• On May 4, 2013, Canadian singer Justin Bieber beat the sweltering heat to perform for fans at Sevens Stadium in Dubai. Sarah Dea/The National
    On May 4, 2013, Canadian singer Justin Bieber beat the sweltering heat to perform for fans at Sevens Stadium in Dubai. Sarah Dea/The National
  • In May 2013, fans of Justin Bieber at Sevens Stadium in Dubai gave the Canadian star a huge UAE welcome. Sarah Dea/The National
    In May 2013, fans of Justin Bieber at Sevens Stadium in Dubai gave the Canadian star a huge UAE welcome. Sarah Dea/The National
  • Justin Bieber takes the stage in Dubai in May 2013. Sarah Dea/The National
    Justin Bieber takes the stage in Dubai in May 2013. Sarah Dea/The National
  • After a two-hour wait for their hero, fans in Dubai quickly forgave Justin Bieber's tardiness and turned up the volume to welcome him to the UAE. Sarah Dea/The National
    After a two-hour wait for their hero, fans in Dubai quickly forgave Justin Bieber's tardiness and turned up the volume to welcome him to the UAE. Sarah Dea/The National
  • Fans of Canadian singer Justin Bieber mask up at Sevens Stadium in Dubai in May 2013. Sarah Dea/The National
    Fans of Canadian singer Justin Bieber mask up at Sevens Stadium in Dubai in May 2013. Sarah Dea/The National
  • In May 2017, Justin Bieber was back in Dubai, starting his gig with 'Mark My Words' from his 2015 album 'Purpose'. Chris Whiteoak for The National
    In May 2017, Justin Bieber was back in Dubai, starting his gig with 'Mark My Words' from his 2015 album 'Purpose'. Chris Whiteoak for The National
  • Canadian star Justin Bieber appeared at the Autism Rocks Arena in Dubai during his 2017 tour. Chris Whiteoak for The National
    Canadian star Justin Bieber appeared at the Autism Rocks Arena in Dubai during his 2017 tour. Chris Whiteoak for The National
  • Justin Bieber performed before a forgiving crowd in Dubai in 2013 when he was two hours late onstage. In May 2017, he stuck to his schedule and the music began on time. Chris Whiteoak for The National
    Justin Bieber performed before a forgiving crowd in Dubai in 2013 when he was two hours late onstage. In May 2017, he stuck to his schedule and the music began on time. Chris Whiteoak for The National
  • Fans sang along to their favourite Justin Bieber songs at the Autism Rocks Arena in Dubai in May 2017. Chris Whiteoak for The National
    Fans sang along to their favourite Justin Bieber songs at the Autism Rocks Arena in Dubai in May 2017. Chris Whiteoak for The National
  • Justin Bieber performs in concert on Saturday, May. 06, 2017, at the Autism Rocks Arena in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak for The National
    Justin Bieber performs in concert on Saturday, May. 06, 2017, at the Autism Rocks Arena in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak for The National
  • Bright lights and big screens as Justin Bieber performs at the Autism Rocks Arena in Dubai in May 2017. Chris Whiteoak for The National
    Bright lights and big screens as Justin Bieber performs at the Autism Rocks Arena in Dubai in May 2017. Chris Whiteoak for The National
  • Justin Bieber performs at the Autism Rocks Arena in Dubai in May 2017. Chris Whiteoak for The National
    Justin Bieber performs at the Autism Rocks Arena in Dubai in May 2017. Chris Whiteoak for The National
  • Dubai was the only Middle East stop for Canadian star Justin Bieber on his 2017 tour. Chris Whiteoak for The National
    Dubai was the only Middle East stop for Canadian star Justin Bieber on his 2017 tour. Chris Whiteoak for The National
  • Justin Bieber performs at the Autism Rocks Arena in Dubai in May 2017, when his 2015 album 'Purpose' and the singles from it had charted in more than 100 countries. Chris Whiteoak for The National
    Justin Bieber performs at the Autism Rocks Arena in Dubai in May 2017, when his 2015 album 'Purpose' and the singles from it had charted in more than 100 countries. Chris Whiteoak for The National
  • Bieber cancelled his Coca-Cola Arena concert in Dubai in October 2022 owing to ill health. Chris Whiteoak for The National
    Bieber cancelled his Coca-Cola Arena concert in Dubai in October 2022 owing to ill health. Chris Whiteoak for The National

Justin Bieber to bring blockbuster world tour to Dubai's Coca-Cola Arena in October


Saeed Saeed
  • English
  • Arabic

Justin Bieber has announced the final dates for his world tour and Dubai is in the mix.

The Canadian pop star will return to the emirate for a concert at the Coca-Cola Arena on October 8.

