Girls ran the world at the star-studded grand opening of the Atlantis The Royal resort on 21 January, with the all-female Firdaus Orchestra performing the entire 90-minute set with superstar Beyoncé.

The orchestra, developed exclusively for Expo 2020 Dubai and living on in legacy as part of Expo City Dubai, comprises women of 24 nationalities, celebrating the artistic talent of women globally while developing the musical community in the region and encouraging younger generations to realise their musical aspirations.

Firdaus accompanied Beyoncé as she belted out hit after award-winning hit during a culturally diverse show, which featured an Arabic element highlighting instruments such as the oud, buzuq (a long-necked, fretted lute), riq (tambourine) and darbuka (drum), as well as a soulful performance of Spirit of Rangeela, a composition by the orchestra’s mentor A.R. Rahman and arranged by him for this performance.

Monica Woodman, Conductor said: “We are still a young orchestra and the fact we performed with such a global icon is beyond expectations. What I love is that all pieces we performed incorporated a Firdaus Orchestra signature which Beyoncé herself was conscious of.”

Olena Ponpon, Concertmaster and Strings Section Leader, said: “It’s wonderful to be part of a historic event like this. I am forever grateful to Expo City Dubai for giving us not only a platform, but the trust to involve us in opportunities that just get bigger and better.”

Ariel Azarian, Section Leader, Rhythm, Arabic and Indian Instruments, said: “Never in my wildest dreams did I think we would perform with the most-awarded woman in Grammys history. We appreciate that Beyoncé is providing a platform for the voices of this region on a global level.”

Joanne Catherine, Section Leader, Brass and Woodwinds, said: “Being a part of such a legendary event is truly humbling.”

Ahead of the performance, the orchestra rehearsed at their home, award-winning Firdaus Studio by A.R. Rahman where Beyonce’s music team worked with the studio engineering team.

While the performance at the exclusive new resort’s beachfront was the first for Firdaus outside of Expo 2020 Dubai – now Expo City Dubai – the ensemble is no stranger to international artist collaborations and has performed a diverse repertoire with guests including Andrea Bocelli, Filipina singer and actress Katrina Velarde, flamenco guitarist Mercedes Lujan and multiple Grammy-nominated sitar player Anoushka Shankar.

Members of the orchestra wore striking red sequined gowns and jumpers, created in synergy with Beyoncé’s wardrobe team and the overall theme of the event, and designed by Arshia Alam of the contemporary Emirati womenswear brand, Arshys, who has worked with the orchestra since its first show.