The UAE National Orchestra and Choir will perform the programme titled “To This Land, We Belong” at The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi on September 18 and at Dubai Opera on September 20. The opening concert will present three distinct perspectives on the UAE, its landscapes, people and shared experiences as the centrepiece of the new season. According to the Emirates News Agency, the event sets the foundation for a year that blends original commissions with established international repertoire and special collaborations.
Khalid Nassir’s “The Founder’s Journey” will lead the programme, inspired by the life and philosophy of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Ali Kano’s “Homeland Melodies” follows as a concerto grosso that integrates oriental instruments into the orchestral framework while drawing on the musical heritage and natural landscapes of the Emirates. Fayez Al Saeed’s “Lightning, Thunder & Longing” concludes the concert by fusing Emirati, Arabic and international traditions with the poetry of Arif Al Khajah to examine themes of memory, identity and belonging.
The second season operates under the banner “Symphony On … And the Journey Continues” and will run through 2027 with additional performances already scheduled. The orchestra is set to appear at Dubai Opera’s gala concert celebrating the venue’s 10th anniversary later this month, the opening of the Abu Dhabi Festival in October and a series of Harry Potter-themed concerts in February. These engagements build on the ensemble’s commitment to performing across all seven emirates each year.
The inaugural season that ended earlier in 2026 featured 19 concerts staged in all seven emirates, an undertaking that established the orchestra’s signature approach of merging Western classical forms with Arabic musical traditions. The National reported that Emiratis represented the largest audience segment during that first year, including many who had never before attended an orchestral performance. Post-concert conversations with attendees have since shaped programming decisions for the current season.
Sheikha Alia bint Abdullah Al Nahyan, a key figure in the orchestra’s development, said in an interview with The National, “We did not want to begin by performing only the repertoire that orchestras around the world already know. We decided from the beginning that we wanted to add to the canon and invest in building our own repertoire.” The ensemble has launched the Tashyeed development programme, a 13-month initiative that is currently training 17 Emirati musicians to build skills and orchestral experience for future integration into the group. This effort forms part of a longer-term strategy to expand Emirati participation at every level of the orchestra.
The UAE National Orchestra emerged from its public debut in January 2026 with a clear mission to create a national repertoire that reflects the country’s cultural identity while fostering dialogue between musical traditions. Audience data and internal assessments from the first season have confirmed strong local engagement that the organisation intends to sustain. Further details on the full 2026-2027 schedule will be released in the coming weeks.
