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Bait Al Oud Takht with Najma Al Kour The opening night of the Culture Summit featured a performance by musicians from Abu Dhabi’s Bait Al Oud Takht, with vocals from Najma Al Kour. Composed of oud, qanun, cello, violin and drums, the group fused the past and present with a programme of traditional Arabic songs — some based on poems by UAE Founding Father Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan — and original jazz compositions. Bait Al Oud Abu Dhabi is an institute that focuses on teaching Arabic music and its instruments, such as the oud, qanun, rababa and the Middle Eastern cello. The school plays an essential role in documenting masterpieces of Arab musical heritage and in restoring the role of music as a fundamental element in the cultural life of the UAE. Bait Al Oud graduate Najma Al Kour is considered one of the most promising singing talents in the region, having performed extensively and appearing on radio and television shows such as Young Arab Idol. After five years of studying the piano, Al Kour began vocal training at Bait Al Oud in October 2016, attaining an ABRSM degree. 129