Coldplay departed Abu Dhabi last week holding the record for the largest and longest series of shows by a major international artist in the UAE, with four sold-out performances at Zayed Sports City that reportedly drew 200,000 attendees.
Like everything in music, however, all achievements don’t exist in a vacuum. The British band's achievement comes on the back of more than two decades' worth of milestones by an eclectic range of acts, all playing their part in showcasing the vitality of the UAE's live events sector. Here are 13 of the biggest gigs to have taken place in the UAE.
George Michael: Sheikh Zayed Sports City, Abu Dhabi (2008)
George Michael showed that Zayed Sports City Stadium has the capacity to host blockbuster concerts. The show concluded what was meant to be his final world tour with more than 30,000 grabbing tickets to see the former Wham! singer live. Those arriving early were able to see Alicia Keys in the support slot. Michael delivered a crowd-warming 19-song set beginning with Waiting and Fast Love before ending with Careless Whisper and Freedom 90.
Madonna: Etihad Park, Abu Dhabi (2012)
It wasn't enough that Madonna made her Middle East debut in the UAE – Abu Dhabi was also chosen as the opening date of her highly anticipated MDNA world tour, named after her album from the previous year. Fans from Cairo to Buenos Aires flew in to see the Material Girl perform back-to-back nights at Etihad Park, making her the first solo artist to do so at the sprawling venue.
As The National reported from the opening night, the brooding performance was “as much an emotional exorcism as a performance,” beginning with an ominous church bell and a giant thurible swinging as smoke swirled around a group of chanting monks. That said, there were moments of levity in the ecstatic 1980s hits such as Express Yourself and Like a Prayer. The show further cemented Abu Dhabi's reputation for attracting the biggest musical names.
Justin Bieber: The Sevens Stadium, Dubai (2013)
It was a momentous gig, not short of hits and drama. Bieber's UAE debut was a two-night stand at the Sevens Stadium, where more than 30,000 shrieking fans saw him perform a tight, hit-filled set. The second show was particularly memorable when an overzealous fan – a youth in a white shirt and jeans – stormed the stage and grabbed an unsuspecting Bieber from behind.
As The National reported at the time: “Security guards tussled with the offender, who pushed the piano off its hinges, and it clattered on to the stage, rendering it unplayable for the remainder of the show.” Being a good sport, Bieber returned and finished with a rousing encore featuring the hits Boyfriend and Baby. The following day, Bieber tweeted: “Dubai. Nothing stops the show.”
Rihanna: Etihad Park, Abu Dhabi (2013)
Ri-Ri returned to Abu Dhabi as part of her Diamonds World Tour and delivered a brisk 90-minute set to 40,000, split between the dance-heavy tracks from her then-new album Unapologetic and omnipresent hits including Please Don’t Stop the Music and Only Girl.
The National highlighted the interactive production in its review, writing: “The opening section was dedicated to the decadence of the tracks Unapologetic, Numb and Pour It Up, all amplified by the backing of LED visuals of lavish jewellery and extravagant Roman archways. Jump had all the drama of a WWE bout, with fire cannons going off during each chorus, while Rockstar was backed up by kitschy images of a Rihanna-headlined horror movie.”
Rolling Stones: Etihad Park, Abu Dhabi (2014)
The Rolling Stones proved there was plenty of fire left in the tank when they made their Middle East debut in Abu Dhabi. Arriving on stage to the sound of tribal drumming, the Stones launched into Start Me Up for their opening number. The 35,000 fans delighted in a rare rendition of the funk-inspired Emotional Rescue, while the irrepressible frontman Mick Jagger kept peppering his banter with Arabic phrases such as “shukran jazeelan” (thank you very much) and “kaifa halek?” (how are you?).
The best moment was when he exercised his UAE knowledge by attempting to mention the seven emirates. Astonishingly, the tongue twister Umm Al Quwain got a mention, but Ajman was forgotten.
One Direction: Sevens Stadium, Dubai (2015)
Before Swifties, One Direction had an admirable legion of superfans called the Directioners. And 32,000 of them were on hand to see the group play their one and only regional performance in Dubai. Memories of the show are bittersweet following the recent death of Liam Payne. Zayn Malik suddenly left the group after a Johannesburg gig just days before the Dubai date. Nevertheless, the show rolled on with the remaining members delivering a sparkling 24-song set, with What Makes You Beautiful and Best Song Ever eliciting mass singalongs.
