'You’re seeing which artists over the weekend? 'No no, I’m seeing the artist, The Weeknd at du Arena on Friday'. That has been my response to many of my friends and family over the course of the last few days when we talk about this year’s Abu Dhabi GP After-Race Concerts line-up.
It’s rather surprising to me that so many people aren’t aware of the star. He’s toured the globe, has the accolade of owning some of the biggest tracks in music in recent years. Gosh, he even landed on 2017’s highest-paid celebrities list, banking an estimated $92 million last year.
When people hear the songs though, that's when the penny drops, and that says a lot.
In an industry that is rampant with flashy, and outspoken artists who often perform less and talk more, for someone like The Weeknd, it's all about the music, and that's what makes him one of the best in the game right now.
Hundreds of fans negotiated bumper-to-bumper traffic and long queues to see the Canadian superstar make his UAE debut on Friday night at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix After-Race concerts.
The Weeknd, whose real name is Abel Tesfaye, took to the stage just after 21:30, kicking off the set off with the smash hit Pray For Me; a song he collaborated on with hip-hop giant Kendrick Lamar for the Hollywood blockbuster Black Panther.
In the 80-minute set, the Starboy hitmaker managed to find the right balance between his most popular tracks and the lesser known ones, with die-hard fans (judging by screens around the du Arena venue there were plenty) taking the opportunity to sing his songs back to him, word for word.
The 28-year-old doesn’t speak much on stage, but that's okay. Again, balance is key in that his more energised songs are supported by solid production, fast sequence-cuts of the star and his band from different angles, and the accompanying somewhat futuristic display of graphics on screen keeps the momentum moving too.
For slower, more emotionally-charged songs, the lighting is softer, giving him the opportunity to really show off his vocal range and the high notes.
Some thirty minutes in, the lights dimmed, and the Grammy winner disappeared briefly. When he returned, the softly spoken star playfully asked, "Y'all trying to go home?" And with that, he launched into a trio of classics including, Secrets, I Can't Feel My Face and I Feel It Coming.
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French Montana and Nelly announced for Mad on Yas Island's Formula One 2018 parties
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After watching an incredible performance of Call My Name at Coachella Music Festival earlier this year, and having followed his career for a few years now, I was really looking forward to seeing The Weeknd live. Truth be told, while he did impress, I wasn't completely wowed, which is what I expected.
Maybe it has to do with the hassle of getting into the actual venue and rushing to secure a spot close enough to see him perform? I was possibly hoping for a bit more personality too. Musically and vocally though, he cannot be faulted.
The after-race concerts continue with UK soul singer Sam Smith making his UAE debut, followed by the legendary rockers Guns N' Roses on Sunday.
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Swiss fly direct from the UAE to Zurich from Dh2,855 return, including taxes.
The chalet
Chalet N is currently open in winter only, between now and April 21. During the ski season, starting on December 11, a week’s rental costs from €210,000 (Dh898,431) per week for the whole property, which has 22 beds in total, across six suites, three double rooms and a children’s suite. The price includes all scheduled meals, a week’s ski pass, Wi-Fi, parking, transfers between Munich, Innsbruck or Zurich airports and one 50-minute massage per person. Private ski lessons cost from €360 (Dh1,541) per day. Halal food is available on request.
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Washmen Profile
Date Started: May 2015
Founders: Rami Shaar and Jad Halaoui
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Laundry
Employees: 170
Funding: about $8m
Funders: Addventure, B&Y Partners, Clara Ventures, Cedar Mundi Partners, Henkel Ventures
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Book%20Details
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The Greatest Royal Rumble card as it stands
50-man Royal Rumble
Universal Championship Brock Lesnar (champion) v Roman Reigns in a steel cage match
Intercontinental Championship Seth Rollins (champion) v The Miz v Finn Balor v Samoa Joe
SmackDown Tag Team Championship The Bludgeon Brothers (champions) v The Usos
Casket match The Undertaker v Chris Jericho
John Cena v Triple H
Matches to be announced
WWE World Heavyweight Championship, Raw Tag Team Championship, United States Championship and the Cruiserweight Championship are all due to be defended
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
FIXTURES
All kick-off times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Brackets denote aggregate score
Tuesday:
Roma (1) v Shakhtar Donetsk (2), 11.45pm
Manchester United (0) v Sevilla (0), 11.45pm
Wednesday:
Besiktas (0) v Bayern Munich (5), 9pm
Barcelona (1) v Chelsea (1), 11.45pm
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
How Filipinos in the UAE invest
A recent survey of 10,000 Filipino expatriates in the UAE found that 82 per cent have plans to invest, primarily in property. This is significantly higher than the 2014 poll showing only two out of 10 Filipinos planned to invest.
Fifty-five percent said they plan to invest in property, according to the poll conducted by the New Perspective Media Group, organiser of the Philippine Property and Investment Exhibition. Acquiring a franchised business or starting up a small business was preferred by 25 per cent and 15 per cent said they will invest in mutual funds. The rest said they are keen to invest in insurance (3 per cent) and gold (2 per cent).
Of the 5,500 respondents who preferred property as their primary investment, 54 per cent said they plan to make the purchase within the next year. Manila was the top location, preferred by 53 per cent.
The UAE's journey to space
The biog
Favourite colour: Brown
Favourite Movie: Resident Evil
Hobbies: Painting, Cooking, Imitating Voices
Favourite food: Pizza
Trivia: Was the voice of three characters in the Emirati animation, Shaabiyat Al Cartoon
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5