Haya is patron of London Philharmonic Orchestra's work in Dubai

"The London Philharmonic Orchestra is honoured and pleased to announce that Her Royal Highness Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, Wife of UAE Vice-President and Prime Minister, Ruler of Dubai HH Shaikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum has agreed to be the Patron of the Orchestra's work in Dubai commencing with immediate effect," said a press release issued today by the Media Office of Shaikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

The Orchestra's activity in Dubai is taking place in partnership with Dubai Properties, a member of Dubai Holdings, on a multi-faceted basis that will in the first instance see the Orchestra advice on the construction of a concert hall within the Dubai Culture Village and the establishment of a music conservatoire attached to the hall. In the longer term, the Orchestra will establish an annual residency at the hall one it opens.

Dubai Properties has also committed to the sponsorship of a series of the London Philharmonic Orchestra's international performances over the coming two years as a way of increasing the profile of the Dubai Culture Village worldwide.

Pehr Gyllenhammar, Chairman of the London Philharmonic Trust, expressed the pleasure of the Orchestra at Her Royal Highness's confirmation of support. "The London Philharmonic Orchestra is thrilled to be paid the great compliment of her Royal Highness Princess Haya's patronage of our work in Dubai. We are pleased to be working on an ambitious programme of work in the region and her Royal Highness's backing for our project is an important and substantial gesture of support for the project," he said.

In the 2007/08 season, the London Philharmonic Orchestra celebrated its seventy-fifth birthday, inaugurated Vladimir Jurowski as its new Principal Conductor and moved back into its splendidly restored Royal Festival Hall home.

Today the London Philharmonic Orchestra is recognised as one of the world's great orchestras, and following Sir Thomas Beecham's founding tenure the ensemble's Principal Conductorship has been passed from one celebrated musician to another. It is the only symphony orchestra in the UK to combine an annual subscription concert season with regular work in the opera house - resident at both the Royal Festival Hall and Glyndebourne Festival Opera (also performing regularly in the nearby south coast towns of Brighton and Eastbourne).

Touring forms a significant part of the Orchestra's performing schedule, and it regularly appears in North America, Europe and the Far East, often headlining at major festivals and concert-hall openings. As a counterpoint to its travels, the Orchestra's membership has itself benefited from increased migratory freedoms, today including outstandingly talented musicians of varying world nationalities from Brazilian to Hungarian.

The London Philharmonic Orchestra has long been embraced by the recording, broadcasting and film industries. It enjoys strong relationships with major record labels and in 2005 began releasing live, studio and archive recordings on its own label CDs which are distributed worldwide. The Orchestra has broadcast regularly on domestic and international television and radio from both the concert hall and the opera house, and has worked extensively with both Hollywood and the UK film industries, recording soundtracks for blockbuster motion pictures including the Oscar-winning score for The Lord of the Rings trilogy and scores for Lawrence of Arabia, The Mission, East is East and In the Name of the Father.

The London Philharmonic Orchestra's international reputation is matched by a steadfast and unflinching commitment to the communities of its local London boroughs of Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham. The Orchestra reaches thousands through its varied and extensive programme of education work, both community and school-based, which includes the acclaimed offshoot ensembles Renga and the Open Ear Orchestra. Education activities also nurture budding excellence, and in 2005 the Orchestra launched its apprenticeship scheme for young instrumentalists, Future Firsts, who benefit from a year of mentoring and performance opportunities.