UAE’s first official “Happy Birthday” song: a melody of community
In a landmark cultural initiative, the UAE has released its first official Emirati birthday song, an anthem meant to belong to everyone across the Emirates. What makes this song particularly special is how it was created: through a nationwide participatory campaign that invited voices and stories from all corners of society.
A collective creation rooted in everyday life:
The idea behind the song was not just to produce a catchy birthday tune, but to embed it with real sounds, memories, and cultural markers that reflect life in the UAE. Ferjan Dubai, the social enterprise behind the project, gathered contributions from children, poets, singers, local communities, and even the ambient sounds that form part of daily life across the Emirates.
Alia Shamlan, CEO and Managing Director of Ferjan Dubai, emphasized that the “strongest stories are those rooted in daily life, shared between neighbours, families, and friends.” By weaving local voices and sounds into the song, the initiative aims to foster belonging and shared identity.
Lyrics that echo warm wishes:
The song’s lyrics are simple but heartfelt. The English version reads in part:
Your birthday is the sweetest day
May your years continue in goodness
The world becomes beautiful with you, dear one, it rejoices with you always
Every year may you be well
Every year may you be dear
Every year may you be well
These lines carry the universal sentiments of celebration and well-wishing, but in the UAE’s context, they are meant to connect with people across backgrounds and nationalities.
Year of Community;the spirit behind the song:
This musical initiative is part of the UAE’s Year of Community 2025, which was launched under the slogan “Hand in Hand.” The Year of Community aims to encourage social unity, inclusion, and collective participation across all segments of society.
By embedding a communal birthday song into the cultural fabric, organizers hope to deepen connections and make celebrations more meaningful across neighborhoods, schools, and families.
Play the video here.
What the song achieves:
- Shared cultural ownership: because the song was cocreated by many voices, it’s more than a production, it’s a community artifact.
- Inclusivity: participation was open to diverse contributors, from children and local artists to casual singers, ensuring multiple perspectives.
- Longevity: the song is meant to become a staple of birthday celebrations across the UAE. It is now publicly available on all platforms, and families, schools, and communities are encouraged to adopt it.
- Strengthening identity: the song reinforces a sense of belonging and shared identity among people of the UAE, aligning with the goals of the Year of Community.
