'The piano allows me to communicate feelings that I might not be able to say out loud'
12 June 2025 22:58
MAYS IBRAHIM (ABU DHABI)Diagnosed with autism, 15-year-old Ahmed Al Hashemi found his voice not in speech, but in the sound of the piano - its touch, tempo, and tone.His journey with music began at seven years old, when he surprised his mother by playing "Happy Birthday" on a piano after hearing it just once.She instantly recognised his musical gift: perfect pitch, a rare skill that allows him to identify and reproduce any note without reference.Today, he's an award-winning composer, using music to articulate what words can't.The Emirati teen doesn't view his condition as something to overcome; instead, he embraces it as a unique lens that shapes the way he hears, feels, and composes original music.Being autistic, Al Hashemi finds it difficult to verbalise his feelings and experiences, but at the piano, his inner world comes alive.
"The piano allows me to communicate feelings that I might not be able to say out loud," he told Aletihad . "Each note carries meaning, and I use music as my voice." The young musician wrote one of his earliest and most personal compositions, "A Day Without You", when his brother left for military service."Instead of telling my mother how much I missed him, I expressed it through music. That was when I truly understood the power of composition," he said.Al Hashemi's music has travelled far beyond the Emirates, earning him international accolades like the UNESCO Award and the Mother Teresa Award."These awards remind me that my music has an impact beyond just performance," he said. "It's not just about recognition – it's about proving that music can transcend barriers and bring people together."As both a composer and performer, Al Hashemi finds joy in connecting with a live audience but treasures the intimate silence of solitary creation."Composing is deeply personal – it's where I can express myself without any limitations," he shared."Sometimes a feeling triggers my creativity, and I sit at the piano to translate that emotion into sound. Other times, I hear a melody in my head and work on developing it into a full composition."Al Hashemi attributes his success to the unwavering belief of those closest to him, especially his mother."She believed in me when others doubted my abilities. Her dedication helped me find the right teachers and opportunities to grow as a musician."Looking ahead, Al Hashemi has no plans to slow down. His dream? To play piano on stages across the world and collaborate with musicians who inspire him."Every performance is a chance to share my story and connect with people through music."He hopes that his music inspires "perseverance" and "passion" in those who listen to it."Music is not just sound – it's emotion, storytelling, and connection. I want my journey to show that challenges can be overcome with dedication and belief."Al Hashemi feels a strong responsibility to represent the neurodivergent community in the arts."I want to show the world that autism is not a limitation – it's a different way of experiencing life," he said. "Through my music, I hope to inspire others to embrace their unique abilities."
To young people with autism, Al Hashemi says: "Never stop believing in yourself. Your talents and passions are valuable, and with the right support, you can achieve incredible things."
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Al Etihad
a day ago
- Al Etihad
'The piano allows me to communicate feelings that I might not be able to say out loud'
12 June 2025 22:58 MAYS IBRAHIM (ABU DHABI)Diagnosed with autism, 15-year-old Ahmed Al Hashemi found his voice not in speech, but in the sound of the piano - its touch, tempo, and journey with music began at seven years old, when he surprised his mother by playing "Happy Birthday" on a piano after hearing it just instantly recognised his musical gift: perfect pitch, a rare skill that allows him to identify and reproduce any note without he's an award-winning composer, using music to articulate what words can' Emirati teen doesn't view his condition as something to overcome; instead, he embraces it as a unique lens that shapes the way he hears, feels, and composes original autistic, Al Hashemi finds it difficult to verbalise his feelings and experiences, but at the piano, his inner world comes alive. "The piano allows me to communicate feelings that I might not be able to say out loud," he told Aletihad . "Each note carries meaning, and I use music as my voice." The young musician wrote one of his earliest and most personal compositions, "A Day Without You", when his brother left for military service."Instead of telling my mother how much I missed him, I expressed it through music. That was when I truly understood the power of composition," he Hashemi's music has travelled far beyond the Emirates, earning him international accolades like the UNESCO Award and the Mother Teresa Award."These awards remind me that my music has an impact beyond just performance," he said. "It's not just about recognition – it's about proving that music can transcend barriers and bring people together."As both a composer and performer, Al Hashemi finds joy in connecting with a live audience but treasures the intimate silence of solitary creation."Composing is deeply personal – it's where I can express myself without any limitations," he shared."Sometimes a feeling triggers my creativity, and I sit at the piano to translate that emotion into sound. Other times, I hear a melody in my head and work on developing it into a full composition."Al Hashemi attributes his success to the unwavering belief of those closest to him, especially his mother."She believed in me when others doubted my abilities. Her dedication helped me find the right teachers and opportunities to grow as a musician."Looking ahead, Al Hashemi has no plans to slow down. His dream? To play piano on stages across the world and collaborate with musicians who inspire him."Every performance is a chance to share my story and connect with people through music."He hopes that his music inspires "perseverance" and "passion" in those who listen to it."Music is not just sound – it's emotion, storytelling, and connection. I want my journey to show that challenges can be overcome with dedication and belief."Al Hashemi feels a strong responsibility to represent the neurodivergent community in the arts."I want to show the world that autism is not a limitation – it's a different way of experiencing life," he said. "Through my music, I hope to inspire others to embrace their unique abilities." To young people with autism, Al Hashemi says: "Never stop believing in yourself. Your talents and passions are valuable, and with the right support, you can achieve incredible things."
