The all-woman ensemble of the Firdaus Orchestra takes centre stage today at Expo 2020 Dubai led by AR Rahman, the Oscar and Grammy-winning composer.
Mr Rahman will premiere original compositions during the hour-long performance at Expo’s Jubilee Park that will feature western classical, traditional Arabic music, Hindustani classical vocalists and a tribute to space explorers.
The all-woman orchestra are tuning up to be instruments of change when they play on Saturday, the first of six performances during the world's fair.
A common thread unites the 50 talented musicians mentored by Mr Rahman.
They spoke to The National about transforming perceptions in the region about young women performing on stage and taking up a career in music.
Drawn from 23 countries, the in-house orchestra will be among the legacies that continue when the Expo ends in March next year.
The ensemble promises an original sound featuring Arabic and Indian string instruments, such as the qanun, buzuk and sitar, rarely heard alongside the typically orchestral flute, violin and harp.
Over the past several months, the musicians have rehearsed daily at a Dubai school to perfect Mr Rahman’s original compositions and distinctive arrangements of Western classics and Bollywood favourites.
The conductor keen to lead by example
Led by conductor Yasmina Sabbah, the orchestra has in its ranks women who refuse to be typecast.
“We have a stereotype about women in this region and this orchestra is a very powerful message to break the stereotype,” said Ms Sabbah.
She spoke of the hesitation “to perform, to be on stage, to be looked at”.
“This is something that we want to change in this part of the world, and also the idea that music is not a career, that it is just a hobby.
“For the conductor, we always have an image of someone in a suit and I think it is nice to break that, especially in this region.”
Create your own opportunity
Ms Sabbah dips, sways, snaps her fingers, gestures to the horn and trumpet in the brass section to go quiet and motions to the violin, cello and harp to a crescendo.
She is keen to brush aside sceptics who doubt a woman can lead an orchestra.
“It was important to take my place in a position of leadership,” said Ms Sabbah who has a master’s degree in conducting from the University of Cambridge.
“I had to really fight, create my own opportunities and not wait for it to be given it to me.”
She founded a 60-member choir in Lebanon, where she is also guest conductor with the Lebanese Philharmonic Orchestra.
While people were comfortable seeing a woman leading a choir, she has been asked, 'who is going to conduct the concert on your behalf? Are you capable of doing that, to actually conduct the orchestra?'
Ms Sabbah described being on the stage as “a statement and message of empowerment”.
“We are all standing strong to try to pave the way for all women after us to be encouraged to pursue music.”
A legacy project with Expo the launch pad
The orchestra has already had a taste of the spotlight when some members performed at the opening ceremony and accompanied world-famous musicians such as Andrea Bocelli.
The plan is for the orchestra to continue after the Expo ends in March with organisers keen to give the performers stability.
Noura Sulaiman, spokeswoman for Firdaus, said the project was conceived in 2019 during a conversation between Mr Rahman and Reem al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Co-operation and Expo’s director general.
The team then researched how other orchestras around the world functioned.
The musicians have contracts with leave and medical insurance benefits with an option of continuing to be part of the orchestra once the six-month extravaganza ends.
“The idea is to build something for Dubai and the UAE,” she said.
“We are trying to show that being an artist is a viable job.”
Ms Sulaiman hoped it would spark the dream of being part of an orchestra in others.
“I hope young girls and boys alike see these women on stage, see the power, passion and love they bring to their art and say 'yes, I can do that too'.”
Inspiring transformation from within
That change is already taking place within the ensemble with younger musicians keen to follow the example set by established women musicians they have grown to know.
Reemaz Oqbi plays the flute and has always been passionate about music.
The Saudi Arabian citizen is studying politics with a minor in music at the American University of Sharjah.
A legal career was her chosen path before the Expo but that plan is changing.
“I might pursue a master’s in music,” said Ms Oqbi, who is at college by day and rehearses with the orchestra at night.
“I see it’s possible for me to have a legitimate career in the place that I love.
“Things have definitely shifted for me since joining the orchestra.”
Watching the musicians perform, she said would “reassure young girls in this region that there is a place for them. It’s really important to open that pathway for women in the Middle East to have access to the music industry.”
Listening to Arabic voices
Experimenting with Arabic instruments has been part of months-long practice sessions.
Mr Rahman told The National in an earlier interview that it was “beautiful” to hear pieces composed by orchestra members such as Hanan Halwany.
Her composition on the long-necked buzuk has been arranged for the orchestra by the maestro conductor.
The Beirut musician’s mission is to help familiarise people with the buzuk.
“It’s a very rare instrument so even if you are a musician, you forget there is such an instrument,” she said as her fingers fly across the strings.