The show is part of his blockbuster 20-month Justice World Tour, which began on Sunday in Mexico and goes on to include Europe, South America, South-East Asia and Australia before ending in Poland in March 2023.

Scroll through the gallery above to see other times when Justin Bieber performed in Dubai.

The tour has already sold more than 1.3 million tickets, with 125 shows spanning 30 countries planned.

Fans can register for the pre-sale, exclusive to Visa card holders, via the Coca-Cola Arena website, and the pre-sale begins at 10am on Thursday.

Tickets will officially go on sale to the general public the next day at 10am, with prices to be revealed soon.

Bieber previewed the tour with a one-off performance at Saudi Arabia's inaugural Formula One race last year.

A dazzling production

Bieber’s Coca-Cola show will also have him move from previously playing outdoors, at the Sevens Stadium in 2013 and the Autism Rocks Arena in 2017 to an indoor arena setting.

However, as promoter of previous Bieber gigs and the coming concert, Thomas Ovesen says the relatively smaller venue — Coca-Cola Arena has a capacity of 17,000 — means fans will get the full Bieber experience.

“We did have some fantastic outdoor shows that were held with 30,000-plus capacity concerts for Justin Bieber.

“The benefit, of course, was that as many fans as possible could be accommodated. The downside for some would have been that they were very far from the action and the production was a little two dimension,” he tells The National.

“This arena production is nothing short of phenomenal. We will turn the arena into a very intimate performance venue and this is something that we can now reproduce because of a venue like Coca-Cola Arena.

“I would definitely say this is the most elaborate Justin Bieber production I have ever come across.”

The Bieber concert also marks a homecoming for Ovesen, who returned to Dubai to launched new venture Top Entertainment after three years spent working on entertainment projects in Saudi Arabia.

Ovesen has been behind many of the UAE's biggest concerts, including Ed Sheeran, One Direction, Mariah Carey and Elton John, in addition to setting up popular festivals such as RedFestDXB, Blended and Fiesta de los Muertos.

He says the Bieber show marks the beginning of a string of concerts and festivals coming to the UAE.

"I will be working with a lot of touring artists and creating new festivals as well bring more comedy and musical theatre here," he says.

"This is because there now a range of fantastic venues in the region and more to be built. So there are more opportunities to serve fans with the best touring shows in an optimal environment. A great example of which, off course, is the UAE."

What will Justin Bieber play in Dubai?

According to website setlist.com, Bieber's tour opener in Mexico on Sunday was split into five parts, including an encore. Twenty-four songs were featured in the show, including major hits such as Sorry, Love Yourself, Yummy and What Do You Mean.

Here is the expected full set list:

Somebody

Hold On

Deserve You

Holy

Where Are U Now

What Do You Mean?

Yummy

Hold Tight

Love Yourself

Off My Face

Confident

All That Matters

Honest

Sorry

Love You Different

As I Am

Ghost

Lonely

2 Much

Intentions

Boyfriend

Baby

Peaches

Anyone

The biog:

Favourite book: The Leader Who Had No Title by Robin Sharma

Pet Peeve: Racism 

Proudest moment: Graduating from Sorbonne 

What puts her off: Dishonesty in all its forms

Happiest period in her life: The beginning of her 30s

Favourite movie: "I have two. The Pursuit of Happiness and Homeless to Harvard"

Role model: Everyone. A child can be my role model 

Slogan: The queen of peace, love and positive energy

Result

6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-3 – Group 1 (PA) $65,000 (Dirt) 2,000m; Winner: Brraq, Ryan Curatolo (jockey), Jean-Claude Pecout (trainer)

7.05pm: Handicap (TB) $65,000 (Turf) 1,800m; Winner: Bright Melody, James Doyle, Charlie Appleby

7.40pm: Meydan Classic – Listed (TB) $88,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Naval Crown, Mickael Barzalona, Charlie Appleby

8.15pm: Nad Al Sheba Trophy – Group 3 (TB) $195,000 (T) 2,810m; Winner: Volcanic Sky, Frankie Dettori, Saeed bin Suroor

8.50pm: Dubai Millennium Stakes – Group 3 (TB) $130,000 (T) 2,000m; Winner: Star Safari, William Buick, Charlie Appleby

9.25pm: Meydan Challenge – Listed Handicap (TB) $88,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Zainhom, Dane O’Neill, Musabah Al Muhairi

MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League quarter-final (first-leg score):

