An oud player at a corporate or hotel event in Dubai plays live Arabic music for the welcome, the reception or the gala dinner, usually seated and acoustic or lightly amplified. Companies book a solo oud, an oud and qanun duo or a takht ensemble for gala dinners, embassy and government functions, cultural evenings and client receptions. Hotels and restaurants book oud players as a recurring lobby or dining room residency, often weekly. Send your date, venue and guest count, and we suggest a line-up and send a price.
Price: a solo oud player starts from AED 2,000, and a takht ensemble of 4 to 5 musicians is quoted per event. See corporate oud player prices.
Where live oud works at a company event
- Arrival and registration. An oud player near the entrance sets a local, welcoming tone as guests come in.
- Networking reception. Soft enough to talk over, live enough to notice.
- Gala dinner. A duo or a takht during the courses, with a livelier act afterwards if there is a dance floor.
- Cultural and embassy evenings. A traditional oud and qanun sound fits a programme about the region.
Match the line-up to the room
A solo oud without a speaker only carries in a room of roughly 60 to 80 guests or a majlis. A common mistake is a solo oud player at a 300 guest dinner with no sound: guests past the first tables hear nothing. For a ballroom, plan a sound system from the start or book a trio with qanun and percussion. Ballrooms often have a house sound system the musicians can plug into. Give the team your real guest count, and they recommend the setup that works, not just the cheapest one.
Hotel lobbies and restaurants
Hotels and restaurants book an oud musician to set the tone of a room, often for a weekly lobby or dining room residency. Tell the team the days, the hours and the dress code. The player needs a chair and a small side table or stand for sheet music or a tuner.
Dress code and look
Musicians usually wear a formal thobe, a kandura or a tailored black suit. For a brand event, tell the team your colours or dress code in advance so the musicians arrive dressed for it.
Permits
Live music in a public venue in Dubai usually needs a DET entertainment permit, formerly issued under DTCM. Most five star hotels already hold a standing permit and issue an internal NOC for their ballrooms and outlets once the booking is confirmed. A private villa or majlis event usually needs no separate permit, unless the guest count is large or the event is open to the public. Abu Dhabi events fall under DCT.
National Day and Ramadan
National Day events lean towards Khaleeji and patriotic songs and book up weeks ahead. Ramadan programmes start after iftar with lower volume. See Ramadan and iftar events.
Book for your event
Send the date, the venue, the guest count, the dress code and the moments you want music on WhatsApp or through the quote form. For a larger line-up, see the Arabic takht ensemble. The planning guide explains sound and timing.
