Tribute to Ziad Rahbani by Faraj Suleiman 2027 in Abu Dhabi

Tribute to Ziad Rahbani by Faraj Suleiman 2027 in Abu Dhabi brings the Palestinian pianist and composer back to The Arts Center at NYU Abu Dhabi for an evening devoted to one of the most influential figures in modern Arab music. In the Red Theater on Saadiyat Island, Faraj reimagines Ziad Rahbani’s work through his own jazz and contemporary piano language, with every piece re-orchestrated, re-harmonised and rhythmically reshaped.

Doors open at 7pm and the concert starts at 7:30pm on Friday 26 March 2027.

Who was Ziad Rahbani?

Ziad Rahbani was born in Antelias, Lebanon, on 1 January 1956, the son of the singer Fairuz and the composer Assi Rahbani, one half of the famous Rahbani Brothers. He was still a teenager when he wrote his first music for his mother: at 17, in 1973, he composed “Saalouni El Nass” for the musical Al Mahatta, the song that first brought him recognition.

Over the following decades he became a composer, pianist, playwright and political commentator whose satirical musicals took aim at Lebanese sectarian politics. His recordings include Nazl el Sourour (1974), Bennesbeh Labokra Chou? (1978), Film Ameriki Tawil (1980) and Houdou’ Nisbi (1985), and his collaborations with Fairuz included “Kifak Inta” in 1991. Musically, he was known for blending Arab popular music with jazz and funk, a sound captured in his 1986 “Oriental Jazz” concert.

Ziad Rahbani died in Beirut on 26 July 2025, aged 69. He was posthumously named a Commander of the National Order of the Cedar, and a Beirut avenue was renamed in his honour weeks later. For many listeners across the Arab world, he remains one of the most important artists Lebanon has produced, remembered for his wit and his refusal to conform.

Who is Faraj Suleiman?

Born in 1984, Faraj Suleiman grew up in Rama in northern Palestine and has lived in Haifa for around twenty years. Trained in classical piano, he went on to build a style that weaves Arabic and Eastern melodies, rhythms and modes into jazz, often with a strong, almost rock-like energy at the keyboard. He has named the Armenian pianist Tigran Hamasyan as a role model, and he leads bands in several cities, including Paris and Berlin, playing stages from Toronto to Montreux. Some of his songs albums feature lyrics by the writer Majd Kayyal.

His recordings range from instrumental albums such as Login, Three Steps, Once Upon a City and Toy Box to songs albums including Second Verse, Better than Berlin and the children’s album Fahim, with his more recent record As Much As It Takes. He has played the Montreux Jazz Festival, where he gave a solo performance in 2018, and the London Jazz Festival in 2019, and he composes for film and theatre, including the award-winning film 200 Meters by Ameen Nayfeh.

What to expect from the tribute

This is not a covers night. The Arts Center describes the concert as a full reinterpretation: Faraj takes Ziad’s music, one of his major influences, and filters it through his own compositional mindset. Each selection is rebuilt with new harmonies, new orchestration and reshaped rhythms, so familiar melodies may surface in unexpected places.

• Jazz and contemporary piano at the centre of the evening.
• Ziad’s songs and themes treated as raw material rather than played note for note.
• A natural fit: Ziad himself fused Arabic music with jazz, and Faraj works in the same space a generation later.

The programme and band line-up have not been published, so the exact selections will be part of the discovery on the night.

Who it suits

The concert will appeal to anyone who grew up with Fairuz and Ziad Rahbani’s songs, fans of Arabic jazz, and listeners who already know Faraj’s work from festivals or streaming. It is also a thoughtful way to mark Ziad’s legacy less than two years after his death. The listing gives no age policy. If you prefer music that rewards careful listening over a big singalong, this is the right kind of night.

Getting into NYU Abu Dhabi

The Arts Center is on a working university campus, so bring two things: your event ticket and the campus access QR code that NYUAD Campus Safety sends by email. Enter through the East or West Parking or the Welcome Center.

By car, follow Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Street (E10) past Al Mina, then Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Street (E12) and continue on to Laffan Street; GPS is recommended. By bus, take route 170 to the Saadiyat New York University 3 stop and walk a short distance. Taxis and ride-hailing apps are an easy option too. For wheelchair and access bookings, email the box office at nyuad.boxoffice@nyu.edu.

For more live music, see our concerts guide and art and culture listings, or plan your weekend with things to do in Abu Dhabi and what is on in March.