Pak music brings communities together in UAE

Senior Pakistani musicians, including Faisal Kapadia, and rising stars Hassan Raheem and Shae Gill, captivated a packed audience at Umeed 2025, a musical evening filled with fun, hope, and purpose. The event, organised by the Dubai Chapter of The Citizens Foundation (TCF), aimed to raise awareness and support for education initiatives in Pakistan.

The evening drew a large turnout of music lovers from the Pakistani community and beyond. It opened with a soulful performance by Shae Gill, popularly known as the Pasoori Girl, who showcased her signature vocals across both orchestral and acoustic arrangements. Her set perfectly set the tone for a night that blended entertainment with meaning.

Next, Hassan Raheem took the stage, infusing the venue with his trademark energy and youthful vibrance. His upbeat numbers and audience interaction brought a wave of excitement, with fans dancing and singing along to his hits. The night reached its crescendo when Faisal Kapadia, the legendary former member of Strings and TCF Brand Ambassador, delivered a nostalgic yet powerful performance featuring classic tracks from the Strings era. One of the most memorable moments came when Faisal joined Hassan and Shae on stage to perform a medley of iconic Strings songs, symbolising unity across generations of Pakistani music.

Dignitaries at the occasion.

Reflecting on the success of the evening, Mushtaq Chhapra, Co-Founder of TCF, said: “Over thirty years of TCF’s journey, I’ve seen children from some of the toughest communities of Pakistan grow up to become doctors, teachers, and leaders in their communities. All they needed was a chance. That’s what ‘Umeed’ (hope) really means to me. Umeed 2025 passed that hope forward, to the millions of children still waiting for their chance to build a better life.”

The event was sponsored by several organisations, including Careem, Habib Bank AG Zurich, Rainbow, Samana, RAK Bank, and Emirates.

Mudassir Sheikha, CEO and co-founder of Careem, said: “Pakistan’s economic potential is enormous, and education is the key to unlocking this potential. Mission-driven organisations like The Citizens Foundation are making education accessible to those who need it most. For everything Pakistan has given Careem, we feel a deep responsibility to give back.”

Founded in 1995, The Citizens Foundation has grown into one of Pakistan’s leading non-profit organisations, running over 2,033 purpose-built school units that educate more than 300,000 students. With chapters in seven countries, including the UAE, TCF continues to inspire global support for education as a powerful tool for social change.