UAE National Orchestra - A Festival Evening with Orchestra in Dubai

Celebrate the festive season with orchestral music, beloved classics, and three choirs

In Partnership with Dubai Opera

The Concert

Experience the sounds of the festive season with Winter Concert, featuring the UAE National Orchestra and combined choirs in a programme of orchestral music, seasonal classics and Arabic favourites.

Bringing together different languages, traditions and generations, the concert celebrates the memories and connections that make this time of year special, creating a shared musical experience that reflects the warmth and joy of the season.

The Music

From Sleigh Ride to Feliz Navidad.

Leroy Anderson's Sleigh Ride opens the programme, followed by seasonal favourites including Silent Night, White Christmas and Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!. The first half also features the Arabic favourite Thalj Thalj.

After the interval, Tchaikovsky's Waltz of the Flowers leads into Der weisse Schnee, Gloria, What Child Is This and O Holy Night. Arabic songs Ya Mariam and Laylat Eid follow, before Feliz Navidad and We Wish You a Merry Christmas bring the concert to a close.

Moving between quieter musical moments and the full energy of the UAE National Orchestra and three choirs, the programme offers audiences of all ages a celebration of music from across cultures.

The Performers

Guest conductor Nayer Nagui.

The concert features the UAE National Orchestra and its Choir under guest conductor Nayer Nagui, alongside Dubai Singers and The Stage House Choir.

Chorus master Howard Wong prepares the three choirs, with soprano Dina Iskander and baritone Elhamy Amin appearing as soloists. Samuel Nebyu is the concertmaster.

Program

Sleigh Ride Leroy Anderson Orchestra Holiday Pops – Medley of Festive Songs Arranged by Bob Cerulli Dina Iskander, Elhamy Amin and choir Happy Xmas (War Is Over) John Lennon and Yoko Ono arranged by Fedor Vrtacnik Dina Iskander and choir The Christmas Song Mel Tormé and Robert Wells, arranged by Bob Lowden Elhamy Amin Silent Night Franz Xaver Gruber, words by Joseph Mohr, arranged by Steven Simon Dina Iskander and choir White Christmas Irving Berlin, arranged by Nayer Nagui Elhamy Amin and choir When a Child Is Born Ciro Dammicco (Zacar), words by Fred Jay, arranged by Nayer Nagui Dina Iskander Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Jule Styne, words by Sammy Cahn, arranged by Charles Sayre Elhamy Amin Thalj Thalj The Rahbani Brothers, orchestrated by Steven Simon Arabic choir and choir Jingle Bell Rock Joseph Carleton Beal and James Ross Boothe Arranged by Mac Huff, orchestrated by Steven Simon Choir INTERMISSION: 20 minutes Waltz of the Flowers Tchaikovsky from The Nutcracker Orchestra Der weisse Schnee Arnis Mednis, Latvian words by Maris Bergmanis, arranged by Steven Simon Dina Iskander Gloria Craig Curry, arranged by Steven Simon Choir What Child Is This (Greensleeves) Traditional, arranged by Nayer Nagui Elhamy Amin O Holy Night Adolphe Adam, words by Placide Cappeau, arranged by Nayer Nagui Dina Iskander and choir Ya Mariam Ziad Rahbani, words by Bishop Youssef Derian, arranged by Steven Simon Arabic choir and choir Laylat Eid James Lord Pierpont, Arabic words by the Rahbani Brothers, arranged by Steven Simon Arabic choir and choir Feliz Navidad José Feliciano, arranged by Fedor Vrtacnik Dina Iskander, Elhamy Amin and choir We Wish You a Merry Christmas Traditional, arranged by Mohamed Sami Choir

Important Note

• Latecomers will not be admitted into the auditorium once the performance has begun. • Entry will only be permitted during intermission, if applicable. • No refunds will be accommodated in cases of non-admittance to the show due to late arrival.

Event policies

Age limit: • Children aged 3 and over require a ticket to enter the Dubai Opera Main Auditorium. • Children under 3 are not permitted into the Dubai Opera Main Auditorium. • Those aged below 18 should be accompanied by an adult aged 18 or over. Dress Code: • Dubai Opera is the ideal venue to celebrate elegance and style. Kindly avoid overly casual or provocative attire, such as shorts or flip-flops, to uphold our venue standards. Guests not complying with the dress code will not be permitted entry.

Terms & Conditions

This ticket is sold subject to these Ticketing Terms and Conditions (the “T&C”). The T&C should be read carefully before purchase and the purchase of Ticket(s) constitutes acceptance of the T&C. • Latecomers: To respect the performers and audience, latecomers may not be admitted until a suitable break in the performance or the interval (when applicable), at management’s discretion. • We recommend arriving at least 30 minutes prior to curtain rise to ensure timely access. • Entry Requirement: Performance ticket must be produced (physically or digitally) to gain entry to the event. Removing, altering, defacing, or copying any part of the ticket may invalidate it. • Resale & Commercial Use: Performance ticket must not be resold, offered for sale, or used for advertising, promotion, or other commercial purposes without the prior written consent of Dubai Opera. Violation will result in immediate cancellation without refund. • Validity: Performance ticket is valid only for the specific date, time, and event indicated. • Refunds & Exchanges: Dubai Opera does not offer refunds or exchanges due to changes in personal circumstances. Refunds or exchanges are solely at Dubai Opera’s discretion. • Lost or Stolen Tickets: Replacement of lost, stolen, or damaged tickets is possible only if authenticity and proof of purchase are verified, subject to an administrative replacement fee. • Programme Changes: Dubai Opera reserves the right to add, withdraw, reschedule, or substitute artists, and to vary advertised programmes, prices, seating arrangements, and audience capacity without prior notice or liability. • Concessions: Where concession rates apply, valid proof of identity and entitlement must be presented upon ticket collection or entry. Failure to do so may result in denial of entr

How to get there

By car: If you're coming from Sheikh Zayed Road (E11), take the exit towards Financial Center Road/D71 and follow the signs for Burj Khalifa/Downtown Dubai. Keep right and merge onto Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard. Continue straight until you reach Dubai Opera, which will be on your right. By public transportation: You can take the Dubai Metro Red Line and get off at the Burj Khalifa/Dubai Mall Station. From there, you can either walk for about 10 minutes to Dubai Opera or take a short taxi ride to reach the venue. By taxi: You can also take a taxi to Dubai Opera from anywhere in Dubai. If you're coming from downtown, the journey typically takes around 15–20 minutes, depending on traffic conditions.