Is Justin Bieber bringing his new tour to the UAE? An important sign that may lead us to that conclusion was the appearance of Thomas Ovesen at the Canadian pop star’s London performance at O2 Arena on Tuesday, November 28.
Ovesen, the chief executive of 117 Live, has overseen some of the biggest tours in the UAE during this year, with all shows held at Dubai’s newest music venue, the Autism Rocks Arena.
Ovesen and his team have already brought the likes of Nicki Minaj (March 25), Pop Con (October 27 to 29) and Fiesta De Los Muertos (October 28) to the arena, and Elton John (December 15), Guns’N’ Roses (March 3) and Bryan Adams (March 9) are on the way.
As the former chief executive office of Done Events, Ovesen helmed Bieber’s debut UAE shows in May 2013 when he played two dates at The Sevens Stadium as part of his Believe Tour, and the sold-out One Direction Dubai show in April last year.
Talking to The National after Bieber's first of two London dates, Ovesen praised for the pop's star latest Purpose World Tour. "The show is amazing," he said. "It is like a Cirque De Soleil meets pop star show."
He added that the production levels of the current tour eclipses the Believe Tour. “It is way bigger. It also has a water feature and several aerial tricks.”
Ovesen explained that his appearance at the Bieber show was nothing more than a standard business trip for any major promoter.
“He is the biggest touring star in the world,” he said. “Of course we would like a Dubai show but so does everyone else.”
When pressed if he held meetings with Bieber’s management regarding a possible UAE show, Ovesen would not comment and when asked if Bieber would be interested in taking his tour to the UAE, he said “fans will just have to wait and see”.
Bieber is currently in the midst of his third world tour. Launched in support of the 22-year-old fourth album Purpose, the latest trek began on March 8 in Seattle and is so far scheduled for 138 shows.
Bieber has already completed his North American and Japan legs, the London show is the last of his 52 dates in Europe.
Bieber will then rest before returning on stage in February with shows in Australia, New Zealand, South America and three more dates in Europe.
If a UAE date is on the cards, it could slot in comfortably before the Australian dates begin on March 6.
sasaeed@thenational.ae
