Switzerland, Zurich - February 5, 2018. The Norwegian pop group a-ha performs a live concert at Hallenstadion in Zurich as part of the a-ha MTV Unplugged Tour 2018. Here singer and songwriter Morten Harket (R) is seen live on stage with Magne Furuholmen (L). (Photo by: -/PYMCA/Avalon/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Switzerland, Zurich - February 5, 2018. The Norwegian pop group a-ha performs a live concert at Hallenstadion in Zurich as part of the a-ha MTV Unplugged Tour 2018. Here singer and songwriter Morten Harket (R) is seen live on stage with Magne Furuholmen (L). (Photo by: -/PYMCA/Avalon/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Switzerland, Zurich - February 5, 2018. The Norwegian pop group a-ha performs a live concert at Hallenstadion in Zurich as part of the a-ha MTV Unplugged Tour 2018. Here singer and songwriter Morten Harket (R) is seen live on stage with Magne Furuholmen (L). (Photo by: -/PYMCA/Avalon/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Switzerland, Zurich - February 5, 2018. The Norwegian pop group a-ha performs a live concert at Hallenstadion in Zurich as part of the a-ha MTV Unplugged Tour 2018. Here singer and songwriter Morten H

Expect all the hits when A-ha comes to Dubai Opera


Saeed Saeed
  • English
  • Arabic

Expect a classy greatest hits concert when A-ha comes to the UAE next year.

The Norwegian group will bring their synth-pop numbers and elegant ballads to Dubai Opera with a performance on Tuesday, February 11.

Tickets start from Dh250, and can be purchased at dubaiopera.com or at Virgin Megastores.

The show is part of A-ha’s latest world tour, which begins in Northern Ireland in October that will see them perform in a range of new territories.

Speaking to The National, keyboardist and chief songwriter Magne Furuholmen said they are looking forward to performing for the first time in the Arabian Gulf.

“It is always exciting to come to new places and immersing yourself in new cultural experiences along the way,” he said.

“One of the things about this tour is we are going to Dubai and New Zealand for the first time. It always feels nice to bring music to a new audience see how it all unites us together.

"These shows are a reminder of that.”

When it comes to the Dubai set-list, Furuholmen says fans should expect hits like Take On Me and I've Been Losing You to be played.

Also, with the group's debut album, Hunting High and Low, turning 35 next year, he expects a fair few of the songs from that record (which includes Take On Me) to receive an airing live.

“We played a lot of different formats over the years,” he says.

“But what we do the most is play a conglomerate of songs from our whole catalogue. Also, as we are coming up to the anniversary of our first album, this is also an opportunity to play more of that.”

For an indication of the some songs that will be played in Dubai, here is the set-list of A-ha’s last concert at Germany's Festival Ruhr on August 27, 2018.

Cry Wolf

The Blood That Moves the Body

The Weight of the Wind

Minor Earth Major Sky

Crying in the Rain (Carole King cover)

Foot of the Mountain

Analogue (All I Want

Lifelines

Train of Thought (Alt. Version)

Stay on These Roads

Sycamore Leaves

Manhattan Skyline

Hunting High and Low

I've Been Losing You

The Sun Always Shines on TV

Scoundrel Days

The Living Daylights

Take On Me

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Men:

 1. Titus Ekiru(KEN) 2:06:13 

2. Alphonce Simbu(TAN) 2:07:50 

3. Reuben Kipyego(KEN) 2:08:25 

4. Abel Kirui(KEN) 2:08:46 

5. Felix Kemutai(KEN) 2:10:48  

Women:

1. Judith Korir(KEN) 2:22:30 

2. Eunice Chumba(BHR) 2:26:01 

3. Immaculate Chemutai(UGA) 2:28:30 

4. Abebech Bekele(ETH) 2:29:43 

5. Aleksandra Morozova(RUS) 2:33:01  

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Who's who in Yemen conflict

Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government

Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council

Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south

Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory

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Tony Adams, David Beckham, Dennis Bergkamp, Sol Campbell, Eric Cantona, Andrew Cole, Ashley Cole, Didier Drogba, Les Ferdinand, Rio Ferdinand, Robbie Fowler, Steven Gerrard, Roy Keane, Frank Lampard, Matt Le Tissier, Michael Owen, Peter Schmeichel, Paul Scholes, John Terry, Robin van Persie, Nemanja Vidic, Patrick Viera, Ian Wright.

Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
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Pakistan (1st innings) 181: Babar 71; Olivier 6-37

South Africa (1st innings) 223: Bavuma 53; Amir 4-62

Pakistan (2nd innings) 190: Masood 65, Imam 57; Olivier 5-59

The National Archives, Abu Dhabi

Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.

Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en

Second ODI

England 322-7 (50 ovs)
India 236 (50 ovs)

England win by 86 runs

Next match: Tuesday, July 17, Headingley 

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