More than 2,000 people have attended Jalsa, an open-mic series at Manarat Al Saadiyat in Abu Dhabi, in the four months since it launched this summer. More than 100 performers have taken the stage, while a production team of more than 25 volunteers keeps the events running.
The series has held four editions. Its organisers pay for it themselves, and entry is free.
Built From a Car Ride
The idea began during a car ride between three friends: Hamad Al Shamsi, Abdullah Al Shamsi and Preston Dcosta. They later founded Harmony Abu Dhabi, the company behind Jalsa. Each brings a different skill. Hamad, an NYUAD alumnus, works as a master of ceremonies and loves storytelling. Preston is a pianist, drummer and sound engineer. Abdullah is a singer who performs as NotSoHuman. He began by posting song covers on social media and released his debut single, "Love it Up," in 2023.
The name means "gathering or a sitting" in Arabic. Onstage, a white plastic chair represents a place where anyone can sit, take the microphone and be seen.
Preston explained the gap the founders wanted to fill. Abu Dhabi has a fast-growing arts and culture scene, but fewer grassroots communities for local creatives. "If we wanted to perform in an open mic, we had to go from Abu Dhabi to Dubai. There was nothing home-grown in Abu Dhabi. So we decided to start something on our own," he said.
"We want people to be able to shine, to find a platform in Abu Dhabi," Hamad told The National. "There is so much Abu Dhabi has to offer, and we're just a drop in the ocean."
Four Chapters, One National Story
The organisers shaped the four events as "chapters" drawn from the UAE's story: The Majlis, The Desert, The Sea and The Stars. The first reflected the welcoming spirit of the traditional Emirati majlis. The second explored the resilience needed to survive in the harshest times. The third considered the sea and the UAE's connections with the wider world. The final chapter, held last week, drew on the stars that once guided journeys across desert and sea, using them as symbols of dreams and aspirations.
Performers get slots on a first-come, first-served basis, Abdullah said. The range is wide. "We have people performing for the very first time. We have a performer who is three years old," Hamad said. Participants have come from Ghana, the UAE, South Africa, Korea and Russia, among other places.
Lavalina, a singer and bassist, said the platform offers more than a stage. "It gives a stepping stone to continuing your journey. And being able to pursue your dreams as a career, not just as a vocation or as a hobby." Aysha, an attendee, said she liked seeing "the community coming together" and "the initiative of the young coming in."
The Money Question
Jalsa gets most of its revenue from a small baqala that sells branded merchandise and local snacks. The team hopes to secure funding so it can expand the community and support talent in creative fields beyond music.
The founders say one line won't move. "We are against the idea of artists having to pay," Preston said. "We will never make the open mic a paid event because the artists have spent so much time, so much effort refining their art form."
Why This Matters: Jalsa is a small story, but it shows how a civic institution can take shape without a government program behind it: three friends, volunteers, a merchandise stall and a free stage. In a region where public attention goes mostly to war and diplomacy, grassroots projects like this reflect the everyday life that stability makes possible. From a security-minded perspective, communities where young people from many countries gather to perform rather than fight are worth tracking. Whether Jalsa finds outside funding will show how far such efforts can grow.