Since the Iran war began, the Gulf music industry has responded on a number of fronts.
The most public has been in the studio, with artists including the UAE’s Hussain Al Jassmi and Ahlam releasing an increasing number of patriotic songs.
These tracks do more than declare support for their countries. Across Khaleeji ballads, ensemble anthems and operettas, they have helped craft a soundtrack of resilience, with eclectic works sharing familiar themes of loyalty, sacrifice, reassurance and solidarity.
Another part of that response has been heard on stage in Abu Dhabi, where the UAE National Orchestra returned to programming at Cultural Foundation Abu Dhabi with a concert tracing 50 years of Emirati film and television music.
It was more than a revival of familiar themes and jingles. It showed how deeply this repertoire is woven into the country’s cultural memory, and how bringing it back into public domain can serve as preservation and reassurance at a moment of challenge.
“What this performance signals is simple: that we are coming back, and that we are doing so in a way that is thoughtful and connected to the moment,” the orchestra's managing director Sheikha Alia bint Khalid Al Qassimi said.
“More broadly, it reflects the role we are growing into as an orchestra: to create moments that bring people together and to contribute to the cultural life of the country in a way that feels meaningful, especially at times when that connection is needed most.”
Then there is the industry work that happens away from the stage. Beyond postponed concerts, the conflict also disrupted the work of record labels across the Middle East and North Africa, with campaigns shelved, video shoots cancelled and sponsorship activity stalled, said Rawan Al Dabbas, regional director at the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, which represents the worldwide recording industry.
She underscored how interconnected the industry is and the work needed to keep the sector moving, from labels backing artists to industry bodies and public institutions discussing how losses can be absorbed and momentum protected.
What the past few weeks have made clear is that none of these responses operate in isolation. Artists provide the songs that people turn to for comfort and inspiration. The industry releases them and gives them the means to be recorded, financed, distributed and catalogued. Cultural organisations ensure they are preserved, revisited and passed on to the next generation.
Together, they show a Gulf music sector not only responding to crisis, but also helping to shape how it will be remembered.
Sheikh Zayed Book Award reveals 2026 winners
The 2026 winners of the Sheikh Zayed Book Award were announced on Friday, marking two decades of one of the Arab world’s most influential literary prizes.
Established in 2006 and held under the patronage of President Sheikh Mohamed, the award has grown into a fixture on the region’s cultural calendar, drawing submissions from across the world and supporting the global reach of Arabic literature. This year’s winners reflect that international scope, with recipients from countries including Egypt, Morocco, Germany and the UAE.
More than 4,000 submissions were received from 74 countries, underlining the award’s growing international profile. Since it was launched, it has attracted more than 33,000 entries and honoured 136 winners, including writers, translators and cultural institutions.
Find more here.
Postponed Art Dubai unveils free entry 'special edition' for 2026
Art Dubai has announced the first details of its revised 2026 fair, with a “special” edition set to take place at Madinat Jumeirah from May 15 to 17 and a VIP preview set for May 14.
The event will be free to attend and will follow a modified format, bringing together about 75 presentations from commercial galleries, institutional participants and partners. The fair was originally set to run in April, but was postponed and ultimately scaled back after the start of the Iran war.
It will now feature more than 45 presentations across contemporary, modern and digital art, with participating galleries from nearly 20 countries, about 60 per cent of those drawn from the region.
“Art Dubai’s story is Dubai’s story and producing this special edition would only be possible in Dubai, for an organisation that has grown hand-in-hand with the city and with the support of our long-term partners,” says Benedetta Ghione, executive director of Art Dubai Group.
“Current circumstances mean that this may not be what we had planned to mark our 20th edition, but the galleries and wider programmes represent what makes Art Dubai both unique and special.”
Find more here.
Dates for your diary
Dubai's smallest library at Julith, Al Quoz, Dubai – April 23 to 30
Cats: The Musical at Etihad Arena – May 14 to 24
Alserkal Art Month at Alserkal Avenue, Dubai – until May 18
Other highlights
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