Music legends and Arabic pop-stars are coming to Dubai to perform as part the du World Music Festival next month.
RnB legend George Benson is headlining a bill including Amr Diab, The Gipsy Kings and Salif Keita.
Beginning on March 7, the 10-day festival will feature 14 concerts, with half of the performances being offered for free. Concerts will be held in Burj Park and The Burj Steps.
Opening the festival at Burj Park is the Pakistani musician Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, with the Gipsy Kings playing the following night and Amr Diab on March 9.
Famed Egyptian composer Omar Khairat will take the stage at Burj Steps on March 15.
George Benson will team up with the British soul singer Gabrielle to close the festival at Burj Park on March 16.
While these events maybe ticketed, the free shows will have no shortage of star power with the legendary Afro-Pop singer Salif Keita, American jazz-man Pat Martino and Lebanon's Assi El Helani all giving free performances at the Burj Steps.
This announcement may come as a relief for world music lovers as it arrives amid rumours that Womad Abu Dhabi could be cancelled this year.
As of yet there has been no lineup announced for the event - normally held in April on the Corniche - and the festival's website has not been updated since last year.
Calls to Womad in the UK on the future of the Abu Dhabi event have yet been returned.
For information on the du World Music Festival artists and tickets go to www.du.ae
sasaeed@thenational.ae
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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
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Profile
Co-founders of the company: Vilhelm Hedberg and Ravi Bhusari
Launch year: In 2016 ekar launched and signed an agreement with Etihad Airways in Abu Dhabi. In January 2017 ekar launched in Dubai in a partnership with the RTA.
Number of employees: Over 50
Financing stage: Series B currently being finalised
Investors: Series A - Audacia Capital
Sector of operation: Transport
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