Today's Edition
KUUMAR SHYAM (ABU DHABI)
On the eve of the UAE marking its 54th year of the union of the seven emirates, Eid Al Etihad, AR Rahman stood on a stage at the Sheikh Zayed Festival on Saturday night, offering what he describes as a “song of hope” to a country he sees as a modern meeting point for the world.
Speaking exclusively to Aletihad ahead of unveiling his new musical work “Jamal Al Etihad” against the serene desert backdrop in Al Wathba, the double Oscar-winning composer was reflective and quietly proud of the cultural tapestry he has been weaving together in the UAE in recent years – ever since he led the Firdaus Orchestra for Expo 2020 Dubai.
“To the people of the UAE on its 54th National Day, I wish them happiness, peace, and prosperity,” he said. “I wish them more doing what they’re doing even more beautifully. The UAE is a country of hope. It’s a culmination of so many different cultures. They’ve facilitated the unlikely meeting of people, to create together and build together – which is a beautiful thing.”
That ethos of coexistence framed the festival’s spectacular evening, which drew more than 80,000 visitors for the global debut of 'Jamal Al Etihad,' developed by Burjeel Holdings and composed by Rahman. The work, which he calls a holistic international project created entirely in the UAE, was performed before a vast crowd – a scene he described as both humbling and energising.
“Jamal is a song of hope, of modernity. Jamal is a song where you can just enjoy and bring happiness to yourself. And if they like it, hopefully they like it,” he said.
The song, written in English to reach “every community,” embodies core values associated with the UAE – unity, coexistence, resilience, and a shared humanity. It traces the nation’s past, present and future through a spirit of optimism and perseverance, reflecting the enduring vision of the Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
Rahman said he approached the composition by seeking a truly common musical thread, “I was trying to get the cultures of Indian, Western, Middle East, and everything together – what would be a common kind of song. So we tried to get that kind of sound.”
Lebanese-American singer Mayssa Karaa, a Grammy-nominated vocalist known for blending Arabic and Western styles, rendered the live debut. Rahman first met her at Berklee College of Music, where she was introduced to him as a surprise.
“We became friends and she’s part of my music. She sang ‘Hayati,’ then recently she sang something, and now in this song, the intro, she sang.”
Saturday’s event also showcased Rahman’s interest in nurturing new musical voices. The evening included a piano–Kathak fusion featuring Indian prodigies, and a set by Ruhinur, an all-woman band led by his daughter Khatija Rahman.
The band, unveiled only last week at the Sharjah Tanweer Festival, reflects his continued investment in women in the music industry, following the Firdaus Orchestra.
“This is one of the biggest things”, he said. “They’ve been formed last year. And it’s a sound which I think you’ll all love.”
For Rahman, mentorship is personal. Taking the risk of featuring new artists takes him back to his youth. “When I was young, there were so many older people I used to play with when I was 12, 13. And it helped a lot because I could cut to the chase – when you mix with pros, then you learn how to go straight to the point and not waste time,” he recalled.
“Now we have a lot of students from my conservatory back, and they inspire me. And I like to give my experience or my thoughts or my whatever for them.”
His creative commitments in the UAE do not end with “Jamal Al Etihad.” The Indian composer returns in January to Abu Dhabi with The Wonderment Tour at Etihad Arena, following 18 shows across the United States, Britain and India.
“You’ve seen concerts before, but this has got a different vibe,” he said. “It goes much further – beyond language.” Balancing spiritual, cinematic, orchestral, and cultural themes across various projects, Rahman said diversity in expression is instinctive after four decades of composing. “You can’t do the same thing. You need to diversify. You need to find different ways to express yourself. These are all different expressions.”
Having won two Oscars, he dismissed suggestions that he might pursue another. “To win an Oscar again, I have to leave India and go there. My core thing was India. When I was there for six years, my mum fell ill, so I had to come back. Now I think a place is nothing – a place could be any place. But a lot of exciting things from India to the world are what I’m more interested in.”
The song, written in English to reach ‘every community,’ embodies core values associated with the UAE – unity, coexistence, resilience, and a shared humanity
