Naïssam Jalal and Hazem Shaheen: An Evening of Musical Meditation

Two acclaimed musicians unite for a transcendent performance that explores the spiritual dimensions of sound and silence at NYU Abu Dhabi.

Music that speaks to the heart and quiets the mind represents one of the most enduring yet elusive ambitions in performance. On Friday 9 October 2026, the intimate stage of New York University Abu Dhabi will host a meditative concert bringing together two internationally regarded musicians whose work embodies this philosophical approach to sound: Lebanese oud virtuoso Naïssam Jalal and Egyptian percussionist Hazem Shaheen. Their collaboration promises an evening of profound musical dialogue, where discipline, improvisation and contemplative listening intersect.

The event unfolds within the broader context of Abu Dhabi’s cultural maturation as a centre for artistic exchange. The emirate has invested significantly in establishing platforms for world class musical performance, and the programming at NYU Abu Dhabi represents a particularly thoughtful curation of artists whose work resists easy categorisation. This is not pop music or entertainment in the conventional sense. Rather, it is an invitation to experience music as a practice of presence and awareness.

Naïssam Jalal stands among the most innovative voices in contemporary oud performance. Based in Berlin and raised between the Middle East and Europe, Jalal approaches the ancient Arab stringed instrument not as a custodian of tradition alone, but as a composer and sonic explorer willing to interrogate and expand the instrument’s expressive possibilities. Her work frequently engages with minimalism, drone, and contemporary classical composition, creating soundscapes that honour the oud’s heritage whilst pushing beyond its conventional repertoire. This artistic restlessness defines her international reputation and ensures that any performance carries genuine artistic risk and discovery.

Hazem Shaheen brings to the collaboration a masterful command of percussion and a deep knowledge of rhythmic systems that span African, Middle Eastern and world music traditions. Working across drums, frame drums and various resonant instruments, Shaheen creates textural landscapes that are equally at home in avant garde contexts and rooted musical practices. His approach emphasises listening and responsiveness, making him an ideal collaborator for music that prizes silence and space alongside sound.

The nature of meditative performance

The designation of this evening as meditative performance warrants explanation. In contemporary artistic practice, meditation informed music typically emphasises several elements: sustained tones and prolonged harmonic exploration, generous use of silence and space, cyclical rather than linear structures, and an invitation to the listener to experience time differently than in conventional concert formats. This is music that asks for active listening rather than passive consumption. It creates conditions for contemplation without demanding intellectual analysis.

The partnership between Jalal and Shaheen suggests a conversation between melodic and rhythmic intelligence, between the oud’s lyrical possibilities and percussion’s ability to articulate subtle layers of texture and time. Their combined sound world likely encompasses moments of great delicacy alongside deeper resonances, creating a musical experience that can settle into the listener’s awareness gradually.

The venue: New York University Abu Dhabi

NYU Abu Dhabi occupies a distinctive place in the emirate’s intellectual landscape. Located on Saadiyat Island, the campus blends cutting edge academic facilities with striking contemporary architecture. The university has become increasingly recognised for its contributions to cultural programming and artist residencies. The performance spaces at NYU Abu Dhabi serve both the academic community and the broader Abu Dhabi audience, creating opportunities for musical work that might not find venues in purely commercial contexts. The intimacy of the venue complements the meditative intention of this performance, allowing acoustic subtlety to flourish and creating a sense of shared experience among listeners.

When and where

The performance takes place on Friday 9 October 2026, beginning at 07:00 PM and concluding at 10:00 PM. The event is held at New York University Abu Dhabi on Saadiyat Island. The three hour duration allows for the unhurried unfolding that meditative music requires, resisting the compressed timeframes of conventional concert programming.

Tickets and admission

Admission to this performance is free of charge, reflecting an institutional commitment to making serious artistic experience accessible to the Abu Dhabi community. Tickets are available to reserve online. Those wishing to attend are encouraged to book in advance to secure their place in what promises to be a well attended event.

Why it matters for Abu Dhabi

This event represents Abu Dhabi’s maturation as a cultural destination capable of presenting internationally significant artists in appropriately considered contexts. Rather than importing artists primarily as entertainment spectacle, the emirate increasingly hosts musical work that demands intellectual and emotional engagement. The presence of artists of Jalal’s and Shaheen’s calibre signals that Abu Dhabi’s arts infrastructure has reached a point where serious practitioners recognise meaningful professional opportunity. For residents and visitors alike, this concert offers access to musical experience of genuine depth, rooted in Middle Eastern traditions yet engaging with contemporary global artistic practice. It exemplifies the kind of cultural programming that distinguishes Abu Dhabi as a city of sophisticated cultural appetite.

The evening represents an opportunity to experience music not as background or entertainment, but as a form of contemplative practice. In a region associated with hospitality and gathering, the meditative concert form offers something distinct: the possibility of shared silence, collective listening and the kind of musical beauty that operates beyond words.