Following The Success Of Its First Edition, Sing For The Nation Returns With A National Tour To Celebrate Eid Al Etihad
Following the success of its inaugural edition, Sing for the Nation returns this season on a larger scale, as the UAE National Orchestra takes the concert on a national tour across four cities. The tour promises to be one of the major national musical celebrations in the lead-up to Eid Al Etihad.
Beginning in Abu Dhabi on 7 November, the tour will travel to Al Ain and Fujairah before concluding in Ras Al Khaimah on 1 December 2026. Each performance will pay tribute to the United Arab Emirates, its leadership and its people, bringing audiences together through the patriotic songs that have accompanied the nation’s journey since the Union and become part of the collective memory of generations of Emiratis and all those who call the UAE home.
In Al Ain, the tour moves into the open air. On Friday 20 November, in partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), the Orchestra performs at Al Jahili Fort, one of Al Ain’s best-known historic landmarks. Holding an evening of the nation’s songs at a monument that carries the heritage of the Emirates makes it a fitting setting: audiences will sing the story of the Union in a place that is itself part of the nation’s history.
Sing for the Nation is more than a concert to attend; it is a celebration in which the audience becomes part of the performance. Throughout the evening, the UAE National Orchestra invites audiences to sing along, bringing their voices together with the Orchestra and Choir in a shared performance of patriotic songs that have accompanied generations and hold a special place in their hearts and memories. The result is a collective expression of pride in the nation and a shared sense of belonging.
The first edition of Sing for the Nation, held at Dubai Opera in May 2026, attracted more than 1,400 attendees from more than 50 nationalities and saw remarkable audience participation, with concertgoers joining in song throughout the evening. The enthusiastic response and success of the inaugural performance inspired the Orchestra to bring the concert back this season, expanding its reach to audiences across the Emirates.
The return of Sing for the Nation carries particular significance as the UAE prepares to celebrate Eid Al Etihad. The concert brings families, friends and communities together through songs whose words and melodies express loyalty, gratitude and pride in the nation’s achievements. It also honours those who founded the Union and guided its journey, as well as the generations who have contributed, and continue to contribute, to building and protecting the nation.
Her Excellency Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Chairperson of the Board of the UAE National Orchestra, said: “Love for our nation is a bond we all share, and music gives that bond a voice that brings us together. As the UAE prepares to celebrate Eid Al Etihad, Sing for the Nation returns with a national tour that honours our country, its leadership and its people, and celebrates the journey of the Union and the values of unity, loyalty and pride that it represents. Through the UAE National Orchestra, we are committed to bringing this celebration to communities across the country, creating opportunities for people to come together through music and express their pride in our nation and their sense of belonging.”
Sheikha Alia bint Khalid Al Qassimi, Managing Director of the UAE National Orchestra, said: “The success of the first edition of Sing for the Nation reaffirmed the significance of this programme and the connection it has established with audiences. Seeing the audience join the Orchestra and Choir in song was a defining part of that experience, and one we wanted to bring to communities across the UAE. This season’s national tour builds on that success, bringing some of our most cherished patriotic songs to four cities through orchestral and choral performances. We are particularly proud to welcome Emirati students to the stage, where their participation in song and Nabati poetry adds a new dimension to the programme and reflects our commitment to keeping these musical and cultural traditions alive for future generations.”
The Songs of the Nation, Performed by the UAE National Orchestra and Its Audiences
Sing for the Nation takes audiences on a musical journey through decades of Emirati patriotic songs, from the 1970s to the present day. The programme revisits works associated with defining moments in the country’s history and national occasions that have brought people together in a shared spirit of pride, loyalty and belonging.
The programme features a selection of songs that hold a special place in the nation’s collective memory, including “Allah Ya Dar Zayed”, “Sawfa Nahmi Al Ittihad” and “Zanaha Zayed”. Their melodies and lyrics have accompanied generations of Emiratis, reflecting the story of the Union and the nation’s journey of development and achievement.
The programme also features “Rijal Wallah Rijal”, the UAE National Orchestra’s musical tribute based on the poem by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, honouring those who dedicate their lives to protecting the nation. Other works include “Ana Jundi”, “Al Suqoor Al Mukhliseen” and “Khaseem Al Dar”, alongside compositions by some of the UAE’s most prominent poets and composers. The orchestral arrangements bring a new musical dimension to these beloved songs while preserving their original spirit. Each reflects a part of the nation’s journey, from the founding of the Union and the vision of its leadership to its achievements and the people who serve and protect it, with audiences invited to join the Orchestra and Choir in song.
Young Voices Join the National Celebration
In celebration of the Year of Family, this season’s tour welcomes talented students participating through the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge’s (ADEK) Nabati Poetry initiative, introduced this academic year as part of its National Identity priority. Developed in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority, the initiative’s pilot phase immerses students in Grades 1–5 across Abu Dhabi’s private and Charter schools in Emirati poetic heritage through extracurricular activities, including music. Their participation reflects the importance of passing love for the nation and its cultural heritage from one generation to the next, giving them a platform to perform with their National Orchestra.
The students will perform patriotic songs and poems featured in the school initiative alongside the UAE National Orchestra and Choir, extending their learning to the national stage and giving them the opportunity to take to the stage and become part of this national celebration. Passed down through generations, Nabati poetry has served as a means of expressing the values, history and deep connection to the land shared by the people of the UAE.
Bringing together voices from different generations, this participation highlights the role of families, schools, and communities in nurturing a love for the nation and pride in its heritage. It also builds on the initiative’s work to help students understand, memorise, recite, and perform poetry while identifying and nurturing their poetic, vocal, and musical talents.
His Excellency Mohamed Alqadi, Chairman of ADEK, said: “National Identity is strengthened through the experiences that shape how young people learn, express themselves, and contribute to their community. Nabati poetry is one such experience, bringing to life the language, stories, and values that unite generations. By connecting education, heritage, and the arts, we are creating opportunities for students to engage with their cultural inheritance and carry it forward. Our collaboration with the UAE National Orchestra brings this learning to the national stage, giving a new generation a voice in preserving and sharing Emirati heritage.”
Her Excellency Mariam Alhallami, ADEK’s Private Education and Charter Schools Sector Executive Director, added: “Through the Nabati Poetry initiative, we are helping students connect with Emirati language and heritage while identifying and nurturing their poetic, vocal, and musical talents. Music gives students another way to engage with the poems, understand their meaning, and express them with confidence. Our collaboration with the UAE National Orchestra extends this learning to the national stage, giving students the opportunity to perform poems they are learning in school alongside professional musicians.”
Through this collaboration, the UAE National Orchestra connects young talent with professional musicians, bringing generations together on stage to celebrate the nation and keep its poetic and musical heritage alive.
The UAE National Orchestra thanks its partners: the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK), Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi)
Tour Dates
Four concerts, four cities and one voice for the nation: each concert invites audiences to take part rather than simply listen, and to sing together in celebration of the UAE.
Abu Dhabi
Saturday 7 November 2026, 8:00 PM, The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi
Al Ain
Friday 20 November 2026, 8:00 PM, Al Jahili Fort (outdoor)
Fujairah
Saturday 28 November 2026, 8:00 PM, Fujairah Cultural Center
Ras Al Khaimah
Tuesday 1 December 2026, 7:00 PM, Ras Al Khaimah Cultural Center
Tickets available at uaenationalorchestra.ae.