“The buzuk tells me the melody to compose. AR Rahman has encouraged me and I feel happy my music will be heard at Expo.”
Another voice heard was that of Sahar Khoueiry.
The Lebanese musician was taken aback when her suggestion to play Mozart’s Turkish March on the qanun was taken up by Mr Rahman.
“When he directly accepted my idea and said, ‘Let’s build on that piece,’ I was really surprised,” she said, quickly alternating between plucking the strings with her fingers and the flexible plectrum attached to her finger rings.
“Firdaus is a beautiful dream and I’m living that dream every day.”
Breaking the mould
Firdaus means paradise in Arabic and classically trained musicians accustomed to working with Western musical instruments said they have had “mind-opening” experiences as they collaborate.
“We are from so many different musical backgrounds so it is a blending of cultures,” said Nerissa Lobo, the lead pianist from India who has lived in Dubai for more than 20 years.
“Firdaus is breaking the mould to create its own sound. It has been mind-opening to collaborate with women from different nationalities.”
Jo Cathrine who plays the bassoon, a woodwind instrument, said this was her first time playing alongside the traditional ney, a reed flute, and the oud.
“As classical musicians, we are sometimes a little constrained. But the girls on the Arabic instruments, their creativity is amazing,” said the British citizen who moved to the UAE five years ago.
Aisulu Auzhanova, who plays the oboe, moved from Kazakhstan to Dubai shortly before the Covid-19 pandemic hit.
“This has become my life,” she said. “Every day I come with such a happy feeling to rehearse with these great musicians.”
Elham Al Marzooqi, an Emirati cellist, said she felt blessed to work with talented musicians.
“Having AR Rahman as a mentor and seeing the symbiotic relationship develop with the orchestra is a learning experience,” she said.
“It’s become a relationship where we can read each other.”
The specs
Engine: Turbocharged four-cylinder 2.7-litre
Power: 325hp
Torque: 500Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh189,700
On sale: now
Dolittle
Director: Stephen Gaghan
Stars: Robert Downey Jr, Michael Sheen
One-and-a-half out of five stars
EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
RESULTS
1.45pm: Maiden Dh75,000 1,400m
Winner: Dirilis Ertugrul, Fabrice Veron (jockey), Ismail Mohammed (trainer)
2.15pm: Handicap Dh90,000 1,400m
Winner: Kidd Malibu, Sandro Paiva, Musabah Al Muhairi
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3.15pm: Handicap Dh105,000 1,200m
Winner: Au Couer, Sean Kirrane, Satish Seemar
3.45pm: Maiden Dh75,000 1,600m
Winner: Rayig, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson
4.15pm: Handicap Dh105,000 1,600m
Winner: Chiefdom, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer
4.45pm: Handicap Dh80,000 1,800m
Winner: King’s Shadow, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
Common OCD symptoms and how they manifest
Checking: the obsession or thoughts focus on some harm coming from things not being as they should, which usually centre around the theme of safety. For example, the obsession is “the building will burn down”, therefore the compulsion is checking that the oven is switched off.
Contamination: the obsession is focused on the presence of germs, dirt or harmful bacteria and how this will impact the person and/or their loved ones. For example, the obsession is “the floor is dirty; me and my family will get sick and die”, the compulsion is repetitive cleaning.
Orderliness: the obsession is a fear of sitting with uncomfortable feelings, or to prevent harm coming to oneself or others. Objectively there appears to be no logical link between the obsession and compulsion. For example,” I won’t feel right if the jars aren’t lined up” or “harm will come to my family if I don’t line up all the jars”, so the compulsion is therefore lining up the jars.
Intrusive thoughts: the intrusive thought is usually highly distressing and repetitive. Common examples may include thoughts of perpetrating violence towards others, harming others, or questions over one’s character or deeds, usually in conflict with the person’s true values. An example would be: “I think I might hurt my family”, which in turn leads to the compulsion of avoiding social gatherings.
Hoarding: the intrusive thought is the overvaluing of objects or possessions, while the compulsion is stashing or hoarding these items and refusing to let them go. For example, “this newspaper may come in useful one day”, therefore, the compulsion is hoarding newspapers instead of discarding them the next day.
Source: Dr Robert Chandler, clinical psychologist at Lighthouse Arabia
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
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
How to register as a donor
1) Organ donors can register on the Hayat app, run by the Ministry of Health and Prevention
2) There are about 11,000 patients in the country in need of organ transplants
3) People must be over 21. Emiratis and residents can register.
