Eisa Al Kubaisi

Eisa Jassim Eisa Al Kubaisi is a Qatari singer and composer who formerly directed the Musical Arts Centre. He developed a body of songs that became part of Qatar’s musical memory.

He was born in Wadi Al Sail on 10 January 1974 into a middle-income family whose father worked as a police officer. When Eisa was ten, the household—three sons and four daughters—moved to Al Dafna, where he continued to live at the date covered by the source edition.

His ability as a singer and oud player appeared early and attracted attention, but few institutions then existed to discover and train young artists. At ten, he joined what was then the Qatar Music Institute, which provided him with an oud and a setting in which to practise regularly. Mohammed Abdu, whom he regards as a complete school of musical artistry, became a major influence.

He divided much of his free time between the music institute and fishing at sea. His father deliberately taught the children responsibility and self-reliance so that they could meet life’s difficulties. Eisa consequently developed unusual independence and judgement for his age.

His primary education began at Omar bin Al Khattab School near the family home. After the move to Al Dafna, he transferred to Osama bin Zaid School.

He spent one year at Al Ahnaf bin Qais Preparatory School before transferring to Hamza Preparatory School, and later attended Khalifa Secondary School.

His professional music career began in 1995 with a first album recorded for the private company Qatar Vision. Its success quickly established his name and introduced him to leading composers including Abdulaziz Nasser and Matar Ali Al Kuwari.

Matar Ali Al Kuwari became an especially important early supporter. He recognised Eisa’s talent, offered guidance and provided romantic and patriotic works whose success helped introduce the singer to audiences in Qatar and across the Gulf.

Recognition included the Best Melody award at the Arab States Broadcasting Union festival in Tunisia for “I Miss My Lady”. The video for “A Million Stories” also won the Best Music Video award at a festival in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.

He regards a stable family founded on love and respect as his greatest achievement. He also entered business by establishing a successful contracting company. Positive responses to his music, and the public’s recognition of the personality and artistic identity expressed through it, remain sources of pride.

The year 2016 marked a major professional change. His Excellency Salah bin Ghanem Al Ali, then Minister of Culture and Sports, invited him to direct the ministry’s Musical Arts Centre. He accepted the role as both an important expression of official confidence and a new stage in his artistic career.

As director, he served Qatari music and its practitioners with enthusiasm. The centre introduced activities, events and competitions that enriched the artistic scene, supported young talent and helped several emerging voices establish successful careers.

The centre participated prominently in National Day celebrations at Darb Al Saai and activated its social-media channels. Those platforms helped discover, guide and mentor talent, while active members and competition winners received financial rewards and prizes.

After concluding that he had given the role everything he could, and that it increasingly required administrative rather than artistic expertise, he stepped aside to allow another person to lead. The centre closed a short time later.

His early career brought substantial obstacles because music needed institutional support that was not always available. Persistence, confidence in his ability and a willingness to work through difficulty enabled him to continue and establish the artistic record he had imagined.