While Abu Dhabi Festival is set to present the world’s greatest works of art and culture, carrying the UAE’s cultural vision forward, one of the major highlights of the festival is the section devoting to paying tribute to the musical instrument—Oud.

Held under the theme of The Future Starts Now, the 18th edition of the Abu Dhabi Festival will see the Global Oud Forum performing at the event. The festival will bring together 27 musicians who will especially perform with this instrument.

Oud is a short-neck lute-type, pear-shaped, fretless stringed instrument, that is widely used in Arab countries, Turkey, Greece, Azerbaijan, and Armenia. A solo instrument of Arabic music, the oud is also used as a melodic or rhythmic bass in instrumental ensembles, unless it is accompanying a singer.

The event which will take place virtually will feature seven episodes in a television format and will showcase 27 oud musicians from 14 countries who will perform pieces written specifically for the event.

Organised in collaboration with Iraqi oud legend Naseer Shamma, the event will also see Global Oud Forum sharing views of academics and experts in the fields of music and art on the history and development of the ancient oud, and on how the instrument is incorporated into today’s digital music industry.

The forum will also broadcast interviews with six renowned oud makers from the Arab world giving details of their workshops and all their secrets of making.

Talking about the musical event Oud player Naseer Shamma in a statement said, “In this edition, the festival is reinventing itself to communicate its vision in the arts and music industry despite the impact of COVID-19, which affected us all. The World Oud Forum brings together a wide range of creative individuals to present their visions, ideas, music and innovations in the world of the oud, a unique attempt to bring together musicians, oud makers, researchers and critics in one place.”