What does a billion-dollar rock tour look like? In the hands of Coldplay, it’s an intergalactic Narnia, complete with its own planets, sustainable energy sources, singing puppets and an unyielding message of love and care. Welcome to Music of the Spheres, hailed as the biggest band tour of all time.
For those in the UAE, welcome back to Zayed Sports City Stadium, a cherished Abu Dhabi landmark hosting its first full-scale concert since George Michael and Alicia Keys graced the stage in 2008. Situated off Airport Road near Al Mushrif, the venue appeared as revitalised as Coldplay sounded – finally providing a stage that matched the boundless ambition of their shows as they kick off a record-breaking run of four shows in the venue.
While all four previous visits to the UAE, beginning with 2009’s famous rain-soaked first show at Emirates Palace, presented slimmed-down versions of their respective tours, this time Abu Dhabi was given the real deal. This set-up includes a neon-lit circular main stage with an extended runway, as well as two satellite stages positioned deep in the arena.
The visuals projected on to the stage and backdrops feature abstract animations, galactic landscapes and slogans drawn from song lyrics. There are the wristbands – known to Coldplay's faithful fans as Xylobands after their 2011 Mylo Xyloto album – that light up to create cascading waves of purples and blues in time with the music.
Which brings us to the music. Despite all the technical wizardry and well-meaning sustainability ambitions of the tour, none of it would work without Coldplay’s indomitable 25-year catalogue of hits.
While it’s easy – and, in some cases, justifiable – to label some of their songs as overly sentimental, given the full treatment, tracks like the opener Higher Power and Adventure of a Lifetime transform into undeniable, bombastic anthems that are hard to resist.
By the time Paradise arrived, with its swaying, singalong chorus, it became clear not only why Coldplay are arguably the biggest band in the world, but also why Zayed Sports City Stadium finally feels like a venue worthy of their pedigree.
The Xylobands, shifting from cherry red to soft tea green, created a cascading effect as the crowd waved their arms, making it seem as though singer Chris Martin was strolling through a dark, enchanted forest.
The set was interspersed with occasional quieter numbers, the first of which was The Scientist. Anchored by its plaintive piano line and a beautiful bridge ("nobody said it was easy"), it was stunningly sung by the crowd. The B-stage – an offshoot platform positioned near the middle of the stadium – became the backdrop for stripped-down renditions of Viva La Vida, Hymn for the Weekend and a particularly poignant version of Afterglow.
Back on the main stage, any potential lull in the atmosphere was swiftly averted by guitarist Johnny Buckland. His driving riffs raised the energy with an exhilarating performance of Charlie Brown and the evergreen Yellow.
Meanwhile, People of the Pride, a deep cut from the Music of the Spheres album, is probably as dark as the perpetually upbeat Coldplay get, with its marching buzz-saw riffs and Martin railing against consumerism and revolution.
Such turbulent thoughts were swiftly cast aside as the band closed their set with what felt like an unending stream of emotive, giddy singles. From the spectacular pop-EDM fusion of A Sky Full of Stars to the soaring, U2-inspired anthem Fix You, and the relentlessly upbeat Good Feelings, the finale was a euphoric crescendo.
As I watched the rapturous crowd singing and dancing amid floating balls bobbing across the stadium, vibrant streamers and a kaleidoscopic production, it struck me: Coldplay’s childlike innocence and joyful approach to their stage shows are more than just a perception – they’re part of their charm. In many ways, they’re like The Wiggles (an Australian children's group formed in the 1990s) for an adult audience: relentlessly colourful, exuberant and unapologetically cheerful. And in these challenging times, that’s not a bad thing at all.
Aside from the main act, Elyanna proved once again why she is a star in the making. The Palestinian-Chilean singer has been making international waves since her breakthrough performance at the 2023 Coachella music festival. Her scintillating pop approach, marked by bilingual lyricism (Arabic and English), is as fluid and effortless as her seamless blend of styles – from modern and classic Arabic pop to contemporary RnB.
It’s no wonder Martin has virtually taken Elyanna under his wing, inviting her to guest at numerous stops on Coldplay’s current tour, including the group's coming shows in India this month. Backed by a troupe of dancers, Elyanna seamlessly transitioned from the classic Arabic balladry of Abdel Halim Hafez’s Ahwak to scintillating dabke-pop tracks like Ya Waylak and Mamma Eh.
Her appearance with Coldplay to perform Arabic verses on We Pray and Good Feelings didn’t feel like a mere nod to the region. Instead, it felt natural and powerful. Sashaying effortlessly across the stage, Elyanna looked completely at home on the grand stage – a promising step forward on her road to stardom.
Coldplay perform at Zayed Sports City Stadium on Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday. All tickets are sold out. Doors open at 5pm
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.
More on Quran memorisation:
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
The biog
Name: Abeer Al Bah
Born: 1972
Husband: Emirati lawyer Salem Bin Sahoo, since 1992
Children: Soud, born 1993, lawyer; Obaid, born 1994, deceased; four other boys and one girl, three months old
Education: BA in Elementary Education, worked for five years in a Dubai school
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
At a glance - Zayed Sustainability Prize 2020
Launched: 2008
Categories: Health, energy, water, food, global high schools
Prize: Dh2.2 million (Dh360,000 for global high schools category)
Winners’ announcement: Monday, January 13
Impact in numbers
335 million people positively impacted by projects
430,000 jobs created
10 million people given access to clean and affordable drinking water
50 million homes powered by renewable energy
6.5 billion litres of water saved
26 million school children given solar lighting
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
Bangladesh tour of Pakistan
January 24 – First T20, Lahore
January 25 – Second T20, Lahore
January 27 – Third T20, Lahore
February 7-11 – First Test, Rawalpindi
April 3 – One-off ODI, Karachi
April 5-9 – Second Test, Karachi
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
