DUBAI // If there was ever any doubt about David Beckham’s status as a global superstar, the huge crowds that turned out to greet his arrival at the Mall of the Emirates in Dubai showed he remains a big draw.
The former footballer may be retired, but his fleeting visit to open the new Adidas outlet at the extended wing of the mall revealed that his professional life is as busy as ever.
A ring of steel protected the famous brand, with scores of security guards keeping crowds at arm’s length.
Interviews were restricted, and there was a ban on selfies, although those wishing to have their photo taken with the 40-year-old were politely asked to form an orderly queue.
Interviewed for Sky Arabia, Beckham turned his attention to the burning matters of the day – what was his favourite colour for football boots (white), what did he have for breakfast (a sandwich) and what did he think of Dubai (hot).
He quashed rumours about him becoming the next James Bond any time soon, but did have something to say about the crisis engulfing Fifa.
“Football is the biggest sport in the world, and it deserves to be run by people who love the game,” he said.
Screams and shouts greeted his arrival on the mall’s new top floor. Hundreds turned out to greet their sporting hero, some of whom had waited patiently for four hours to reserve a place at the front of the queue.
Filipina shop assistant Sheryll Sison Atkinson, who works in Fono electronics near by, was amazed to see so many people when she arrived for her shift.
“I wondered who all the guys were wearing black outfits. They looked like security so I knew it must be someone special,” she said. “It had to be a spiritual person or a big person. I was surprised when I heard it was David Beckham, but very excited.
“He is a good guy, and seems like a nice person. He is so popular everywhere he goes. It’s not just because he is a footballer, but his charity work also.”
Kemal Zuljevic, 47, who was visiting Dubai from Bosnia, was less impressed. “You never know who you are going to meet in Dubai,” he said.
nwebster@thenational.ae