Abu Dhabi to open new music institution for young musicians

If your little one is always singing around the house or asking to learn an instrument, there’s something new for them in Abu Dhabi. Youth Orchestra Abu Dhabi is opening a dedicated institution in Mina Zayed in January 2027, with free music education programmes for aspiring young musicians.

The space will have a 600-seat concert hall and 18 rehearsal and practice rooms, where children can learn, practise, and perform together. They’ll explore both Western classical and Arabic musical traditions, with additional ensembles for more advanced students planned during the first year.

Applications are now open for the first 100 children aged six to nine. The programme aims to give young musicians the chance to develop their skills over time, with a pathway to more advanced training as they progress.

There’s an interesting name behind the building, too. It was designed by the late Frank Gehry, the architect also behind the upcoming Guggenheim Abu Dhabi in Saadiyat Cultural District.

Where: Youth Orchestra Abu Dhabi, Mina Zayed (MiZa)

When: Opening in January 2027

Age group: Six to nine for the first cohort