The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has announced the establishment of Youth Orchestra Abu Dhabi, a new institution dedicated to nurturing the next generation of musical talent through free, world-class music education, from learning the fundamentals of music and playing instruments to developing advanced performance skills. The initiative will strengthen the emirate’s music and performing arts landscape, advancing its vision of artistic excellence and building a vibrant, sustainable cultural ecosystem for the future.

Youth Orchestra Abu Dhabi will offer aspiring young musicians a comprehensive educational pathway, combining a carefully structured, progressive music curriculum with an environment that encourages collaborative learning and ensemble performance.

Scheduled to open in January 2027 in the waterfront Mina Zayed (MiZa) district, the institution will feature a 600-seat professional concert hall and 18 rehearsal and practice rooms, providing a world-class environment for collective music-making. The facilities will enable students to develop their skills and perform before their families, friends and the wider public in accordance with international best practices.

Enrolment for the first cohort of 100 students aged between six and nine years will begin in October 2026. Over the coming years, the programme will nurture emerging musicians by introducing them to a diverse range of musical instruments, Western classical music and Arabic musical traditions.

The multi-year educational journey will take students from their first musical notes through to the completion of their school education, providing continuous opportunities to develop their skills and artistic abilities. Additional ensembles for advanced students will be introduced during the programme’s first year, creating further opportunities for musical development, ensemble performance and collaboration.

His Excellency Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of DCT Abu Dhabi, said: “The Youth Orchestra Abu Dhabi is an important investment in our future and in our commitment to making culture and creativity accessible to all. Through its free access to world-class music education programmes, we are creating opportunities for young people to discover their talent, develop their potential and experience the lifelong benefits that music can bring. Beyond technical ability, music fosters discipline, collaboration, creativity and confidence, qualities that shape well-rounded individuals, enrich communities and contribute to a more vibrant society.”

H.E. Al Mubarak added: “The Youth Orchestra Abu Dhabi will become both a platform for emerging talent and a cornerstone of the emirate’s growing cultural ecosystem. As Abu Dhabi continues to strengthen its position as a global centre for culture and creativity, and as a UNESCO Creative City of Music, institutions such as this ensure the next generation has every opportunity to participate in, contribute to and shape our cultural future, while preserving the rich musical traditions that form an important part of our heritage.”

The building was designed by the late Frank Gehry, a pioneering figure in contemporary architecture who also designed the recently announced performing arts institution Dar al Funoon Abu Dhabi. His architectural contributions to the emirate also include the design of the upcoming Guggenheim Abu Dhabi in the Saadiyat Cultural District.

Youth Orchestra Abu Dhabi reflects the emirate’s continued commitment to investing in creative talent, expanding cultural participation and strengthening the performing arts as an essential pillar of human and community development.

The initiative also underscores Abu Dhabi’s efforts to build an integrated cultural ecosystem that identifies, nurtures and supports emerging talent through sustainable educational pathways, while promoting personal development, strengthening community connections and unlocking creative potential through artistic expression.