Emirati artist Eman AlHashimi is an acclaimed pioneer

Muhammad Yusuf, Features Writer

Eman AlHashimi is the first Emirati female music composer and arranger. An international certified life coach who has a bachelor’s degree in Human Resources Management and a Master’s in arts of communication and strategic public relations where she graduated with honours, she is a specialist in orchestra and music soundtrack. A recognised pianist, she is also a painter, scenarist and author, who has published six books so far. One of them is Emanestro, a music encyclopaedia.

Her bio and its detailing will fill many pages, more than the 900 words allotted to Gulf Today here. But, in a summary, here it is. “I can list my achievements as follows,” says AlHashimi. “I was the first pianist to play at the World Music Day hosted in UAE in 2000. I was also the first pianist to represent the country abroad in Italy’s Expo Milan 2015.” She was also the first Emirati female who composed a melody using military instruments, under the title Martyr. As pianist, she composed and wrote the lyrics for an Operette under the banner of Year of Zayed and for Mother of the Nation. She is the first Emirati pianist to perform at the Louvre Museum in Abu Dhabi.

As a composer, she was honoured by the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) as the first orchestra composer. She also composed a melody for Emirates Mars Mission 2020, being the first to do so. She played before Sheikha Latifa Bint Mohammed Al Maktoum and Ivanka Trump, during the Global Women Forum 2020. She was the first female Emirati to establish a musical band named Eman Al Emarat plus another one, the UAE Pioneers Musicians. In yet another first, her music has been played on radio and TV. She is the first composer to be included in the Encyclopedia of Emirati Women and the first female composer to win the prize for the best music composer in the UAE (2018). She has published a book about music history (2019), the first to do so. She is on Netflix as the first UAE female composer for composing a movie soundtrack (2019).

She composed and arranged a musical piece – the first Emirati musician to this - for The Pearl Fisherman’s Daughter. It was a dance performance co-produced by the Abu Dhabi Festival and the US Embassy in 2023. As a painter, she is influenced by the Renaissance and Baroque artists. Renaissance art marks a cultural rebirth at the close of the Middle Ages and rise of the Modern world. One of the distinguishing features of this school of art was a renewed desire to depict the beauty of Nature – which inspires Eman AlHashimi too.

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Baroque painters, who followed the Renaissance, used intense and warm colours and strong contrasts of light and darkness on certain parts of a picture to direct attention to the central actions or figures. They avoided the tranquil scenes of Renaissance paintings, and chose the moments of the greatest movement and drama. You could find a similar sweep and movement in Eman AlHashimi’s works too. She provides answers for Gulf Today’s questions

How does the piano allow you to express yourself?

Any type of art is an expression and music is the language of my soul; whenever words fail me, my music becomes my saviour.

What are your subjects as a painter?

Honestly, I draw and paint very rarely. However, my subjects are anything that comes to my mind at that moment. It just varies from Nature to Impressionism to portraits and so on …

Who are your inspirations as a painter?

I am touched by all the artists who lived in the Renaissance era as well as the Baroque era. But the modern and the new, contemporary art, are very interesting too.

As a poet, what do you write on?

I write in two languages, Arabic and English. My words are usually about philosophy, social causes and love, because I deeply believe that no matter what the question is, love is always the answer.

You write in Arabic. Have you translated your books into other languages? If not, why?

I was thinking of translating my books into different languages; however, I thought that I should keep the beauty of the Arabic language, as I use some difficult and original words that have different types of meanings - which would make it quite impossible to translate them accurately.

How have you worked as a scenarist?

I am a writer in first place, and I have managed to write a full movie script that will come out soon. I’d rather leave the words to the director, Nasser Al Tamimi, who can speak more about it. 

What are the qualities that go into the making of a successful scenarist?

It has been a journey full of joy and frustrations. I had to read many tutorial books and ask other scenarists in the world to assist me develop my capabilities in order to achieve what I have achieved.

What gives you the most satisfaction as life coach?

Honestly, I have loved including music therapies in my sessions as a life coach. It makes my work interesting and unique.

What can we expect from you, come 2025? 

I am still challenging myself to develop every day and I can’t wait to see what I can do more. However, I really wish to have my music played in space!