Guns N’ Roses: Autism Rocks Arena, Dubai (2017)
Guns N' Roses may have played in Abu Dhabi twice prior, but this mega Dubai show, attended by 35,000, was as close to the real deal as far as fans were concerned. Appearing as part of the blockbuster Not In This Lifetime … Tour, the show had singer Axl Rose back in the UAE, reuniting with original members Slash and bassist Duff McKagan. The National's ecstatic review noted how the band performed eight songs from the 1987 seminal album Appetite for Destruction, including Nightrain and Paradise City.
Eminem: Etihad Park, Abu Dhabi (2019)
While big-name rappers, from Jay-Z to Drake, have played large shows in the UAE, Eminem’s gig in Abu Dhabi remains the largest stand-alone concert by a hip-hop artist with up to 35,000 in attendance. Returning to the UAE capital on the back of the Kamikaze album, Eminem cut a relaxed figure as he tore through anthems including Lose Yourself, The Real Slim Shady and Won’t Back Down. As usual, Eminem brought the revered rapper Royce da 5'9" as the duo tore into the brilliant Fast Lane from their joint Bad Meets Evil side project.
Ed Sheeran: Sevens Stadium, Dubai (2024)
Until Coldplay begin their record-breaking run of concerts in Abu Dhabi in January, the British singer-songwriter holds the record for the biggest open-air concerts in the UAE. Up to 69,000 came to see Sheeran’s two sold-out shows at the Sevens Stadium as he transformed the mammoth space into an intimate setting for a solo performance of hits including Shape of You and The A-Team. That said, Sheeran’s production had all the bells and whistles, including a circular rotating stage, giant wraparound LED screens, and plenty of pyrotechnics.
Dave Chappelle: Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi (2024)
A sell-out audience of more than 15,000 watched Dave Chappelle deliver arguably the biggest comedy show in the UAE to date. Headlining the inaugural Abu Dhabi Comedy Week, the comedian's performance teased the coming Netflix special The Lunatic’s Manifesto. Chappelle mixed wisdom and mirth as he skewered various aspects of pop culture while making some provocative comments on the upcoming US elections. The National's review described the gig as “dazzling with Chappelle’s ability to twist and turn a particular premise … while at other times it was as direct as the toilet humour unheard of since high school days”.
Andre Rieu: Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi (2024)
Before the Dutch composer and violinist made his UAE debut as part of the Abu Dhabi Classics concert series, it was Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli who was thought to have played the biggest classical concert in the UAE, with reportedly 11,000 people seeing him at Emirates Palace in 2009. Andre Rieu went slightly better, enchanting 12,000 people who packed a sold-out Etihad Arena as the renowned “King of the Waltz” brought his opulent production, with a backing orchestra nearing 100 musicians.
Diljit Dosanjh: Etihad Park, Abu Dhabi (2024)
When Diljit Dosanjh first performed in the UAE in 2016, it was at the relatively intimate Al Nasr Leisureland in Dubai. Eight years later, the Indian singer – dubbed the Punjabi Prince – took the stage in front of 30,000 fans at Abu Dhabi's Etihad Arena, making it arguably the largest concert by a solo Indian artist in the UAE. Backed by his band and a troupe of vibrant dancers, Dosanjh delivered an impressive greatest-hits set, featuring tracks such as 5 Taara, Born to Shine, and G.O.A.T.
Coldplay: Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi (2025)
Coldplay's Abu Dhabi concerts have always been about the band stepping up their game. From the 20,000 fans at their debut show at Emirates Palace to doubling that number at their 2016 New Year’s Eve gig at Etihad Park, the rising audience numbers have consistently mirrored their industry stature.
It was no surprise, then, that about 200,000 people – according to promoters Live Nation Middle East – flocked to see the British band perform over four nights at Zayed Sports City Stadium. As The National proclaimed in its review, the spectacular gig was the “real deal”.
The report praised the large-scale production, which featured three stages; technicolor visuals; giant balloons; fireworks; wristbands emitting various colours; and cannons unleashing lorry-loads of confetti. It was a glorious spectacle, underscoring why the Music of the Spheres tour is hailed as the biggest ever by a rock band.
