Justin Bieber to bring blockbuster world tour to Dubai's Coca-Cola Arena in October

The move marks the Canadian pop star's first indoor performance in the UAE

On May 4, 2013, Canadian singer Justin Bieber beat the sweltering heat to perform for fans at Sevens Stadium in Dubai. Sarah Dea/The National

In May 2013, fans of Justin Bieber at Sevens Stadium in Dubai gave the Canadian star a huge UAE welcome. Sarah Dea/The National

Justin Bieber takes the stage in Dubai in May 2013. Sarah Dea/The National

After a two-hour wait for their hero, fans in Dubai quickly forgave Justin Bieber's tardiness and turned up the volume to welcome him to the UAE. Sarah Dea/The National

Fans of Canadian singer Justin Bieber mask up at Sevens Stadium in Dubai in May 2013. Sarah Dea/The National

In May 2017, Justin Bieber was back in Dubai, starting his gig with 'Mark My Words' from his 2015 album 'Purpose'. Chris Whiteoak for The National

Canadian star Justin Bieber appeared at the Autism Rocks Arena in Dubai during his 2017 tour. Chris Whiteoak for The National

Justin Bieber performed before a forgiving crowd in Dubai in 2013 when he was two hours late onstage. In May 2017, he stuck to his schedule and the music began on time. Chris Whiteoak for The National

Fans sang along to their favourite Justin Bieber songs at the Autism Rocks Arena in Dubai in May 2017. Chris Whiteoak for The National

Justin Bieber performs in concert on Saturday, May. 06, 2017, at the Autism Rocks Arena in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak for The National

Bright lights and big screens as Justin Bieber performs at the Autism Rocks Arena in Dubai in May 2017. Chris Whiteoak for The National

Justin Bieber performs at the Autism Rocks Arena in Dubai in May 2017. Chris Whiteoak for The National

Dubai was the only Middle East stop for Canadian star Justin Bieber on his 2017 tour. Chris Whiteoak for The National

Justin Bieber performs at the Autism Rocks Arena in Dubai in May 2017, when his 2015 album 'Purpose' and the singles from it had charted in more than 100 countries. Chris Whiteoak for The National

Bieber cancelled his Coca-Cola Arena concert in Dubai in October 2022 owing to ill health. Chris Whiteoak for The National

Justin Bieber has announced the final dates for his world tour and Dubai is in the mix.

The Canadian pop star will return to the emirate for a concert at the Coca-Cola Arena on October 8.

The show is part of his blockbuster 20-month Justice World Tour, which began on Sunday in Mexico and goes on to include Europe, South America, South-East Asia and Australia before ending in Poland in March 2023.

Scroll through the gallery above to see other times when Justin Bieber performed in Dubai.

The tour has already sold more than 1.3 million tickets, with 125 shows spanning 30 countries planned.

Fans can register for the pre-sale, exclusive to Visa card holders, via the Coca-Cola Arena website, and the pre-sale begins at 10am on Thursday.

Tickets will officially go on sale to the general public the next day at 10am, with prices to be revealed soon.

Bieber previewed the tour with a one-off performance at Saudi Arabia's inaugural Formula One race last year.

A dazzling production

Bieber’s Coca-Cola show will also have him move from previously playing outdoors, at the Sevens Stadium in 2013 and the Autism Rocks Arena in 2017 to an indoor arena setting.

However, as promoter of previous Bieber gigs and the coming concert, Thomas Ovesen says the relatively smaller venue — Coca-Cola Arena has a capacity of 17,000 — means fans will get the full Bieber experience.

“We did have some fantastic outdoor shows that were held with 30,000-plus capacity concerts for Justin Bieber.

“The benefit, of course, was that as many fans as possible could be accommodated. The downside for some would have been that they were very far from the action and the production was a little two dimension,” he tells The National.

“This arena production is nothing short of phenomenal. We will turn the arena into a very intimate performance venue and this is something that we can now reproduce because of a venue like Coca-Cola Arena.

“I would definitely say this is the most elaborate Justin Bieber production I have ever come across.”

The Bieber concert also marks a homecoming for Ovesen, who returned to Dubai to launched new venture Top Entertainment after three years spent working on entertainment projects in Saudi Arabia.

Ovesen has been behind many of the UAE's biggest concerts, including Ed Sheeran, One Direction, Mariah Carey and Elton John, in addition to setting up popular festivals such as RedFestDXB, Blended and Fiesta de los Muertos.

He says the Bieber show marks the beginning of a string of concerts and festivals coming to the UAE.

"I will be working with a lot of touring artists and creating new festivals as well bring more comedy and musical theatre here," he says.

"This is because there now a range of fantastic venues in the region and more to be built. So there are more opportunities to serve fans with the best touring shows in an optimal environment. A great example of which, off course, is the UAE."

What will Justin Bieber play in Dubai?

According to website setlist.com, Bieber's tour opener in Mexico on Sunday was split into five parts, including an encore. Twenty-four songs were featured in the show, including major hits such as Sorry, Love Yourself, Yummy and What Do You Mean.

Here is the expected full set list:

Somebody

Hold On

Deserve You

Holy

Where Are U Now

What Do You Mean?

Yummy

Hold Tight

Love Yourself

Off My Face

Confident

All That Matters

Honest

Sorry

Love You Different

As I Am

Ghost

Lonely

2 Much

Intentions

Boyfriend

Baby

Peaches

Anyone