’s inaugural concert series, concluded in Sharjah following an overwhelmingly positive audience response. The series marked a highly memorable introduction of the Orchestra to audiences across the Emirates.
Following its debut concert in Abu Dhabi, The Beginning brought the sound of the UAE National Orchestra to audiences across the nation, performing in Al Ain, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah and Sharjah. Met with widespread excitement and acclaim, the series marked a landmark debut for the Orchestra, welcoming members of the public, senior dignitaries, cultural leaders, and invited guests to experience the Orchestra’s emerging national sound for the first time.
From its opening performance in Abu Dhabi to its closing night in Sharjah, The Beginning inspired an overwhelming response from audiences, who greeted each performance with warmth and enthusiasm. The series also reflected the UAE National Orchestra’s mission to make orchestral music accessible across the country, bringing Arabic and Western musical traditions into dialogue and creating moments of shared cultural connection across the Emirates.
Sheikha Alia bint Khalid Al Qassimi, Managing Director of the UAE National Orchestra, said: “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. 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.”
Amine Kouider, Artistic Director and Conductor of the UAE National Orchestra, added: “Performing this series across the Emirates was an extraordinary experience. The focus in the halls, the emotional reactions and the sustained applause spoke to how deeply the music resonated. 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.”
Inside The Beginning: By the Numbers
To mark the conclusion of The Beginning, and celebrate its inaugural concert series, the UAE National Orchestra has shared key figures from the concert series and its preparations, highlighting the scale of work behind the UAE National Orchestra’s inaugural performances.
- On Stage Performances: 6 concerts across 5 Emirates, totalling approximately 510 minutes of live performance.
- Audience Attendance: Over 3,500 people attended The Beginning concerts across the Emirates, making it a landmark moment for the Orchestra’s national debut.
- Behind the Scenes: To bring the Orchestra’s sound to life, musicians rehearsed over approximately 50 days of preparation.
- The Orchestra at a Glance: 70 musicians and 30 choir members representing 30 nationalities reflecting the UAE’s cultural diversity while performing across 18 musical instruments as one unified sound.
- Musical Outcome: “The Beginning: an Emirati Symphony”, a world premiere composed by Nadim Tarabay, inspired by the Emirati musical heritage and presented in a new symphonic form.”The Polovtsian Dances” from Prince Igor, reimagined through a musical language that brings Eastern and Western traditions into dialogue.
The Inaugural Season Continues
Building on the strong audience response to The Beginning, the UAE National Orchestra continues its inaugural season with concerts across Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Fujairah. The next phase of the season invites thousands more to experience a wide range of musical expression through programmes including Faces of Love, a poetic journey tracing love from tenderness to transcendence; Vivaldi: A Journey East, which imagines a musical dialogue between the Venetian composer’s work and the instruments and sounds of the Arab world; Russian Classics, featuring symphonic works by Shostakovich, Stravinsky and Tchaikovsky; and Echoes of Time, inspired by the words of Ibn Arabi and blending orchestra, Arabic instruments and voice in a reflective exploration of love, unity and the search for meaning.
The upcoming performances are scheduled as follows, with tickets available through the UAE National Orchestra website:
- Vivaldi: A Journey East – Abu Dhabi, 7 February
- Russian Classics – Abu Dhabi, 14 February
- Echoes of Time: Ibn Arabi – Dubai, 5 March
- Faces of Love – Fujairah, 26 March
As the UAE National Orchestra moves forward with its inaugural season, it continues to shape a national sound that is rooted in heritage and forward looking, contemporary, and unmistakably of the Emirates, one that brings Arabic and Western musical traditions into dialogue, reflects the country’s openness and diversity, and creates moments of shared cultural connection across communities and across the Emirates.
