For months now, Abu Dhabi has been gearing up for a proper knees up over the F1 weekend. The question is whether the tens of thousands of people here to party really want a dose of Sam Smith's teary, seductive pop on a Saturday night.
Mr Smith understands this. "I know my music is a little depressing," he said soon after arriving on stage at the Du Arena. But on the evidence of the opening two songs, the answer seems to be that, yes, this is exactly what Abu Dhabi wants. Very much so, in fact.
Mr Smith, dressed in white T shirt and grey suit, opened with One Last Song and I'm Not the Only One and the crowd responded by screaming every word right back at him. There's a lot of love here for the man on stage, who is tonight performing the last show of a 100-date tour.
I've seen Mr Smith before when his vocals have been lost to poor acoustics or an over-zealous backing band. Not tonight. He's in fine voice - and so is everyone inside the Du Arena.
____________________
Read more:
Abu Dhabi GP: Max Verstappen can go on to become one of F1's 'greats', says Christian Horner
Shiekh Mohamed bin Zayed attends second day of Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – in pictures
F1 race is a reminder of aspirations becoming reality
COMPANY PROFILE
What is an FTO Designation?
FTO designations impose immigration restrictions on members of the organisation simply by virtue of their membership and triggers a criminal prohibition on knowingly providing material support or resources to the designated organisation as well as asset freezes.
It is a crime for a person in the United States or subject to the jurisdiction of the United States to knowingly provide “material support or resources” to or receive military-type training from or on behalf of a designated FTO.
Representatives and members of a designated FTO, if they are aliens, are inadmissible to and, in certain circumstances removable from, the United States.
Except as authorised by the Secretary of the Treasury, any US financial institution that becomes aware that it has possession of or control over funds in which an FTO or its agent has an interest must retain possession of or control over the funds and report the funds to the Treasury Department.
Source: US Department of State
The biog
Favourite films: Casablanca and Lawrence of Arabia
Favourite books: Start with Why by Simon Sinek and Good to be Great by Jim Collins
Favourite dish: Grilled fish
Inspiration: Sheikh Zayed's visionary leadership taught me to embrace new challenges.
While you're here
COMPANY PROFILE
TRAP
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue
Director: M Night Shyamalan
Rating: 3/5
How does ToTok work?
The calling app is available to download on Google Play and Apple App Store
To successfully install ToTok, users are asked to enter their phone number and then create a nickname.
The app then gives users the option add their existing phone contacts, allowing them to immediately contact people also using the application by video or voice call or via message.
Users can also invite other contacts to download ToTok to allow them to make contact through the app.
Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
The%C2%A0specs%20
Specs%3A%202024%20McLaren%20Artura%20Spider
Sheer grandeur
The Owo building is 14 storeys high, seven of which are below ground, with the 30,000 square feet of amenities located subterranean, including a 16-seat private cinema, seven lounges, a gym, games room, treatment suites and bicycle storage.
A clear distinction between the residences and the Raffles hotel with the amenities operated separately.
MATCH INFO
Manchester City 1 Chelsea 0
De Bruyne (70')
Man of the Match: Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City)
Company%20Profile
Confirmed%20bouts%20(more%20to%20be%20added)
TOP%2010%20MOST%20POLLUTED%20CITIES
COMPANY PROFILE
WORLD'S%2010%20HIGHEST%20MOUNTAINS
Formula%204%20Italian%20Championship%202023%20calendar
You might also like
Where to buy art books in the UAE
There are a number of speciality art bookshops in the UAE.
In Dubai, The Lighthouse at Dubai Design District has a wonderfully curated selection of art and design books. Alserkal Avenue runs a pop-up shop at their A4 space, and host the art-book fair Fully Booked during Art Week in March. The Third Line, also in Alserkal Avenue, has a strong book-publishing arm and sells copies at its gallery. Kinokuniya, at Dubai Mall, has some good offerings within its broad selection, and you never know what you will find at the House of Prose in Jumeirah. Finally, all of Gulf Photo Plus’s photo books are available for sale at their show.
In Abu Dhabi, Louvre Abu Dhabi has a beautiful selection of catalogues and art books, and Magrudy’s – across the Emirates, but particularly at their NYU Abu Dhabi site – has a great selection in art, fiction and cultural theory.
In Sharjah, the Sharjah Art Museum sells catalogues and art books at its museum shop, and the Sharjah Art Foundation has a bookshop that offers reads on art, theory and cultural history.
McLaren GT specs
Engine: 4-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: seven-speed
Power: 620bhp
Torque: 630Nm
Price: Dh875,000
On sale: now