![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RULRAWRJ5CZWOTAJGU6I6C53WU.jpg?smart=true&auth=cfed861cc71a5c52dbe920b43cc38107441ec73a6225b7d2c011804ebbdb62c5&width=400&height=225)
Umm Kulthum wears the necklace given to her by Sheikh Zayed. Stephen Lock / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RV3IF673A37HXZ5MQUDUBBIO2M.jpg?smart=true&auth=b8bd5b9e88585ac944f75730d3980464d73a70e99e8aa7da1d42ad1f10dc6c93&width=400&height=225)
Sheikh Zayed, the Founding Father, and Egyptian singer Umm Kulthum in the early 1970s. Stephen Lock / The National
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Umm Kulthum performs in Abu Dhabi in 1971. Photo: Al Ittihad
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The renowned Egyptian sings in Abu Dhabi in 1972. Photo: Magnum Photos
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3UF5U4KRMFAETPYJE733RZGK6E.jpg?smart=true&auth=fd30de08b4bbffd89e2a74da31c1c928f1fc87a549c3e677d359f3a4ac162602&width=400&height=225)
Umm Kulthum sings for the first time in Abu Dhabi in the 1970s. Photo: Al Ittihad
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NCN2SNXOPLJ6W4JFDMI5MDADTE.jpg?smart=true&auth=8b5a224fe1c6d644780cfde52af985f3e4b9183648bc0b74d5952d57cce81261&width=400&height=225)
Sheikh Zayed gave Umm Khulthum a necklace for performing in Abu Dhabi days before the UAE was founded, with the piece now on display at Louvre Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RULRAWRJ5CZWOTAJGU6I6C53WU.jpg?smart=true&auth=cfed861cc71a5c52dbe920b43cc38107441ec73a6225b7d2c011804ebbdb62c5&width=400&height=225)
Umm Kulthum wears the necklace given to her by Sheikh Zayed. Stephen Lock / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RV3IF673A37HXZ5MQUDUBBIO2M.jpg?smart=true&auth=b8bd5b9e88585ac944f75730d3980464d73a70e99e8aa7da1d42ad1f10dc6c93&width=400&height=225)
Sheikh Zayed, the Founding Father, and Egyptian singer Umm Kulthum in the early 1970s. Stephen Lock / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ABCF3F26SE7MDUPJPSDVF7HF64.jpg?smart=true&auth=d17a008b98af43ac3190461625fb05d34b1419c696f83485645c7343a0622e3d&width=400&height=225)
Umm Kulthum performs in Abu Dhabi in 1971. Photo: Al Ittihad
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XEHILK7C2FEA5ORTXIZGGTWCNE.jpg?smart=true&auth=540e05f44112ae0ad33ec479a6f46148df8e0567a1f06280ff064737b16b5e4d&width=400&height=225)
The renowned Egyptian sings in Abu Dhabi in 1972. Photo: Magnum Photos
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3UF5U4KRMFAETPYJE733RZGK6E.jpg?smart=true&auth=fd30de08b4bbffd89e2a74da31c1c928f1fc87a549c3e677d359f3a4ac162602&width=400&height=225)
Umm Kulthum sings for the first time in Abu Dhabi in the 1970s. Photo: Al Ittihad
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NCN2SNXOPLJ6W4JFDMI5MDADTE.jpg?smart=true&auth=8b5a224fe1c6d644780cfde52af985f3e4b9183648bc0b74d5952d57cce81261&width=400&height=225)
Sheikh Zayed gave Umm Khulthum a necklace for performing in Abu Dhabi days before the UAE was founded, with the piece now on display at Louvre Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RULRAWRJ5CZWOTAJGU6I6C53WU.jpg?smart=true&auth=cfed861cc71a5c52dbe920b43cc38107441ec73a6225b7d2c011804ebbdb62c5&width=400&height=225)
Umm Kulthum wears the necklace given to her by Sheikh Zayed. Stephen Lock / The National
'A grand artistic dream': on the eve of Union, Umm Kulthum sings for Abu Dhabi
First lady of Arab song performed for Sheikh Zayed to celebrate the fifth anniversary of his accession as Ruler of Abu Dhabi
![James Langton](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F59aec61e-41b3-468c-8a69-57168338145b.png?smart=true&auth=20537dd68c837a65707d347b248e74bad34b378390f02a7be13b68d756185b99&width=70&height=70)
James Langton
28 November, 2021
- Listen In English
- Listen In Arabic