![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DM43EYVFKJBT5I46KM6WJQPXCQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=2969cfb633551ea18586133c9b58f978b3f6c8d0585c985a695a5d20877d07fc&width=400&height=225)
The concert sold out in six hours
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TOXURHWSUJFOBB4GU2BK53OT2I.jpg?smart=true&auth=2017440c4e4d73650383130640d92a57a6687660f16e05e5727e12821a1c02fd&width=400&height=225)
The Backstreet Boys perform at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. All photos by Pawan Singh / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FOA3NE7BCJCGZGUBLC7OPMTNLU.jpg?smart=true&auth=89064507bb35f52606f6fc3e1b3d24a25540a3cf5323c7637f238bb2e8cbb97e&width=400&height=225)
Fans get their phones out as the group takes to the stage
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UCZUQOF3XBFIBMOUSBRQRBQ6NI.jpg?smart=true&auth=0fb6e7e963dda0034a713133940743fb4b831a8ac1da4a5bde12ac528c544955&width=400&height=225)
The group played a mix of their old hits as well as newer songs
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XEUOCPEEOJARJCQ6UKYXIFWJIM.jpg?smart=true&auth=b5cb21ce852a1d3250e9c1e7abc0b1042ce4c2cdffe7061e97ecfa615ab4a0bc&width=400&height=225)
The band has been together for 30 years
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QUK42ZOL4VCVNMBF4CTKMOTKEU.jpg?smart=true&auth=38ef83687c09b35976afcfc11aa48ad0c824859719b6f28d906914f39556201f&width=400&height=225)
The Backstreet Boys perform with a spectacular light show
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NRGZDIJW6RBZ3K4KMVHX53CCOE.jpg?smart=true&auth=bddb6143a1c01d3713d1c47039dd1c86401a510e6ac1fb951fe52cfb7d4be47c&width=400&height=225)
The crowd watches the Backstreet Boys
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ULXY2VMBQBGFDOU6ZTLCZVV4MI.jpg?smart=true&auth=17a6aadd6bc51aad68aa13c4024dbf2907ca4d3c54af5533f5a4f6731ea8c6e8&width=400&height=225)
The band performed a nearly two-hour set at Etihad Arena
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DM43EYVFKJBT5I46KM6WJQPXCQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=2969cfb633551ea18586133c9b58f978b3f6c8d0585c985a695a5d20877d07fc&width=400&height=225)
The concert sold out in six hours
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TOXURHWSUJFOBB4GU2BK53OT2I.jpg?smart=true&auth=2017440c4e4d73650383130640d92a57a6687660f16e05e5727e12821a1c02fd&width=400&height=225)
The Backstreet Boys perform at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. All photos by Pawan Singh / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FOA3NE7BCJCGZGUBLC7OPMTNLU.jpg?smart=true&auth=89064507bb35f52606f6fc3e1b3d24a25540a3cf5323c7637f238bb2e8cbb97e&width=400&height=225)
Fans get their phones out as the group takes to the stage
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UCZUQOF3XBFIBMOUSBRQRBQ6NI.jpg?smart=true&auth=0fb6e7e963dda0034a713133940743fb4b831a8ac1da4a5bde12ac528c544955&width=400&height=225)
The group played a mix of their old hits as well as newer songs
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XEUOCPEEOJARJCQ6UKYXIFWJIM.jpg?smart=true&auth=b5cb21ce852a1d3250e9c1e7abc0b1042ce4c2cdffe7061e97ecfa615ab4a0bc&width=400&height=225)
The band has been together for 30 years
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QUK42ZOL4VCVNMBF4CTKMOTKEU.jpg?smart=true&auth=38ef83687c09b35976afcfc11aa48ad0c824859719b6f28d906914f39556201f&width=400&height=225)
The Backstreet Boys perform with a spectacular light show
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NRGZDIJW6RBZ3K4KMVHX53CCOE.jpg?smart=true&auth=bddb6143a1c01d3713d1c47039dd1c86401a510e6ac1fb951fe52cfb7d4be47c&width=400&height=225)
The crowd watches the Backstreet Boys
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ULXY2VMBQBGFDOU6ZTLCZVV4MI.jpg?smart=true&auth=17a6aadd6bc51aad68aa13c4024dbf2907ca4d3c54af5533f5a4f6731ea8c6e8&width=400&height=225)
The band performed a nearly two-hour set at Etihad Arena
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DM43EYVFKJBT5I46KM6WJQPXCQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=2969cfb633551ea18586133c9b58f978b3f6c8d0585c985a695a5d20877d07fc&width=400&height=225)
The concert sold out in six hours
Backstreet Boys in Abu Dhabi review: 30 years on, they've still got it
The boy band played a mix of their biggest hits as well as newer tracks at Etihad Arena
![Evelyn Lau](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F326930c8-426e-4292-8915-488062faf4ec.png?smart=true&auth=bf65363a4ec5524d4fde02fe884073b2948f09e3aaac804a1077fa41b77f1ecb&width=70&height=70)
Evelyn Lau
07 May, 2023
- Listen In English
- Listen In Arabic