01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
Watch: UAE drivers 'play piano', groove to Fujairah's musical road
It's not every day that your tyres play Beethoven. But on a quiet stretch of Sheikh Khalifa Street, surrounded by the rugged beauty of Fujairah's mountains, that's exactly what's happening, and residents can't get enough of it.
Installed just before the Fujairah Police Headquarters, the nearly 1km-long musical street is turning a daily commute into a drive-through symphony. The rumble strips, carefully engineered into the road surface, produce a portion of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony when driven over at a steady pace, a first in the UAE and the Arab world.
What started as a creative public arts initiative by the Fujairah Fine Arts Academy has quickly become both a local attraction and a social media sensation. It's no longer just an artistic installation; it's become a reason to change lanes.
'I travel thrice a week on this road, but I first noticed the music on Sunday while returning from Maleiha,' said Omar Al Obiadi, a Fujairah resident.
'At first, I thought maybe my tire pressure was low, you know, that weird humming noise you get sometimes. But then it got louder and more rhythmic, and I realised it was actual music.'
Watch a video of cars driving over, below:
Now, Omar says he takes the last lane on purpose whenever he drives this route. 'It's become part of my routine now. You won't believe it, but sometimes I slow down a bit just before the stretch, make sure there are no cars behind me, and then cruise at exactly 105 km/h. It feels like the road is welcoming me home.'
Even visitors from outside the emirate are making the journey just to experience the road's unusual melody. 'My car suddenly turned into a piano,' said Amr Ahmed Kazeem, a Dubai resident who visited Fujairah on Tuesday.
'I was alone, going for a meeting, and suddenly I heard this tune underneath the car. I thought I was imagining it. I didn't know roads could do that.'
'We are so used to honking and traffic noise, hearing music from your tires is just joyful,' he added. 'It's like the road is telling you, 'relax, you are in Fujairah now'.'
Some people are even planning entire trips around the musical road. 'We drove down from Dubai just to check it out,' said Nida Amaan, who came with her husband and two kids over the weekend after watching a video online. 'My husband saw a reel on Instagram, and we were packing snacks and getting in the car.'
Her children, aged 8 and 12, had no idea about the reason for the trip. 'They were in the backseat when the music started and were shocked at first. They thought it was a prank or maybe the car's music system acting up,' she said. Now they call it 'the singing road.'
How to get the perfect music
According to a Khaleej Times analysis, here's how drivers can enjoy the melody at its best:
Maintain optimum speed of 100kmph to produce clear, accurate musical notes.
Stick to the last (rightmost) lane — the musical rumble strips are laid on this side.
Align your right tyres directly over the white rumble strips - ensure the full tyre rolls precisely on the strip.
Keep your steering steady and straight, even a slight deviation can distort or mute the melody.
Avoid veering too far left or right as poor alignment results in muffled or off-key notes.
Turn off the radio and lower windows, if needed, keeping the cabin quiet helps you hear the tune clearly.
Safety tips while driving on the musical road
Do not record while driving — hand over the phone to a passenger to avoid distraction.
Check vehicles around you — be aware of cars ahead and behind before changing lanes.
Avoid sudden braking as it can startle drivers behind and disrupt traffic flow.
Stay in your lane, don't swerve while aligning your tires over the strip.
Give way when needed; not everyone is there for the music.
Ali Obaid Al Hafiti, Director of the Fujairah Fine Arts Academy, confirmed that the project will be permanent. 'The chosen musical piece is Beethoven's Ninth Symphony because it is universal and globally recognised,' he said.
He added that the emirate plans to launch similar installations in other areas featuring local musical compositions, which will be announced in the near future.
So, the next time you are headed toward Fujairah, take the scenic route down Sheikh Khalifa Street. Switch to the last lane, tune out the noise, and let your tyres play a little Beethoven.
