Omar Harfouch ignites Dubai with music and meaning
Dubai experienced an evening of rare emotional intensity and unity as the Concerto for Peace was performed at Steinway & Sons, bringing together a remarkable audience from across the United Arab Emirates in a moment of shared humanity.
The concert was led by Omar Harfouch—composer honoris causa and Pilgrim of Peace, a title bestowed upon him by Pope Francis—whose artistic and humanitarian journey has taken him to some of the world’s most symbolic stages, including the Vatican, Rome, the European Commission in Brussels and Mar-a-Lago in the United States.
At a time of regional uncertainty, Harfouch chose to travel to Dubai, undeterred by challenges and driven by a single purpose: to place music at the service of peace. His presence was also deeply personal. As he recently stated in an interview, “Dubai is my city.” This concert was, in many ways, both a gesture of support and a declaration of love for a city he holds close to his heart.
Performed with his chamber orchestra—including two French musicians who travelled from Paris as part of his quartet—the evening blended intimacy with powerful emotional depth.
A distinguished audience attended the event, reflecting its diplomatic and cultural significance. Among them were Étienne Berchtold, ambassador of Austria to the UAE; Diaby Vacaba, ambassador of Côte d’Ivoire to Abu Dhabi; Marc Sievers, former US ambassador to the UAE; Ahmed Bin Sulayem, chairman of DMCC; Mohamed Al Nouman, president of Alhosan Group (Abu Dhabi); Dr Abdulla Al Kaabi; Dr Majid Al Sarrah; as well as prominent personalities including Mikhail Iakobachvili, Ali Jaber Al Ateya, Imran Hussain, Meera Zayed Al Blooshi, Louay Cherif, Ahmed Ali Mousa Al Naqbi and Kareem Hassan Fareed. The evening also drew strong media attention, underlining the growing international resonance of the project.
What made the night truly exceptional, however, was the audience itself. Emiratis and residents travelled from Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah and beyond—a powerful testament to a collective need to come together, reconnect and share a moment of peace.
Throughout the performance, the emotional impact was palpable. As if capturing the pulse of the audience in real time, voices from the crowd reflected the depth of the experience.
“Yesterday was really special for us… Seeing my daughter so happy, inspired and full of light when we got home stayed with me. Thank you for creating that moment for her.”
Another mother, visibly moved, shared: “It’s a strange time for Dubai, and the children feel it the most. She’s about to travel again to London next week… I’m grateful she had something so beautiful to hold on to before leaving. Music is healing.”
These spontaneous testimonies captured the essence of the evening: music not only as art, but as a source of comfort, resilience and connection.
The programme culminated in a vibrant and uplifting finale with the Oriental Fantasy. Infused with rhythmic Eastern melodies, the piece transformed the atmosphere in the hall. The audience, carried by the energy of the music, began to clap along in perfect tempo, filling the space with joy and collective enthusiasm.
The concert ended not in silence, but in celebration—a shared moment of lightness, unity and hope. More than a performance, the Concerto for Peace in Dubai became a powerful reminder that even in uncertain times, music remains a universal language—one that brings people together, heals wounds and reaffirms our shared humanity.
The concert was led by Omar Harfouch—composer honoris causa and Pilgrim of Peace, a title bestowed upon him by Pope Francis—whose artistic and humanitarian journey has taken him to some of the world’s most symbolic stages, including the Vatican, Rome, the European Commission in Brussels and Mar-a-Lago in the United States.
At a time of regional uncertainty, Harfouch chose to travel to Dubai, undeterred by challenges and driven by a single purpose: to place music at the service of peace. His presence was also deeply personal. As he recently stated in an interview, “Dubai is my city.” This concert was, in many ways, both a gesture of support and a declaration of love for a city he holds close to his heart.
Performed with his chamber orchestra—including two French musicians who travelled from Paris as part of his quartet—the evening blended intimacy with powerful emotional depth.
A distinguished audience attended the event, reflecting its diplomatic and cultural significance. Among them were Étienne Berchtold, ambassador of Austria to the UAE; Diaby Vacaba, ambassador of Côte d’Ivoire to Abu Dhabi; Marc Sievers, former US ambassador to the UAE; Ahmed Bin Sulayem, chairman of DMCC; Mohamed Al Nouman, president of Alhosan Group (Abu Dhabi); Dr Abdulla Al Kaabi; Dr Majid Al Sarrah; as well as prominent personalities including Mikhail Iakobachvili, Ali Jaber Al Ateya, Imran Hussain, Meera Zayed Al Blooshi, Louay Cherif, Ahmed Ali Mousa Al Naqbi and Kareem Hassan Fareed. The evening also drew strong media attention, underlining the growing international resonance of the project.
What made the night truly exceptional, however, was the audience itself. Emiratis and residents travelled from Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah and beyond—a powerful testament to a collective need to come together, reconnect and share a moment of peace.
Throughout the performance, the emotional impact was palpable. As if capturing the pulse of the audience in real time, voices from the crowd reflected the depth of the experience.
“Yesterday was really special for us… Seeing my daughter so happy, inspired and full of light when we got home stayed with me. Thank you for creating that moment for her.”
Another mother, visibly moved, shared: “It’s a strange time for Dubai, and the children feel it the most. She’s about to travel again to London next week… I’m grateful she had something so beautiful to hold on to before leaving. Music is healing.”
These spontaneous testimonies captured the essence of the evening: music not only as art, but as a source of comfort, resilience and connection.
The programme culminated in a vibrant and uplifting finale with the Oriental Fantasy. Infused with rhythmic Eastern melodies, the piece transformed the atmosphere in the hall. The audience, carried by the energy of the music, began to clap along in perfect tempo, filling the space with joy and collective enthusiasm.
The concert ended not in silence, but in celebration—a shared moment of lightness, unity and hope. More than a performance, the Concerto for Peace in Dubai became a powerful reminder that even in uncertain times, music remains a universal language—one that brings people together, heals wounds and reaffirms our shared humanity.
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