Since its establishment, the United Arab Emirates has pursued a development model that places people, identity, and shared values at the heart of progress. As the nation continues to advance across economic, technological, and social spheres, equal importance is given to preserving the cultural foundations that shaped its journey, ensuring that growth remains anchored in heritage and community.

In alignment with the Year of Community, institutions across the UAE are reflecting on how culture can be meaningfully integrated into contemporary systems. Within this context, Emirates Post Group (7X) has drawn inspiration from Al Nahma, a traditional Emirati sea chant, reinterpreting its essence into a modern sonic expression rooted in national identity.

Al Nahma was historically sung by Emirati pearl divers to synchronise movement, sustain morale, and reinforce unity during long and demanding journeys at sea. It was a functional, communal practice that embodied cooperation, resilience, and shared purpose. These values were central to early Emirati society and remain deeply embedded in the UAE's national character today.

As an intangible form of heritage carried through sound rather than artefacts or text, Al Nahma represents a cultural dimension that is uniquely powerful, as sound has the ability to evoke memory, emotion, and belonging across generations.

Rather than recreating the chant itself, 7X focused on translating its principles. The rhythm of collective effort, the cadence of movement, and the sense of alignment embedded in Al Nahma closely mirror how modern institutions function at scale. In developing this sonic identity, 7X placed strong emphasis on people-led contribution and inclusive cultural participation, bringing together Emirati youth voices and creative practitioners, including cultural advocate Maitha Mohammed, whose efforts have helped revive Al Nahma within the community, and Emirati artist Khalid Bin Khadim, whose composition bridges traditional sound knowledge with contemporary musical expression.

The resulting track, "The Seventh Wave", is an Emirati-inspired rhythm that resonates with 7X's values and reflects its vision of "For a World in Motion," honouring heritage and unity as the nation celebrates the UAE's 54th Eid Al Etihad.

As the UAE marks the Year of Community, initiatives such as this highlight an essential message: community is strengthened not only through programmes and policies, but through the conscious integration of culture into everyday systems. In a nation defined by connection and movement, the sound of unity continues, reimagined, yet unmistakably rooted in the UAE.

Listen to the track here.