There is a reason why Hussain Al Jassmi is the go to artist for UAE landmark concerts amid the pandemic.
Over the past 18 months, the Emirati crooner has performed high profile gigs mixing his brand of evocative Khaleeji pop with the poignancy of the occasion.
Last night, he headlined the first music concert to take place at Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Arena on Yas Island.
This comes on the back of being the inaugural act for Sharjah’s newly built Khor Fakkan Amphitheatre on New Year’s Eve, as well as stepping on stage for Dubai Opera’s return concert last August, when the venue reopened after a four-month closure as a precaution against Covid-19.
So what is it about Al Jassmi that makes him a perfect fit for such an occasion?
“We all grew up with Hussain,” explains Yusuf Saleh, 32.
The Emirati and Abu Dhabi resident tells The National that Al Jassmi is one of those rare local acts with cross generational appeal.
“You go to any of his concerts and he will have songs that if you don’t immediately know your elders will and vice versa. It’s just a guaranteed good time.”
And that was basically the brief handed to Al Jassmi. Since the onset of the pandemic, the last major concert held in the capital was by Bruno Mars in 2019 on New Year’s Eve.
Similar to the US pop star, Al Jassmi came with a mission to please and in-turn delivered a 90-minute set of back-to-back to hits.
With the exception of breezy latest single Heta Min Alby , this was not the stage to experiment with new material.
The Abu Dhabi crowd needed to be reminded of the power and unifying spirit of a great live gig.
Al Jassmi delivered this in spades with a mix of up-tempo Khaleeji pop classics, such as Gased and Ahwak Ya Shebh Al Gomar and regal ballads like Bahebek Wahashteni.
The best part of the evening was perhaps the crowd lapping up the live show with full throated renditions for the majority of the set.
And this is the magic of an Al Jassmi concert in the UAE. In front of a local audience, his material is elevated from well-crafted pop songs to music that both inspires and comforts.
Assala Nasri brings it home after a shaky start
And sometimes, even the biggest stars need some comfort of their own.
Preceding Al Jassmi on Thursday was Nasri, in what was the Syrian singer’s first live concert in months. Taking the stage in an all-white dress by Lebanese designer Nicolas Jebran, Nasri admitted at the onset.
“It’s going to take me some time,” she said.
“I am normally nervous when I am on stage, but I didn’t see you for a long time so you will have to bear with me. It will get better.”
You can’t fault her honesty.
The opening couple of tracks, including the sting-laden Khaleeji pop of Baeid Anak, sounded rather clunky with Nasri trying to find the right vocal range.
But it wasn't long before her husky voice found its groove, with Levant ballads Samehtak and Shamekh going down a treat.
Together, both performances added up to an endearing night of musical entertainment in the UAE capital.
The expectation of such a gig, both in terms of a new venue and a city deprived of live performances for so long, wouldn’t have been easy. But Al Jassmi and Nasri pulled it off with a mixture of professionalism and humility.
What’s on next at the Etihad Arena?
The second of Etihad Arena's Eid Al Adha concerts takes place on Friday with Egyptian pop star Tamer Hosny taking the stage, joined by Lebanon's Myriam Fares.
Doors will open at 4.30pm with the show starting at 6.30pm.
Guests are required to show a negative PCR test taken within 48 hours to gain access to the show, and all attendees above 16 also need to be fully vaccinated, with the last dose have been taken no less than 28 days ago. Concertgoers must also present their Al Hosn app with E or Star status to enter the venue.
Tickets are sold in pairs, and for groups of three and four guests, starting from Dh195. These are available at etihadarena.ae
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
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The specs
Engine: four-litre V6 and 3.5-litre V6 twin-turbo
Transmission: six-speed and 10-speed
Power: 271 and 409 horsepower
Torque: 385 and 650Nm
Price: from Dh229,900 to Dh355,000
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
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COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: Letstango.com
Started: June 2013
Founder: Alex Tchablakian
Based: Dubai
Industry: e-commerce
Initial investment: Dh10 million
Investors: Self-funded
Total customers: 300,000 unique customers every month
The distance learning plan
Spring break will be from March 8 - 19
Public school pupils will undergo distance learning from March 22 - April 2. School hours will be 8.30am to 1.30pm
Staff will be trained in distance learning programmes from March 15 - 19
Teaching hours will be 8am to 2pm during distance learning
Pupils will return to school for normal lessons from April 5
What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
- Cinematography, shots and movement.
- All aspects of post-production.
- Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
- Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
- Tourism industry knowledge.
- Professional ethics.
The bio
Job: Coder, website designer and chief executive, Trinet solutions
School: Year 8 pupil at Elite English School in Abu Hail, Deira
Role Models: Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk
Dream City: San Francisco
Hometown: Dubai
City of birth: Thiruvilla, Kerala
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
Essentials
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct from the UAE to Geneva from Dh2,845 return, including taxes. The flight takes 6 hours.
The package
Clinique La Prairie offers a variety of programmes. A six-night Master Detox costs from 14,900 Swiss francs (Dh57,655), including all food, accommodation and a set schedule of medical consultations and spa treatments.
