Ahmed Bukhatir

Ahmed Bukhatir

Ahmed at the Horrasis Global Vision Event in RAK, UAE.
Background information
Native name أحمد بوخاطر
Born (1975-10-16) 16 October 1975
Origin Sharjah, U.A.E.
Genres Nasheed
Occupation(s) Singer, businessperson, author, senator
Years active 2000-present
Website http://www.ahmedbukhatir.com

Ahmed Bukhatir (Arabic: أحمد بوخاطر‎; born 16 October 1975) is an Emirati Nasheed singer. He is the only Nasheed singer from the UAE to ever top a Virgin music chart.[1]

Biography

Ahmed Bukhatir was born in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.[1] He was the fifth child of ten born into his family. His father is Abdul Rahman Bukhatir,[2] who became a successful businessman during the economic boom that occurred in the UAE during the 1970s and 80s.[3] As a child Bukhatir spent several years at an Islamic center in Sharjah learning the rules of Quranic recitation called Tajwid.[1] Bukhatir began singing professionally at the age of 20, and released his first album in 2000 entitled Entasaf Al-Layl.[3] Throughout his recording career he has continued to sing without musical instruments according to the Islamic Sharia law.[1] His live performances have attracted sizeable audiences, such as at a Global Peace and Unity (GPU) event in the United Kingdom in 2006 that gained an audience of 35,000 attendees to see the various speakers and performers.[4] He has participated in many charity events including the Muslim Aid 25th Anniversary Event in London, United Kingdom, in 2010.[5][5][6] Along with Islamic nasheeds, Ahmed also performs nasheeds which place emphasis on community issues in multiple societies both within and outside the world of Islam.[7] Today Bukhatir is considered to be among the ten most prominent singers of Nasheed in the world.[8]

Business career

Bukhatir Speaking on Behalf of Du Telecom

Ahmed Bukhatir graduated in 1999 from Al Ain University of Science and Technology. At the age of 29 he became the CEO of Promax ME, a public relations company in the UAE. In 2005 under his stewardship the company won the Gulf Marketing Review Marketing Effectiveness Award for the best public relations agency in the Middle East.[9] He is currently chair of the Mcfadden Group of Companies, which is involved in UAE construction as well as several other ventures.[10] In addition, Bukhatir is a member of the board of Directors in the Bukhatir Group. Salah Bukhatir is his elder brother, who is the vice chairmen at Bukhatir Group, other members of board include Waleed Abdul Rahman Bukhatir, Abdullah Al Nimat Abdul Rahman Bukhatir and Khalaf Abdul Rahman Bukhatir. In politics, he is an appointee by the Ruler of Sharjah to become a member of the Sharjah Council as a senator.[11][12] While in office he has been a vehement defender of Dubai's construction boom.[3] His business interests also include the role of brand ambassador for "Du Telecom", a telecommunications company in the UAE.[13]

Discography

Bukhatir at the Global Peace & Unity event, 2010

Ahmed Bukhatir has released many albums covering many topics that include Islam and community issues. He has recorded songs in English, Arabic, and French.[14]

Year Title Sales Results |
2000 Entasaf Al-Layl Bestseller in UAE[3]
2001 Al Quds Tunadeena Bestseller in UAE[3]
2003 Fartaqi More than 100,000 copies sold in UAE and Europe[3]
2004 Samtan More than 150,000 copies sold in UAE and Europe[3]
2005 Da'ani More than 150,000 copies sold in UAE and Europe[3]
2007 Hasanat More than 250,000 copies sold in UAE and Europe[3]
2010 Moments with Allah (results not reported)
2013 Prophet of Peace (results not reported)

Performances & concerts

Ahmed first performed at a major concert in 2002, attended by members of the Royal Families of UAE.[15] He performed at the "Holy Qura'an" competition attended by H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al Sudais, the imam of the Grand mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.[16][17] In addition to many regional performances, Ahmed has toured in various other nations including India, South Africa, Australia and, most notably, at the Global Peace and Unity event which was held in London, United Kingdom, in 2006.[4] He has performed several other notable concerts in London, including a concert at Excel Hall in London in front of over 25,000 people and several concerts at the Natural History Museum in London.[1][18] On 3 July 2010, Ahmed performed at the 3rd Annual “Journey of Faith” Conference which was held in Toronto, Canada. This was the first time Ahmed had performed across the Atlantic.[19] Ahmed has also attended many other fundraising events as a performer. For example, on 4 April 2012 he performed before H.H. Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan at a benefit for the Sightsavers Middle East foundation.[20]

