Kinan Azmeh on channelling Syrian culture through the clarinet

Kinan Azmeh likes to keep it moving.

The Syrian clarinetist and composer, 46, is defined both for the breadth of his work as much as for the quality of it.

His trip to Abu Dhabi to performan at the NYU Abu Dhabi Arts Centre on Wednesday is a case in point.

It follows the successful debut of new opera Songs for the Days to Come on June 4, which is currently running at Theatre am Domhof in Osnabruck, Germany until July 8. His Abu Dhabi gig is less lavish but equally vital.

Backed by his CityBand, the quartet is set to play a dynamic instrumental set blending virtuosic jazz with the tender folk melodies of Syria.

The fast and loose approach of the band's performances is a far cry from the labour-intensive demands of the opera, but Azmeh says they all stem from the same source.

"I like to do different things but they all have a shared purpose. The Abu Dhabi show, for instance, will be an intimate one and I look at it as inviting people to my lab," he tells The National.

"It is here where I experiment with different elements of jazz, electronic and Arabic music.

“Sometimes these pieces will flow on to be performed in a future album with an orchestra or other projects."

At times, it is the other way around.

The Abu Dhabi performance could feature reworked songs from latest album Flow (2021), a collaboration with Germany’s NDR Big band.

It's a sumptuous piece of work and howcases Azmeh's approach to the clarinet: soulful, playful and full of vigour.

"I am too close to the instrument to say what I love about it, but I do find it comes close to the sound of the human voice," he says. "It has a character and a dynamic range and register that allows you to go to many places."

Born in Damascus, Azmeh studied the clarinet at a local music conservatory before graduating from the prestigious Juilliard School in New York.

Cultural exchange has been at the forefront of his oeuvre. Azmeh recorded with Daniel Barenboim's West-Eastern Divan Orchestra in addition to Yo-Yo Ma's Grammy Award-winning Silkroad Ensemble.

"I wouldn't necessarily describe my work as fusion, as that word implies that it is a form of watering down," he says. “My music is inspired by several traditions without being limited by any of them.

"If I can get a little philosophical about this, I don’t look at myself as building bridges because the bridges are already there. What matters is how we use them and how we communicate with others and I am doing that in an artistic way."

Syria remains a key inspiration throughout his work. The aforementioned Songs for the Days to Come features poems by contemporary Syrian artists set to chamber music, melding Arabic and western traditions.

Meanwhile the evocative Daraa, a key track from Flow, is inspired by an old Syrian folk tune.

"There are many artists from Syria who are travelling and bringing their music to all corners of the world," he says. "I do hope the collective effort we make will make people become more curious about our part of the world and its culture, history and art.

"I hope that people make that effort as opposed to just getting a summary of our culture. If you want to know the Syrian story, for example, you have to listen to 24 million people telling their stories.

“It's the same with Syrian music, you will have to listen to as many Syrian artists as you can to get a real appreciation of it and I am happy to be one of them.”

Kinan Azmeh City Band plays at the NYU Abu Dhabi Arts Centre on Wednesday at 8pm. Tickets are Dh52.50 from nyuad-artscenter.org

Scroll through the gallery below for concerts and events coming to Abu Dhabi

The specs

Engine: 3.8-litre, twin-turbo V8

Transmission: eight-speed automatic

Power: 582bhp

Torque: 730Nm

Price: Dh649,000

On sale: now

Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?

The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.

A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.

Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.

The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.

When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.

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If you go

The flights
Return flights from Dubai to Santiago, via Sao Paolo cost from Dh5,295 with Emirates.

The trip
A five-day trip (not including two days of flight travel) was split between Santiago and in Puerto Varas, with more time spent in the later where excursions were organised by TurisTour.

When to go
The summer months, from December to February are best though there is beauty in each season

2018 ICC World Twenty20 Asian Western Sub Regional Qualifier

Event info: The tournament in Kuwait is the first phase of the qualifying process for sides from Asia for the 2020 World T20 in Australia. The UAE must finish within the top three teams out of the six at the competition to advance to the Asia regional finals. Success at regional finals would mean progression to the World T20 Qualifier.

Teams: UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Maldives, Qatar

Friday fixtures: 9.30am (UAE time) - Kuwait v Maldives, Qatar v UAE; 3pm - Saudi Arabia v Bahrain

Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years

If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.

2. E-invoicing in the UAE

Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.

3. More tax audits

Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.

4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime

Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.

5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit

There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.

6. Further transfer pricing enforcement

Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.

7. Limited time periods for audits

Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.

8. Pillar 2 implementation

Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.

9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services

Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.

10. Substance and CbC reporting focus

Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.

Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer