Abu Dhabi’s Artists Forge Global Links While Honouring Local Heritage with ADMAF Support

Darwish’s Orchestral Ambitions

Ihab Darwish dreamed of bringing his original compositions to life with a full symphony orchestra to prove an Emirati composer could add a distinctive voice to the international classical music scene. In 2017 he presented that plan to the Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation (ADMAF), which backed his debut symphonic album Waves of My Life and later facilitated appearances on international stages. His music draws on varied cultures, musical traditions and orchestral languages, which he sees as a reflection of the UAE’s openness and tolerance and as a way to express himself without losing his identity. He describes Abu Dhabi as the soil where his dreams found voice, where his music was redefined as a cultural identity that builds bridges between nations. ‘While my music may travel across continents, its soul will always belong to Abu Dhabi,’ he said. Darwish views ADMAF not merely as a supporter but as an investor in artists, their potential and long‑term development. According to ADMAF, emerging UAE artists face barriers of access, knowledge and visibility, and the foundation works with national and international partners to overcome them. The foundation notes that the exchange runs both ways. In June 2025 Emirati artists performed at Kensington Palace for the first time, presenting the world premiere of Darwish’s Ruins of Time. He also remarked that ‘What makes Abu Dhabi truly special is its ability to embrace the world while remaining deeply rooted in its own culture and traditions.’

Alkatheeri’s Pianistic Path

Dana Alkatheeri fell in love with the piano in elementary school, encouraged by her father, and came to see music as a powerful way to tell stories and share culture. She described her biggest challenge as defining her own musical identity while finding the courage to try something new, a hurdle she did not let stop her. She began by playing music and later turned to composing, noting that ‘Moving from playing music to composing my own pieces was a big step.’ In 2024 she won the Gulf Capital ADMAF Creativity Award for works that fused music and history, such as ‘The Founder’s Legacy’, describing the competition as the avenue that gave her courage and symbolised bravery and self‑trust. She added, ‘I wanted people to feel proud of our country and understand that (His Highness) Sheikh Zayed’s legacy is something we must continue through our own actions.’ Winning the award opened doors to performances at the Abu Dhabi Festival and Expo 2025 Osaka, and she said holding a leadership title at the foundation added further meaning to her journey.

Alserkal’s Jewellery Narratives

Noura Alserkal, an Emirati interdisciplinary artist and jeweller, traces her career to a drawing competition she won at the age of nine, recalling that even then she felt she was an artist whose work mattered. Today she creates jewellery that starts long before any material is shaped, beginning with reading books, digging through archives or talking with parents, which often leads her back to family history, genealogy or personal memory. She is fascinated by the process of creation, saying the materials she works with teach her about the world and its people, and stresses that research and making are inseparable, deeply intertwined processes. For an upcoming exhibition she said the collection reflects her relationship with her father, particularly his stamp collection, explaining that ‘These stamps become a starting point for creating artworks using materials that are entirely different from the original objects.’ She also spoke about the common experience of imposter syndrome, noting that ‘As artists, we sometimes experience imposter syndrome. We question ourselves, our work, and whether what we are creating has value,’ and credited ADMAF with giving her the ‘little push’ from someone who truly believed in her. Alserkal founded the brand TURABI in 2022, describing it as a venture beyond herself that runs workshops to share her jewellery‑making expertise worldwide. She believes dialogue is essential to artistic practice, a view she develops through teaching, exchanging ideas and challenging perspectives, and adds that ‘We build a community around making and creativity.’

Abu Dhabi’s International Stage

Abu Dhabi has emerged over the past three decades as a venue for major international performances and artistic premieres, with the Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation playing a central role in raising the capital’s cultural profile. Darwish observed that ‘What makes Abu Dhabi truly special is its ability to embrace the world while remaining deeply rooted in its own culture and traditions.’ According to ADMAF, emerging artists in the UAE encounter three obstacles: access, knowledge and visibility, and the foundation collaborates with national and international partners to address them. The foundation emphasises that the exchange runs both ways. In June 2025 Emirati artists performed at Kensington Palace for the first time, presenting the world premiere of Darwish’s Ruins of Time. In Seoul the exhibition Proximities attracted 80,000 visitors to view works by 47 UAE‑based artists, 33 of whom are Emirati, as reported by the foundation. For these creators the city is more than a backdrop; it is where a stamp collection can become an exhibition, a first composition can find an audience and a dream of an orchestra can be taken seriously. Abu Dhabi does not ask its artists to choose between their roots and the world; it offers both and then waits to see what they create.