Backstreet Boys to return to Abu Dhabi's Etihad Arena in October

Kevin Richardson will be absent, but the rest of the band will deliver their career-defining hits

The Backstreet Boys' Abu Dhabi gig last May sold out within six hours. Pawan Singh / The National

The Backstreet Boys are returning to Abu Dhabi. The band will perform at Etihad Arena on October 23.

The show will come a little more than a year after their first in the capital, which was part of their DNA World Tour. The concert was one of the fastest-selling arena shows in the UAE, selling out in six hours.

During the two-hour gig at Etihad Arena last May, the band played some of their biggest career hits, including Everyone and I Wanna Be With You, interspersed with tracks from their 2019 album DNA.

“They made it clear from the start that the night would not only be about their chart-toppers but also songs that helped to make the Backstreet Boys who they are today,” The National’s Evelyn Lau wrote in her review of the performance.

The group, she wrote, performed “with high energy as they sang and danced with moves that proved they can still charm after all these years. Although older, they still come across as endearing as ever".

While the upcoming concert promises to be as memorable, member Kevin Richardson will be absent due to scheduling issues. However, Nick Carter, Howie Dorough, AJ McLean and Brian Littrell will be performing.

Presale tickets will be available on the Live Nation website on Thursday before opening to the general public at noon on Friday. Ticket prices start at Dh295.

Formed in 1993, the Backstreet Boys remain one of the biggest boybands in the world, and they have a dedicated fan base in the Arab world.

They are no strangers to the region, having performed in Saudi Arabia in 2019 on the back of their well-received album DNA. It was their first in the kingdom. The group also performed in Dubai as part of the 2018 Blended music festival, which had more than 10,000 fans singing along to hits such as Larger than Life and Everybody.

More information at www.etihadarena.ae