How the FIFA Arab Cup Final became a symphony of sound and light

Football finals are not only defined by what happens on the field. The roar of the crowd and the songs they sing can also help determine but at the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025 final at Lusail Stadium, the drama began long before the first kick.

In front of more than 88,000 spectators and dignitaries from across the Middle East, the stadium—best known as the site of the 2022 World Cup final—was transformed into a canvas of sound and light to premiere a new national anthem of sorts: ‘Nabd Qatar’ (The Pulse of Qatar).

Coinciding with Qatar National Day, the premiere was the centerpiece of the ‘Qatar SoundBeat’ campaign, a cultural initiative spearheaded by Media City Qatar to bridge the nation's heritage with its modern creative ambitions.

Watch the official music video for ‘Nabd Qatar’ below:

A sonic tapestry of the desert

The composition is the work of regionally acclaimed musician Omar Rahbany and produced by Rahbani 3.0. The piece is not a standard orchestral track; it is an auditory history of the Gulf nation.

Performed by the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra, the arrangement features 68 musicians and 30 instruments, blending Western symphonic structures with traditional Arabic instrumentation. According to the composer, the track is shaped through three distinct eras: ‘Tradition’, ‘Classical’, and ‘Modernity’.

The sound design is intentionally evocative allowing listeners to detect:

• Ardha sword dance chants: Traditional lyrics written by H.E. Mr. Salah bin Ghanem Al Ali.
• Nature’s Rhythm: The hum of desert dunes, the whisper of the wind, and the call of a falcon.
• Motion: The gallop of an Arabian horse and the flutter of the national flag.

Omar Rahbany described the intricate process of mimicking a heartbeat through music: "Every detail was crafted with intention, down to phonetic elements like ‘Wa-tan’ (homeland) and ‘Na-bd Qa-tar’ (Pulse of Qatar) to mirror the cadence of a heartbeat. Giving form to a nation's story through melody, rhythm and emotion is among the highest honors an artist can receive."

Crowdsourcing a national anthem

While the music was composed by professionals, the soul of the lyrics belongs to the people.

The words, drafted by Abdullah Khaled Abdulquddus, were derived from the ‘Qatar ArtBeat’ campaign—a Guinness World Record-setting initiative where thousands of contributions were gathered from the public. The result is a song that literally speaks with the voice of the people, transforming their written tributes to unity into a musical score.

Dr. Nasser Sahim, Deputy Executive Director of the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra, hailed the weight of the performance: "A work of this scale demands precision, unity and deep understanding... our musicians approached it with a thoughtful commitment to excellence in every note."

"Where next is made"

The spectacle at Lusail was also a statement of intent from Media City Qatar (MCQ).

Beyond the music, MCQ is positioning the country as the next major hub for global media and creativity. The organisation now hosts more than 300 licensed companies across gaming, digital innovation, and content creation.

H.E. Sheikh Dr. Abdulla bin Ali Al Thani, Chairman of Media City Qatar, views the song as a calling card for the region's creative community:

"Media City Qatar used this moment to send a clear message to the region’s creative community: The future of Arab media is being shaped here. It calls every creator in our region to look to Qatar as a place where new ideas can grow."

For those who missed the live spectacle at the stadium, ‘Nabd Qatar’ is now streaming on Spotify, Anghami, and YouTube, allowing the world to listen to the modern heartbeat of the Gulf.