![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2CTFAEAXMVC4DGWLLLJ7IQFMAM.jpg?smart=true&auth=e171328a5da7fe449cd013a6728a4b1669b084fd2130452eab37800b33344246&width=400&height=225)
Fans watching Imagine Dragons on stage in Abu Dhabi for the first time
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HHAFOKI7NVDGZM7R72J5FHNHUU.jpg?smart=true&auth=473041fcb4aa8a08ce90f220e12edeab03f2996203d313d1828124b4093bcbda&width=400&height=225)
Imagine Dragons lead singer Dan Reynolds performs at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. All photos: Khushnum Bhandari / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GUUSUECPEBHCNDIWXTEICYOYSM.jpg?smart=true&auth=c661325e69c1f92268ad5bbf026956876aa31e25407e5e67b35bb729cdefeaf9&width=400&height=225)
Bassist Ben McKee
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3U5KLMRAR5HDBF6TMHUQRD3I64.jpg?smart=true&auth=34bd9b15998cbb189c4b96785ce37f27e3f5da3d543018ccea31101d24c115c9&width=400&height=225)
The Las Vegas band made their debut in the UAE capital with a sold-out show at Etihad Arena
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/F53MYMRJSNHMJFP35JYEKSNCKQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=3787353f34812c20956e0cca80b5480728d548a86b5be3722db0a5b18c9bbe83&width=400&height=225)
The show was part of their Mercury World Tour
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5SRQTMQ54ZBQBBGYFTYE3AIUGM.jpg?smart=true&auth=acd2851cbc485a4d566dc07ed8144bb1374d1042c8d15eb2fea4022b3e57e6a9&width=400&height=225)
Daniel Platzman on drums
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DFD47YC7RJCXTLCEHSTFMRJCJM.jpg?smart=true&auth=2d8ac1b3b3df529c1bf2d45afee1f84ee46664ed46c28acb2cd11e4e928ea5d8&width=400&height=225)
Imagine Dragons both opened and closed the show with renditions of anthemic My Life
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Fans cheer for Imagine Dragons at Etihad Arena
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MJZRYVKOXZEQPOAVYJZ45ZWRTA.jpg?smart=true&auth=9875fcd0b73fc1088e054b300377bda996f255f5cba0c46710723bfe015d0eb1&width=400&height=225)
'We came from halfway across the world to sing with you. And I give my gratitude for being here,' Reynolds told fans
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WFDDQ47K3RAD3FGTEHVHZNGLRM.jpg?smart=true&auth=b48386f961ac22c576f822d2a619e856daed0c0069085b8b6afa2679870ae1b8&width=400&height=225)
Thunder was given one of the biggest cheers of the night, as the song's music video was entirely filmed in Dubai
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4XUYHHLMYVHNZJ3ERGUH64ZP7M.jpg?smart=true&auth=e15438b0fb45a1e4898dbb491fe66d7d6a8e0a54126372a22f948300a1d7c511&width=400&height=225)
The Las Vegas pop-rock group packed the 18,000-seat indoor arena on Yas Island
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6GYNZOCXT5D67IET7KAM5DD5OU.jpg?smart=true&auth=761b306b6d6d6a274ca0f3788dcf6fc4397e1f622f3299a1a0252c08a7f7b591&width=400&height=225)
Guitarist Wayne Sermon
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Each member of the group had time in the spotlight
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ABH5NRB2YFGD3ADVOP5YFDLDVE.jpg?smart=true&auth=a906f7fc52f689be39cb35f8b7350175e961cffcde2851b9bd7d65a3be96a3f7&width=400&height=225)
The show started bang on time at 9pm
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/32EJJSZHPBCRHMTT6AP2HM7LEM.jpg?smart=true&auth=eea0556bc8aeaf70a1758e1d549bba229d85f8ee80c98b3a7f7cf707a221f657&width=400&height=225)
The performance included more than 17 energetic songs
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2CTFAEAXMVC4DGWLLLJ7IQFMAM.jpg?smart=true&auth=e171328a5da7fe449cd013a6728a4b1669b084fd2130452eab37800b33344246&width=400&height=225)
Fans watching Imagine Dragons on stage in Abu Dhabi for the first time
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HHAFOKI7NVDGZM7R72J5FHNHUU.jpg?smart=true&auth=473041fcb4aa8a08ce90f220e12edeab03f2996203d313d1828124b4093bcbda&width=400&height=225)