Juventus (1) v Ajax (1), Tuesday, 11pm UAE

Match will be shown on BeIN Sports

Diriyah%20project%20at%20a%20glance
%3Cp%3E-%20Diriyah%E2%80%99s%201.9km%20King%20Salman%20Boulevard%2C%20a%20Parisian%20Champs-Elysees-inspired%20avenue%2C%20is%20scheduled%20for%20completion%20in%202028%0D%3Cbr%3E-%20The%20Royal%20Diriyah%20Opera%20House%20is%20expected%20to%20be%20completed%20in%20four%20years%0D%3Cbr%3E-%20Diriyah%E2%80%99s%20first%20of%2042%20hotels%2C%20the%20Bab%20Samhan%20hotel%2C%20will%20open%20in%20the%20first%20quarter%20of%202024%0D%3Cbr%3E-%20On%20completion%20in%202030%2C%20the%20Diriyah%20project%20is%20forecast%20to%20accommodate%20more%20than%20100%2C000%20people%0D%3Cbr%3E-%20The%20%2463.2%20billion%20Diriyah%20project%20will%20contribute%20%247.2%20billion%20to%20the%20kingdom%E2%80%99s%20GDP%0D%3Cbr%3E-%20It%20will%20create%20more%20than%20178%2C000%20jobs%20and%20aims%20to%20attract%20more%20than%2050%20million%20visits%20a%20year%0D%3Cbr%3E-%20About%202%2C000%20people%20work%20for%20the%20Diriyah%20Company%2C%20with%20more%20than%2086%20per%20cent%20being%20Saudi%20citizens%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting 

2. Prayer 

3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

5. Zakat 

MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW

Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman

Director: Jesse Armstrong

Rating: 3.5/5

Dunki
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Rajkumar%20Hirani%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Shah%20Rukh%20Khan%2C%20Taapsee%20Pannu%2C%20Vikram%20Kochhar%20and%20Anil%20Grover%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Islamophobia definition

A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.

RESULTS

6.30pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-2 – Group 1 (PA) $49,000 (Dirt) 1,900m

Winner RB Frynchh Dude, Pat Cosgrave (jockey), Helal Al Alawi (trainer)

7.05pm Al Bastakiya Trial – Conditions (TB) $50,000 (D) 1,900m

Winner El Patriota, Vagner Leal, Antonio Cintra

7.40pm Zabeel Turf – Listed (TB) $88,000 (Turf) 2,000m

Winner Ya Hayati, Mickael Barzalona, Charlie Appleby

8.15pm Cape Verdi – Group 2 (TB) $163,000 (T) 1,600m

Winner Althiqa, James Doyle, Charlie Appleby

8.50pm UAE 1000 Guineas – Listed (TB) $125,000 (D) 1,600m

Winner Soft Whisper, Frankie Dettori, Saeed bin Suroor

9.25pm Handicap (TB) $68,000 (T) 1,600m

Winner Bedouin’s Story, Frankie Dettori, Saeed bin Suroor

World record transfers

1. Kylian Mbappe - to Real Madrid in 2017/18 - €180 million (Dh770.4m - if a deal goes through)
2. Paul Pogba - to Manchester United in 2016/17 - €105m
3. Gareth Bale - to Real Madrid in 2013/14 - €101m
4. Cristiano Ronaldo - to Real Madrid in 2009/10 - €94m
5. Gonzalo Higuain - to Juventus in 2016/17 - €90m
6. Neymar - to Barcelona in 2013/14 - €88.2m
7. Romelu Lukaku - to Manchester United in 2017/18 - €84.7m
8. Luis Suarez - to Barcelona in 2014/15 - €81.72m
9. Angel di Maria - to Manchester United in 2014/15 - €75m
10. James Rodriguez - to Real Madrid in 2014/15 - €75m

Trump v Khan

2016: Feud begins after Khan criticised Trump’s proposed Muslim travel ban to US

2017: Trump criticises Khan’s ‘no reason to be alarmed’ response to London Bridge terror attacks

2019: Trump calls Khan a “stone cold loser” before first state visit

2019: Trump tweets about “Khan’s Londonistan”, calling him “a national disgrace”

2022:  Khan’s office attributes rise in Islamophobic abuse against the major to hostility stoked during Trump’s presidency

July 2025 During a golfing trip to Scotland, Trump calls Khan “a nasty person”

Sept 2025 Trump blames Khan for London’s “stabbings and the dirt and the filth”.

Dec 2025 Trump suggests migrants got Khan elected, calls him a “horrible, vicious, disgusting mayor”

MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid

When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid

Real estate tokenisation project

Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.

The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.

Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.

Profile of Udrive

Date started: March 2016

Founder: Hasib Khan

Based: Dubai

Employees: 40

Amount raised (to date): $3.25m – $750,000 seed funding in 2017 and a Seed round of $2.5m last year. Raised $1.3m from Eureeca investors in January 2021 as part of a Series A round with a $5m target.

What sanctions would be reimposed?

Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:

  • An arms embargo
  • A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
  • A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
  • A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
  • Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
Updated: May 26, 2022, 10:36 AM