Take That is the next big act in line for a Las Vegas residency.
Lead singer Gary Barlow has confirmed a show is in the works and that negotiations with venues are under way.
However, he cautioned that the British boy band’s concerts will only take place once it’s safe to do so.
"Covid-19 has got in our way a bit because we were going to do a little try out period, just like six shows across a week," he told UK publication Music Week.
“But we've got possibilities of two hotels there and I think we can go twice a year."
While dates have not yet been released, the news is another welcome sign that the party city, known for its lavish residencies by scores of pop hitmakers, is ramping up again.
This includes the opening of a new 5,000-seat theatre at Resorts World with residency concerts by Celine Dion, Carrie Underwood, Katy Perry and Luke Bryan to begin from November and run until March 2022. More details will be announced soon.
Until then, music lovers can savour the return of big-ticket acts to the city that range from pop and soul to RnB.
Here are some of the stars performing a residency in Vegas this year.
1. Bruno Mars at Park Theatre, Park MGM: July 3 to 24
After wowing a global television audience as part of March's Grammy Awards, the diminutive singer brings his 24K Magic to MGM Resorts for six shows between Saturday, July 3 and Saturday, July 24. The hitmaker, who has released three studio albums, has an impressive catalogue to show off.
For hotel package details with meet and greet options, visit mgmresorts.com
2. Usher at The Colosseum, Caesars Palace: July 16 to January 1
He sings like a dream, dances like Michael Jackson and has two decades worth of hits: RnB star Usher is a perfect fit for a popular Vegas residency. The Yeah Yeahsinger is set to perform 10 shows at Caesars Palace, beginning from Saturday, July 16 until Saturday, August 14, before returning for four back-to-back shows from Tuesday, December 28 to Saturday, January 1.
Tickets from $59 at ticketmaster.com
3. Carlos Santana at the House of Blues, Mandalay Bay: August 25 to December 12
The guitar legend, who has won 10 Grammy Awards, brings his signature riffs, hits and instrumental works to the city for a series of 22 shows. Expect Santana and band, including top singers, to perform the likes of Smooth, Oye Como Va and Put Your Lights On.
Tickets from $99.50 at concerts.livenation.com
4. Lionel Richie at Encore Theatre, Wynn Las Vegas: September 24 to November 6
After selling out his past three residences, singer and American Idol judge Lionel Richie says Hello once again to Vegas with three batches of monthly shows that will cover his five-decade career. Expect hits performed on the night to include All Night Long, Easy and Endless Love.
Tickets from $138 at ticketmaster.com
5. Gwen Stefani at Zappos Theatre, Planet Hollywood Las Vegas Resort & Casino: October 22 to November 6
Named after her biggest hit with former band No Doubt, the Just a Girl show tells Stefani's life through song, with early group hits such as Don't Speak and Hella Good to solo stardom with Hollaback Girl and Sweet Escape.
Tickets from $40 at ticketmaster.com
6. Sting at The Colosseum, Caesars Palace: October 29 to November 13
As regional fans from UAE to Morocco can attest, Sting can play a two-hour concert and only begin to scratch the surface of his massive body of hits scored from his time with The Police and as a solo artist. Therefore, his Las Vegas residency is an apt platform to explore that immense catalogue.
Tickets from $59 at ticketmaster.com
MATCH INFO
Europa League semi-final, second leg
Atletico Madrid (1) v Arsenal (1)
Where: Wanda Metropolitano
When: Thursday, May 3
Live: On BeIN Sports HD
Company profile
Name: Back to Games and Boardgame Space
Started: Back to Games (2015); Boardgame Space (Mark Azzam became co-founder in 2017)
Founder: Back to Games (Mr Azzam); Boardgame Space (Mr Azzam and Feras Al Bastaki)
Based: Dubai and Abu Dhabi
Industry: Back to Games (retail); Boardgame Space (wholesale and distribution)
Funding: Back to Games: self-funded by Mr Azzam with Dh1.3 million; Mr Azzam invested Dh250,000 in Boardgame Space
Growth: Back to Games: from 300 products in 2015 to 7,000 in 2019; Boardgame Space: from 34 games in 2017 to 3,500 in 2019
THE DEALS
Hamilton $60m x 2 = $120m
Vettel $45m x 2 = $90m
Ricciardo $35m x 2 = $70m
Verstappen $55m x 3 = $165m
Leclerc $20m x 2 = $40m
TOTAL $485m
Torbal Rayeh Wa Jayeh
Starring: Ali El Ghoureir, Khalil El Roumeithy, Mostafa Abo Seria
Stars: 3
Fight card
Preliminaries:
Nouredine Samir (UAE) v Sheroz Kholmirzav (UZB); Lucas Porst (SWE) v Ellis Barboza (GBR); Mouhmad Amine Alharar (MAR) v Mohammed Mardi (UAE); Ibrahim Bilal (UAE) v Spyro Besiri (GRE); Aslamjan Ortikov (UZB) v Joshua Ridgwell (GBR)
Main card:
Carlos Prates (BRA) v Dmitry Valent (BLR); Bobirjon Tagiev (UZB) v Valentin Thibaut (FRA); Arthur Meyer (FRA) v Hicham Moujtahid (BEL); Ines Es Salehy (BEL) v Myriame Djedidi (FRA); Craig Coakley (IRE) v Deniz Demirkapu (TUR); Artem Avanesov (ARM) v Badreddine Attif (MAR); Abdulvosid Buranov (RUS) v Akram Hamidi (FRA)
Title card:
Intercontinental Lightweight: Ilyass Habibali (UAE) v Angel Marquez (ESP)
Intercontinental Middleweight: Amine El Moatassime (UAE) v Francesco Iadanza (ITA)
Asian Featherweight: Zakaria El Jamari (UAE) v Phillip Delarmino (PHI)
Royal wedding inspired menu
Ginger, citrus and orange blossom iced tea
Avocado ranch dip with crudites
Cucumber, smoked salmon and cream cheese mini club sandwiches
Elderflower and lemon syllabub meringue
How to help
Call the hotline on 0502955999 or send "thenational" to the following numbers:
2289 - Dh10
2252 - Dh50
6025 - Dh20
6027 - Dh100
6026 - Dh200
Gender pay parity on track in the UAE
The UAE has a good record on gender pay parity, according to Mercer's Total Remuneration Study.
"In some of the lower levels of jobs women tend to be paid more than men, primarily because men are employed in blue collar jobs and women tend to be employed in white collar jobs which pay better," said Ted Raffoul, career products leader, Mena at Mercer. "I am yet to see a company in the UAE – particularly when you are looking at a blue chip multinationals or some of the bigger local companies – that actively discriminates when it comes to gender on pay."
Mr Raffoul said most gender issues are actually due to the cultural class, as the population is dominated by Asian and Arab cultures where men are generally expected to work and earn whereas women are meant to start a family.
"For that reason, we see a different gender gap. There are less women in senior roles because women tend to focus less on this but that’s not due to any companies having a policy penalising women for any reasons – it’s a cultural thing," he said.
As a result, Mr Raffoul said many companies in the UAE are coming up with benefit package programmes to help working mothers and the career development of women in general.
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
Company profile
Name: Oulo.com
Founder: Kamal Nazha
Based: Dubai
Founded: 2020
Number of employees: 5
Sector: Technology
Funding: $450,000