Imagine Dragons lead singer Dan Reynolds performs at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. All photos: Khushnum Bhandari / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GUUSUECPEBHCNDIWXTEICYOYSM.jpg?smart=true&auth=c661325e69c1f92268ad5bbf026956876aa31e25407e5e67b35bb729cdefeaf9&width=400&height=225)
Bassist Ben McKee
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3U5KLMRAR5HDBF6TMHUQRD3I64.jpg?smart=true&auth=34bd9b15998cbb189c4b96785ce37f27e3f5da3d543018ccea31101d24c115c9&width=400&height=225)
The Las Vegas band made their debut in the UAE capital with a sold-out show at Etihad Arena
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/F53MYMRJSNHMJFP35JYEKSNCKQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=3787353f34812c20956e0cca80b5480728d548a86b5be3722db0a5b18c9bbe83&width=400&height=225)
The show was part of their Mercury World Tour
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5SRQTMQ54ZBQBBGYFTYE3AIUGM.jpg?smart=true&auth=acd2851cbc485a4d566dc07ed8144bb1374d1042c8d15eb2fea4022b3e57e6a9&width=400&height=225)
Daniel Platzman on drums
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DFD47YC7RJCXTLCEHSTFMRJCJM.jpg?smart=true&auth=2d8ac1b3b3df529c1bf2d45afee1f84ee46664ed46c28acb2cd11e4e928ea5d8&width=400&height=225)
Imagine Dragons both opened and closed the show with renditions of anthemic My Life
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UPUTKPZHEBFQLOF363SJMKVDRY.jpg?smart=true&auth=429ff3ca5abec8eed2380e3b460140e3fdbc87c0aec989759f207b76e86e5c71&width=400&height=225)
Fans cheer for Imagine Dragons at Etihad Arena
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MJZRYVKOXZEQPOAVYJZ45ZWRTA.jpg?smart=true&auth=9875fcd0b73fc1088e054b300377bda996f255f5cba0c46710723bfe015d0eb1&width=400&height=225)
'We came from halfway across the world to sing with you. And I give my gratitude for being here,' Reynolds told fans
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WFDDQ47K3RAD3FGTEHVHZNGLRM.jpg?smart=true&auth=b48386f961ac22c576f822d2a619e856daed0c0069085b8b6afa2679870ae1b8&width=400&height=225)
Thunder was given one of the biggest cheers of the night, as the song's music video was entirely filmed in Dubai
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4XUYHHLMYVHNZJ3ERGUH64ZP7M.jpg?smart=true&auth=e15438b0fb45a1e4898dbb491fe66d7d6a8e0a54126372a22f948300a1d7c511&width=400&height=225)
The Las Vegas pop-rock group packed the 18,000-seat indoor arena on Yas Island
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6GYNZOCXT5D67IET7KAM5DD5OU.jpg?smart=true&auth=761b306b6d6d6a274ca0f3788dcf6fc4397e1f622f3299a1a0252c08a7f7b591&width=400&height=225)
Guitarist Wayne Sermon
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PCHBB7AVTBB55BYQREYUMI2TGQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=842ac0f0852070601f39a06cb8739007da86bddaa4218c11dcada94ff08844de&width=400&height=225)
Each member of the group had time in the spotlight
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ABH5NRB2YFGD3ADVOP5YFDLDVE.jpg?smart=true&auth=a906f7fc52f689be39cb35f8b7350175e961cffcde2851b9bd7d65a3be96a3f7&width=400&height=225)
The show started bang on time at 9pm
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/32EJJSZHPBCRHMTT6AP2HM7LEM.jpg?smart=true&auth=eea0556bc8aeaf70a1758e1d549bba229d85f8ee80c98b3a7f7cf707a221f657&width=400&height=225)
The performance included more than 17 energetic songs
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2CTFAEAXMVC4DGWLLLJ7IQFMAM.jpg?smart=true&auth=e171328a5da7fe449cd013a6728a4b1669b084fd2130452eab37800b33344246&width=400&height=225)
Fans watching Imagine Dragons on stage in Abu Dhabi for the first time
Review: Imagine Dragons give Abu Dhabi a thunderous performance
Las Vegas band made their debut in the UAE capital with a sold-out show at Etihad Arena
David Tusing
27 January, 2023
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