10 best Arabic instrumental music you should listen to

Since Arab instrumental music is negligible, We collected here some of the biggest, most emotional, most impressive and flabbergasting arabic instrumental music works ever written. From Munir Bashir to Omar Khairet and Marcel Khalife with some left-field stunners along the way, let the epicness commence…

1- “Samaai Nahawand” by Twais

The Twais Quartet is a Syrian group of talented musicians, founded in Damascus in 2004, whose love and dedication to Arabic music have earned them wide acclaim from audiences throughout arab world.

The musicians include: Issam Rafea (oud), Firas Shahristan (qanun), Moslem Rahal (nay), Ragheb Jbeil (Percussion).

سماعي نهاوند Samaai Nahawand - Twais - طويس ألبوم إنسان

2- “Masar” by Le Trio Joubran

The oud playing brothers: Samir, Wissam and Adnan, known as Le Trio Joubran, were Born and raised in an oud-making family in palestine.

They developed a unique style that allows the Arabic lute to be used in complex compositions ranging from atmospheric pieces to rapid-fire improvisation.

Discover more about Le Trio Joubran here.

Le Trio Joubran Masar

3- “Eastern Love” by Rahim AlHaj

Iraqi-American composer and oud player, Rahim AlHaj is world class musician who tells incredible stories through music,

“Eastern Love” is arabic instrumental music of deep emotion and great beauty, melding mastery of Iraqi and Western classical genres alike to form something entirely new.

'Eastern Love' by Rahim AlHaj

4- “Fatma” by Omar Khairet

“Fatma” or “Leilet el-Kabd ala Fatma” (The Night Fatma was Arrested) is a great music piece composed by Egyptian musician Omar Khairat.

Khairat is influenced by different genres of music such as Arabic, European classical, Jazz, and Pop. He can blend the style of international symphonies with Egyptian music masterfully.

Discover more about Omar Khairat here.

Omar Khairet, Fatma, con. Adel Shalaby عمر خيرت - فاطمه باوركسترا المانى قيادة عادل شلبى

5- Inta Umri by Mohamed Abdel Wahab

Arabic classical song “Inta Umri” is a flawless masterpiece of singer Um Kulthum composed by M Abdel Wahab.

National Arab Orchestra - A Tribute To Asmahan and Um Kulthoum - Inta Umri / إنت عمري

6- “Al bint el shalabiya” by Charbel Rouhana

“Al bint el shalabiya” is a traditional arab song, best known from the version sung by the Lebanese icon Fairouz . The song is also known as a folk melody from the Greater Syrian region before the area had split into autonomous countries.

Here this song is performing on oud instrument by lebanese composer and oud player Charbel Rouhana.

Discover more about Charbel Rouhana here.

Al bint el shalabiya

7- “Granada” by Marcel Khalife

Arabic classical music piece by Marcel Khalife, Lebanese composer, oud master and singer.

Discover more about Marcel Khalife here.

Granada Marcel Khalife - غرناطة مارسيل خليفة

8- “Al Qantara ” by Wadi Al-Safi, Sabah Fakhri, Simon Shaheen

A wonderful arabic classical music piece by the oud master Simon Shaheen and his Qantara ensemble accomanying tenor vocalists Wadi Al-Safi and Sabah Fakhri .

Al Qantara

9- “Taqsim Rast” by Munir Bashir

In “Taqsim Rast” music piece, Iraqi Oud player, Munir Bashir, evokes a well of emotion and creates an inspired sense of melody, playing with impeccable skill and understated virtuosity.

Bashir is renowned in the Arab world for his virtuosity on Oud instrument and his improvisational music that is nonetheless tied to a strict musical system (maqam).

Munir Bashir - Taqsim Rast (The Art of Ud)

10- “Al Bedaya” by Hisham Kharma

Egyptian musician Hisham Kharma’s music is a multitude of influences and seemingly incongruous genres coming together in the most melodious and harmonious way there is.