ABU DHABI, UAE — Fifteen-year-old Ahmed Al Hashemi, who has autism, found his true voice not in speech but in the sound, touch and rhythm of the piano.

His musical journey began at 7, when he surprised his mother by playing Happy Birthday on a piano after hearing the lines just once.

She instantly recognized his musical gift: perfect pitch, a rare skill that allows him to identify and reproduce any note without reference.

Today, he is an award-winning composer, using music to articulate what words cannot.

The teen from the United Arab Emirates does not view his condition as something to overcome; instead, he embraces it as a unique lens that shapes the way he hears, feels, and composes original music.

Being autistic, Al Hashemi finds it difficult to verbalize his feelings and experiences, but at the piano, his inner world comes alive.

“The piano allows me to communicate feelings that I might not be able to say out loud,” he said. “Each note carries meaning, and I use music as my voice.”

The young musician wrote one of his earliest and most personal compositions, A Day Without You, when his brother left for military service.

“Instead of telling my mother how much I missed him, I expressed it through music. That was when I truly understood the power of composition,” he said.

Al Hashemi’s music has traveled far beyond the UAE, earning him international accolades like the UNESCO Award and the Mother Teresa Award.

“These awards remind me that my music has an impact beyond just performance,” he said.

“It’s not just about recognition — it’s about proving that music can transcend barriers and bring people together.”

As both a composer and performer, Al Hashemi finds joy in connecting with a live audience but treasures the intimate silence of solitary creation.

“Composing is deeply personal — it’s where I can express myself without any limitations,” he said.

“Sometimes a feeling triggers my creativity, and I sit at the piano to translate that emotion into sound. Other times, I hear a melody in my head and work on developing it into a full composition.”

Al Hashemi attributes his success to the unwavering belief of those closest to him, especially his mother.

“She believed in me when others doubted my abilities. Her dedication helped me find the right teachers and opportunities to grow as a musician.”

ALETIHAD NEWS CENTRE