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ALC opens nominations for 20th Sheikh Zayed Book Award until September 1
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Coinciding with the 20th anniversary of the award's establishment, this special edition reflects its pioneering journey in enriching the cultural and literary landscapes, and strengthens its presence as an international platform supporting intellectual and creative excellence, while reinforcing Abu Dhabi's position as a global hub for inter-civilisational dialogue and cultural as one of the most prestigious literary awards in the Arab world, the SZBA accepts submissions across 10 categories: Literature, Translation, Contribution to the Development of Nations, Arab Culture in Other Languages, Children's Literature, Editing of Arabic Manuscripts, Literary and Art Criticism, Young Author, Cultural Personality of the Year, and Publishing and announcement follows the conclusion of the award's 19th edition, which received more than 4,000 nominations from 75 countries, including 20 Arab nations. Several countries were participating in the award for the first time, including Albania, Bolivia, Colombia, Trinidad and Tobago, and Mali, which highlights the award's growing prominence on the regional and international cultural Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, said: 'As the Sheikh Zayed Book Award enters its 20th edition, we celebrate its remarkable journey and enduring impact on the global cultural and literary landscape. Its mission is more relevant than ever, to foster dialogue and knowledge, advance the Arabic language, and champion the exchange of ideas across boundaries. As we look to the future, the award remains a powerful force for shaping minds, enriching lives, and inspiring future generations. In the years to come, the award will continue to reflect the values that lie at the heart of our emirate's vision.'Dr. Ali bin Tamim, Chairman of the ALC and Secretary-General of the SZBA, said: 'The 20th edition of the Sheikh Zayed Book Award marks a significant milestone following two decades of uninterrupted cultural work and achievements that have left their mark on the Arab and international literary and intellectual scenes." Bin Tamim added, "Under the patronage of our wise leadership, the award has established itself as a prominent platform for knowledge exchange, cementing the power of the written word to shape human civilisation and the future. Today, as we launch this new edition of the award, we reaffirm our commitment to supporting creative minds, preserving the Arabic language, and promoting culture as a cornerstone of comprehensive development."'We are proud of the tangible impact the award has made on the cultural landscape in its 19 years, during which we received over 30,000 nominations from more than 80 countries and honoured 136 winners across its various categories. These figures are not mere statistics, but a living testament to the growing confidence the award inspires among literary and intellectual circles. They assert the leadership role it plays in advancing authorship, translation, and critical studies, underlining its contributions towards promoting cultural dialogue, in line with the UAE's vision and mission to support human development.'Nomination conditions for the Sheikh Zayed Book Award stipulate that each candidate may nominate one work to one category, and the work must not have been nominated for any other prize in the same year, either directly or through a representative. Submitted works should also carry a valid International Standard Book Number (ISBN) to ensure the author's intellectual property rights are award will not be granted to any work that has previously won a major Arab or international prize, however, resubmission is allowed, provided the stipulated time gap has been met and new copies of the work are also allow authors to self-nominate or be nominated by publishers who may apply only for works they have issued, on the condition that the publisher receives written consent from the author. Nominated books need to have been published within the last two years at most, and should not have won any major international submitted works should be written in Arabic, except those submitted under the Editing of Arabic Manuscripts category, which can be in other languages, as well as the Translation category (whether translated into or from Arabic) and the Arab Culture in Other Languages category, where works published in English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, and Russian are the Cultural Personality of the Year award, candidates must be nominated by academic, research, or cultural institutions; literary bodies and universities; or by three prominent intellectual and/or cultural figures. Nominees for all other categories must personally fill out the nomination forms on the SZBA official its initial launch in 2006, the Sheikh Zayed Book Award has served as a prominent international platform for creativity, promoting Arab publishing, and fostering inter-civilisational dialogue, drawing inspiration from the vision of the UAE's Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. The award continues its mission to empower creative minds, fuel intellectual production, and elevate the global standing of the Arabic language, all in line with a strategic vision that reinforces Abu Dhabi's role as a global hub for cultural dialogue, coexistence, and tolerance. To submit a nomination to the 20th edition of the Sheikh Zayed Book Award, or for more information about the submission process and forms, visit the official SZBA website ( which offers up-to-date and comprehensive information in English and Arabic. Source: Aletihad - Abu Dhabi