Bukhatir's first concerts on US soil took place in April 2012, when he appeared at events sponsored by the Al-Furqaan Foundation's Furqaan Academy that were held in Dallas, Houston, and Chicago.[21] In May he then performed at conference events cohosted by the Islamic Circle of North America and Muslim American Society staged in Hartford, Connecticut.[22]

Ahmed has performed at the Annual Conference 2012 of JUSTICE at the Forum Switzerland on December 2012. Ahmed sang some of his most popular nasheeds live to his fans in Switzerland for the first time.[23]

In May 2013, Bukhatir participated in Syria charity Dinner tour in the United Kingdom to help those in need, which was organized by Human Appeal International. The UK dinner tour started in Blackburn then Leicester and ended in Birmingham. Bukhatir performed all of his famous nasheeds then signed CDs and autographs for the fans.[24]

Books

Bukhatir spoke at the 2014 Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, where he announced that in July he would be publishing an English-language fantasy novel under the pen name A A Bukhatir, entitled Dragon Boy and the Witches of Galza. The story follows a village boy who does not know that he is in fact a dragon.[25] He then leaves the village on an adventure that sees him meet with other supernatural characters as he attempts to connect with his new identity.[26]

Awards

Ahmed Bukhatir (left) receives the Montegrappa Writing Prize award from a senior Montegrappa representative in Dubai

From the stage set by Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, Bukhatir has evolved as a new literary star, a story teller and soon to be a globally famous author. The Montegrappa Writing Prize was held for the fourth consecutive year as first-time writers were invited to submit their writings for a potential novel to be judged by UK literary critic Luigi Bonomi. In 2016 competition, over 170 submissions were made by writers excited to broaden new horizons of writing and publishing. Bukhatir's 'Dragon Boy' won the third prize from the worldwide submissions, thus became the first Emirati to win this award. [27]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Raziqueh Hussain (3 December 2010). "Rhythm Devine". Khaleej Times. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
  2. ↑ Pradip Das (27 November 2007). "Cover Photo". The Indian Express.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Philip Weiss (Issue 100). "Ahmed Bukhatier - Nasheed Singer". Al Shindagah. pp. 34–36. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. 1 2 Global Peace & Unity 2006
  5. 1 2 Muslims Aid 25th Anniversary Event
  6. ↑ "Muslim Aid Event". Retrieved 17 June 2010.
  7. ↑ "Ahmed Bukhatir nasheeds on society". Retrieved 23 November 2010.
  8. ↑ Bella Jaisinghani (26 November 2007). "For Bukhatir's Son, it's hymns before cricket". The Times of India.
  9. ↑ "Promax is awarded as the Best Public Relations Agency in Middle East". AMEinfo. 16 February 2005. Retrieved 6 March 2012.
  10. ↑ "Global Arab Business Meeting 9–10 October 2011, Ras Al Khaimah, UAE" (PDF). Horasis. p. 16. Retrieved 6 March 2012.
  11. ↑ "Business Career". Retrieved 23 November 2010.
  12. ↑ "Ahmed Bukhatir, McFadden International Construction, on Midday breaks". Retrieved 7 July 2007.
  13. ↑ "World-renowned Al Munshed Ahmed Bukhatir becomes brand ambassador for du". Al Bawaba. 9 August 2012. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
  14. ↑ "DU Ambassador". Retrieved 9 August 2010.
  15. ↑ Biography
  16. ↑ Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais
  17. ↑ Dubai Intl Holy Quran Award
  18. ↑ "Muslim Aid Event". Archived from the original on 19 June 2010. Retrieved 17 June 2010.
  19. ↑ "3rd Annual Journey of Faith conference". Retrieved 3 July 2010.
  20. ↑ "Gift of Sight Evening". 4 April 2012. Retrieved 24 April 2012.
  21. ↑ "A Night of Family Entertainment". Al-Furqaan Foundation. Retrieved 30 May 2012.
  22. ↑ "Ahmed Bukhatir". Islamic Circle of North America. Retrieved 30 May 2012.
  23. ↑ "Ahmed Bukhatir". Musron Azza. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
  24. ↑ "Ahmed Bukhatir". Human Appeal International. Retrieved 26 May 2013.
  25. ↑ Saeed Saeed (March 1, 2014). "Ahmed Bukhatir is living his dream at the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature". The National. Retrieved April 22, 2014.
  26. ↑ Raziqueh Hussain (March 15, 2014). "Fairies, a Dragon Boy and All That Fantasy". Caravan Daily. Retrieved April 22, 2014.
  27. ↑ staff (March 22, 2016). "First Emirati to win Montegrappa writing prize - Ahmed Bukhatir". Emirates 24/7. Retrieved April 21, 2016.

External links

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