A group of 27 friends came together in 2023 to form The Joyful Singers. Today, the group has grown into an ensemble of 144 choristers from across the Emirates.

The singers, in the age group of 4 to 70 years, are a jubilant lot after their recent rendition of the UAE national anthem, saluting the country for its support and opportunities to people from around the world.

The choristers memorised the anthem’s lyrics, working diligently to get their Arabic pronunciations right. From the time rehearsals began in May 2025, the group started doing their best to make the four-part harmony unique in every way. The audio recordings for each of the four vocal sections were done individually over a four-week period.

Choir director David Anush said, “We are trained in Western choral four-part singing, and we realized that, apart from small acapella groups, no sizeable choir had performed the UAE National Anthem in multi-part harmony. This was our way of honouring the nation in the musical tradition we know best.”

The SATB arrangement was done by Kerala musician Nibin Jose, and the accompaniment track produced by David Chack Victor.

Dubai-based audio engineer Chris Manoj ensured a fine audio production.

A professional video shoot was done with the choir at the Flag Garden Dubai, near Burj Al Arab, featuring over 11,000 UAE flags arranged to form the portraits of the founding fathers of the UAE, Sheikh Zayed, and Sheikh Rashid.

The boutique video company The Plot, led by director Mahima Lizbeth, executed the shoot around sunrise.

The Joyful Singers is known for two of its main annual performances – a summer showcase and a Christmas concert. – editor@nrifocus.com