4) The campaign uses the hashtag #donate_hope
The biog
Name: Capt Shadia Khasif
Position: Head of the Criminal Registration Department at Hatta police
Family: Five sons and three daughters
The first female investigator in Hatta.
Role Model: Father
She believes that there is a solution to every problem
Getting there
Flydubai flies direct from Dubai to Tbilisi from Dh1,025 return including taxes
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Fly Etihad or Emirates from the UAE to Moscow from 2,763 return per person return including taxes.
Where to stay
Trips on the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian cost from US$16,995 (Dh62,414) per person, based on two sharing.
Brighton 1
Gross (50' pen)
Tottenham 1
Kane (48)
Australia tour of Pakistan
March 4-8: First Test, Rawalpindi
March 12-16: Second Test, Karachi
March 21-25: Third Test, Lahore
March 29: First ODI, Rawalpindi
March 31: Second ODI, Rawalpindi
April 2: Third ODI, Rawalpindi
April 5: T20I, Rawalpindi
Tips from the expert
Dobromir Radichkov, chief data officer at dubizzle and Bayut, offers a few tips for UAE residents looking to earn some cash from pre-loved items.
- Sellers should focus on providing high-quality used goods at attractive prices to buyers.
- It’s important to use clear and appealing photos, with catchy titles and detailed descriptions to capture the attention of prospective buyers.
- Try to advertise a realistic price to attract buyers looking for good deals, especially in the current environment where consumers are significantly more price-sensitive.
- Be creative and look around your home for valuable items that you no longer need but might be useful to others.
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INDIA SQUAD
Rohit Sharma (captain), Shikhar Dhawan (vice-captain), KL Rahul, Suresh Raina, Manish Pandey, Dinesh Karthik (wicketkeeper), Deepak Hooda, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Vijay Shankar, Shardul Thakur, Jaydev Unadkat, Mohammad Siraj and Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper)
What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
'How To Build A Boat'
Jonathan Gornall, Simon & Schuster
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
The specs: 2018 Infiniti QX80
Price: base / as tested: Dh335,000
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 400hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 560Nm @ 4,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.1L / 100km
Should late investors consider cryptocurrencies?
Wealth managers recommend late investors to have a balanced portfolio that typically includes traditional assets such as cash, government and corporate bonds, equities, commodities and commercial property.
They do not usually recommend investing in Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies due to the risk and volatility associated with them.
“It has produced eye-watering returns for some, whereas others have lost substantially as this has all depended purely on timing and when the buy-in was. If someone still has about 20 to 25 years until retirement, there isn’t any need to take such risks,” Rupert Connor of Abacus Financial Consultant says.
He adds that if a person is interested in owning a business or growing a property portfolio to increase their retirement income, this can be encouraged provided they keep in mind the overall risk profile of these assets.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Key changes
Commission caps
For life insurance products with a savings component, Peter Hodgins of Clyde & Co said different caps apply to the saving and protection elements:
• For the saving component, a cap of 4.5 per cent of the annualised premium per year (which may not exceed 90 per cent of the annualised premium over the policy term).
• On the protection component, there is a cap of 10 per cent of the annualised premium per year (which may not exceed 160 per cent of the annualised premium over the policy term).
• Indemnity commission, the amount of commission that can be advanced to a product salesperson, can be 50 per cent of the annualised premium for the first year or 50 per cent of the total commissions on the policy calculated.
• The remaining commission after deduction of the indemnity commission is paid equally over the premium payment term.
• For pure protection products, which only offer a life insurance component, the maximum commission will be 10 per cent of the annualised premium multiplied by the length of the policy in years.
Disclosure
Customers must now be provided with a full illustration of the product they are buying to ensure they understand the potential returns on savings products as well as the effects of any charges. There is also a “free-look” period of 30 days, where insurers must provide a full refund if the buyer wishes to cancel the policy.
“The illustration should provide for at least two scenarios to illustrate the performance of the product,” said Mr Hodgins. “All illustrations are required to be signed by the customer.”
Another illustration must outline surrender charges to ensure they understand the costs of exiting a fixed-term product early.
Illustrations must also be kept updatedand insurers must provide information on the top five investment funds available annually, including at least five years' performance data.
“This may be segregated based on the risk appetite of the customer (in which case, the top five funds for each segment must be provided),” said Mr Hodgins.
Product providers must also disclose the ratio of protection benefit to savings benefits. If a protection benefit ratio is less than 10 per cent "the product must carry a warning stating that it has limited or no protection benefit" Mr Hodgins added.
The specs
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Power: 272hp at 6,400rpm
Torque: 331Nm from 5,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.7L/100km
On sale: now
Price: Dh149,000
