Tala Mohammed Taher Badri
Tala Badri is the Founder and Executive Director of the Centre for Musical Arts (CMA) in Dubai. A classically trained flautist and pianist, she was the first female Emirati music graduate, earning her degree from Royal Holloway, University of London, and also holds a degree in Management and Languages.
Before establishing CMA in 2005, Badri built a successful corporate career, spending more than a decade in senior roles at Barclays and Mars. With CMA, she realized her vision of providing high-quality and accessible music education in the UAE, a centre that now serves over 1,500 students and partners with 40 schools across the country.
Her leadership and entrepreneurial spirit have been recognized with numerous accolades, including the Best Emirati Entrepreneur Award. Beyond CMA, she has played an instrumental role in shaping Dubais cultural landscape, contributing to the founding of the Dubai Community Theatre and Arts Centre and serving on several national arts advisory boards.
Through her work, Tala Badri continues to champion creativity, inclusion, and community engagement in the arts, making her a leading figure in the UAEs cultural development.
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