FUJAIRAH, United Arab Emirates. A stretch of highway in the UAE’s eastern emirate of Fujairah is turning heads and tuning ears, as a new art installation uses road rumble strips to play Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony for passing vehicles.
Along nearly one kilometer of the E84 highway, also known as Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Road, motorists driving in the right-hand lane can experience a musical surprise. As car tires roll over specially designed grooves on the asphalt, the familiar melody of “Ode to Joy,” the final movement of Beethoven’s symphony and the official anthem of the European Union, comes to life.
The “Street of Music” project was developed by the Fujairah Fine Arts Academy in collaboration with local authorities. Academy director Ali Obaid Al Hefaiti said the initiative aims to promote art culture by blending classical music into everyday life.
“The ‘Street of Music,’ of course, is an art project that exists in some countries, but we wanted this project to be in our country,” Al Hefaiti said. “I think the project is focused on spreading the art culture. The combination of music in our lives and our normal lives.”
Drivers are advised to travel at around 100 kilometers per hour (60 mph) to hear the melody played correctly by the rhythm of their wheels hitting the grooves.
Though similar musical roads exist in countries such as Iran, Al Hefaiti believes this is the first of its kind in the Arab world. Since its unveiling, the road has gone viral on social media, attracting visitors to one of the UAE’s lesser-known but culturally vibrant emirates.
Some drivers have been seen slowing down to experience the musical lane, while curious pedestrians listen from the roadside. The installation has sparked both local and international interest, making Fujairah’s mountain highway a destination in itself.
When asked why a European composer was chosen for a project in the UAE, Al Hefaiti explained that his academy encourages students to explore different cultures and global artistic traditions.
Beyond the novelty, the project underscores a broader message: integrating art into daily life can make even the most ordinary experiences, like driving, unexpectedly beautiful.
Carlo Juancho FuntanillaFrontend Developer, WordPress, Shopify
Contributing Editor
AMA ACLC San Pablo
- Carlo Juancho Funtanilla
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