UAE National Orchestra welcomes audience to celebrate season finale

The UAE National Orchestra will bring its inaugural season to a close next week with a special finale celebrating music, culture and unity.

The performances will take place at Dubai Opera on June 24 and at NYU Abu Dhabi’s Arts Centre on June 25, featuring 70 musicians and a 30-member choir representing more than 30 nationalities.

The programme combines Emirati and Arab musical traditions with internationally renowned works, highlighting the Orchestra’s mission of connecting cultures through music.

A key highlight will be a specially commissioned orchestral suite celebrating the UAE’s musical heritage, featuring new arrangements of popular songs by Emirati composers.

The concert will also showcase The Fiftieth Samai by Emirati composer Abdulaziz Al Madani, inspired by Arabic classical music traditions.

Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of State and Chairperson of the UAE National Orchestra, said the first season has demonstrated the power of music to preserve heritage, inspire creativity and strengthen cultural exchange.

The finale marks the culmination of a successful debut season that has seen the Orchestra perform across the UAE, commission new works and support the next generation of Emirati musicians.

"By bringing together Emirati music, Arabic works, and internationally celebrated repertoire, the programme showcases the breadth of our artistic identity and the Orchestra’s role as a platform for cultural dialogue and exchange," said Sheikha Alia bint Khalid Al Qassimi, Managing Director of the UAE National Orchestra.