The Sharjah Institute for Heritage (SIH) welcomed a delegation from the UAE National Orchestra led by Managing Director Sheikha Alia bint Khalid Al Qasimi, marking a new step toward strengthening collaboration between the UAE’s heritage and performing arts sectors.
The delegation included acclaimed Egyptian composer Hisham Nazih and Farah Jadeed, Senior Manager at the Office of the Managing Director. Dr. Abdulaziz Al Musallam, Chairman of the Sharjah Institute for Heritage, received the visitors, alongside several department heads, to discuss opportunities to preserve and reinterpret Emirati cultural heritage through contemporary music.
The visit forms part of broader efforts to connect cultural institutions while encouraging new artistic projects rooted in the UAE’s intangible heritage.
Sharjah Institute for Heritage showcases Emirati cultural preservation
During the visit, the delegation toured the institute’s facilities and learned about its programs dedicated to documenting, researching, and safeguarding Emirati intangible cultural heritage. In addition, institute representatives highlighted initiatives that train younger generations while promoting Emirati traditions across regional and international cultural platforms.
Dr Al Musallam said the visit reflected the value of joining forces across the country’s cultural institutions, describing it as an opportunity to channel Emirati heritage into new creative projects that reinforce national identity.
He extended a welcome specifically to Nazih, saying the composer’s presence carried real cultural weight—building a bridge, as he put it, between heritage and musical creativity, and opening the door to reworking elements of Emirati tradition into pieces that speak to both national identity and a global audience.
Hisham Nazih develops orchestral composition inspired by Emirati heritage
The visit supports a wider program organized by the UAE National Orchestra during Hisham Nazih’s artistic residency, which runs from 25 to 30 June. Throughout the residency, the award-winning composer is developing a new orchestral work inspired by the richness and diversity of Emirati cultural heritage.
Moreover, meetings with cultural institutions, researchers, and heritage specialists are helping shape the composition’s artistic direction by providing deeper insight into the traditions, stories, and cultural practices that define the UAE’s heritage.
The visit concluded with both organisations agreeing to expand cooperation between the cultural and arts sectors through future joint initiatives. Consequently, the partnership aims to place Emirati heritage at the center of contemporary artistic production while strengthening the international profile of the UAE’s cultural legacy through music, research, and creative collaboration.