Drake has a longstanding love for Dubai. Not only has the rapper spent plenty of his downtime enjoying many of the city’s delights, he has also let his fondness of the emirate seep into his lyrics.
And the Canadian star dropped a new EP, Scary Hours 2, on Friday, with yet more lyrics dedicated to Dubai. Through his many visits in the past, Drake has developed a close relationship with Dubai's Crown Prince, Sheikh Hamdan, as well as Sheikh Mansoor, sons of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai.
On track Lemon Pepper Freestyle, which features Rick Ross, Drake refers to his close relationship with the royals.
“And that’s facts, Hamdan Mohammed like my third cousin (facts) / Mansoor Mohammed like my real brother (facts) / Dubai embrace me like a Emirati (facts),” he raps.
In a 2015 Instagram post, Drake also referred to Sheikh Mansoor as his brother, sharing a picture of the pair on a yacht with Dubai Marina in the background.
“Finally found my long lost brother," the rapper wrote.
It is not the first time he has referred to Dubai in his music. In the track Free Smoke, from 2017 More Life, Drake says: "I want to move to Dubai, so I don't never have to kick it with none of you guys."
He also mentions the city in Sacrifices featuring Young Thug. "I got Dubai plates in the California state," he states.
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
If you go
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Funchal via Lisbon, with a connecting flight with Air Portugal. Economy class returns cost from Dh3,845 return including taxes.
The trip
The WalkMe app can be downloaded from the usual sources. If you don’t fancy doing the trip yourself, then Explore offers an eight-day levada trails tour from Dh3,050, not including flights.
The hotel
There isn’t another hotel anywhere in Madeira that matches the history and luxury of the Belmond Reid's Palace in Funchal. Doubles from Dh1,400 per night including taxes.
HWJN
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MATCH INFO
Barcelona 5 (Lenglet 2', Vidal 29', Messi 34', 75', Suarez 77')
Valladolid 1 (Kiko 15')
