• Sting performs in Dubai in April 2001. Sting and Algerian singer Cheb Mami played a joint concert in the emirate as part of a Middle East tour that also took them to Amman, Tunis, the Giza pyramids in Egypt and Lebanon's Baalbeck festival. AFP
    Sting performs in Dubai in April 2001. Sting and Algerian singer Cheb Mami played a joint concert in the emirate as part of a Middle East tour that also took them to Amman, Tunis, the Giza pyramids in Egypt and Lebanon's Baalbeck festival. AFP
  • Sting performs during a concert in Dubai, on March 4, 2010. AFP
    Sting performs during a concert in Dubai, on March 4, 2010. AFP
  • Sting during a Police performance on stage at Rock in Rio Festival, in Madrid, Spain, on July 5, 2008. EPA
    Sting during a Police performance on stage at Rock in Rio Festival, in Madrid, Spain, on July 5, 2008. EPA
  • Sting greets journalists with the traditional 'namaste' during a press conference held a day prior to his performance in Bangalore on February 3, 2005. EPA
    Sting greets journalists with the traditional 'namaste' during a press conference held a day prior to his performance in Bangalore on February 3, 2005. EPA
  • Sting shakes hands of fans after performing on CBS's 'The Early Show' at CBS Early Show Studio Plaza on July 15, 2010 in New York City. Getty Images via AFP
    Sting shakes hands of fans after performing on CBS's 'The Early Show' at CBS Early Show Studio Plaza on July 15, 2010 in New York City. Getty Images via AFP
  • Sting performs during the Sting & Shaggy: The 44/876 Tour at Fillmore Miami Beach on September 15, 2018 in Miami Beach, Florida. Getty Images via AFP
    Sting performs during the Sting & Shaggy: The 44/876 Tour at Fillmore Miami Beach on September 15, 2018 in Miami Beach, Florida. Getty Images via AFP
  • Sting performs at the Roseland Ballroom on November 8, 2011 in New York City. Getty Images via AFP
    Sting performs at the Roseland Ballroom on November 8, 2011 in New York City. Getty Images via AFP
  • Sting performs during a concert at the Afas Live in Amsterdam on April 5, 2017. AFP
    Sting performs during a concert at the Afas Live in Amsterdam on April 5, 2017. AFP
  • Sting performs onstage for CMT Giants: Vince Gill at The Fisher Center for the Performing Arts in Nashville, Tennessee. Getty Images via AFP
    Sting performs onstage for CMT Giants: Vince Gill at The Fisher Center for the Performing Arts in Nashville, Tennessee. Getty Images via AFP

Sting to perform in Abu Dhabi in January


Katy Gillett
  • English
  • Arabic

British musician Sting will bring his My Songs tour to Abu Dhabi next year.

The former Police frontman will perform at Etihad Arena on Yas Island on January 27, organisers Live Nation announced on Monday.

He will be accompanied by an electric, rock ensemble with special guest Joe Sumner, a singer-songwriter and bassist for rock band Fiction Plane.

Tickets will go on sale from Friday at noon on Live Nation's Middle East website.

Sting, real name Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner, is no stranger to the UAE, having performed at least four times in the Emirates before.

His UAE debut was at Dubai Tennis Stadium in 2001.

In 2013, Sting performed at Abu Dhabi's du Arena, a concert that “triumphantly hit the right notes”, wrote The National's Saeed Saeed at the time.

“Not pushing any new projects requiring symphony orchestras or a troupe of lute players, the musician's latest UAE jaunt was a greatest-hits affair celebrating a career that has spanned 25 years,” wrote Saeed.

Sting told The National about his love of Arab culture and music in 2015.

“Arab culture is just very exciting,” he said. “I have a lot of respect for what it has given the world in terms of music, art and philosophy, so it is always a great honour to come and entertain that culture.”

He cemented himself as a much-loved figure in the region with the 1999 global hit Desert Rose, his Grammy Award-winning collaboration with Algerian Rai artist Cheb Mami. The song not only exposed the world to the Arabic genre, but kick-started an international career for Mami.

Sting, who contacted Mami after hearing him perform at a Paris gig, said the beauty of the partnership lay in the song’s power to overcome their language.

“I met with Cheb Mami and I told him: ‘Look, I have a song I would like you to perform on,’ but I didn’t tell him what it was about,” Sting recalled.

“Now, he didn’t speak English and my Arabic is non-existent, but he listened and wrote down some lyrics and came back two weeks later and said, ‘I have something for you.’ He then sang it and I loved it and I asked him, ‘What are you singing about?’ and he said, ‘I am singing about longing.” I said, ‘Well, that’s remarkable because that’s exactly what I am singing about in English.’”

Sting was the frontman, songwriter and bassist for new wave rock band the Police from 1977 to 1984, and launched a successful solo career in 1985.

He has won 17 Grammy Awards, three Brits Awards, a Golden Globe and an Emmy, as well as received four nominations for Oscars Best Original Song.

In 2000, he was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2003, Sting was awarded a CBE by Queen Elizabeth II for his services to music, and in 2019, the BMI Award for Every Breath You Take, as it became the most-played song in radio history.

16 concerts and events coming to Abu Dhabi, from Westlife to 'The Lion King' - in pictures

  • Comedian Mo Amer will play his biggest UAE show yet in Abu Dhabi in March. Getty Images
    Comedian Mo Amer will play his biggest UAE show yet in Abu Dhabi in March. Getty Images
  • Bollywood film producer and director Karan Johar will co-host the International Indian Film Academy Rocks event in February. AFP
    Bollywood film producer and director Karan Johar will co-host the International Indian Film Academy Rocks event in February. AFP
  • British singer-songwriter Sting will play his hits in Abu Dhabi in January. AFP
    British singer-songwriter Sting will play his hits in Abu Dhabi in January. AFP
  • Junk Kouture aims to engage and inspire young designers to create works from rubbish around them. A fashion show will take place in Abu Dhabi in January. Photo: Junk Kouture
    Junk Kouture aims to engage and inspire young designers to create works from rubbish around them. A fashion show will take place in Abu Dhabi in January. Photo: Junk Kouture
  • The musician Shujaat Khan will perform at the Cultural Foundation in December. Photo: Saffron Media
    The musician Shujaat Khan will perform at the Cultural Foundation in December. Photo: Saffron Media
  • Le Trio Joubran are at the Cultural Foundation in December. Photo: Youness Hamiddine
    Le Trio Joubran are at the Cultural Foundation in December. Photo: Youness Hamiddine
  • Yemeni-Emirati singer Balqees Fathi will perform at Al Jahili Fort, Al Ain, in December. AFP
    Yemeni-Emirati singer Balqees Fathi will perform at Al Jahili Fort, Al Ain, in December. AFP
  • Emirati singer Hussain Jassmi will perform a National Day concert in Abu Dhabi. Satish Kumar / The National
    Emirati singer Hussain Jassmi will perform a National Day concert in Abu Dhabi. Satish Kumar / The National
  • K-pop group Blackpink bring their Born Pink world tour to Abu Dhabi in January. Getty Images
    K-pop group Blackpink bring their Born Pink world tour to Abu Dhabi in January. Getty Images
  • Award-winning, Nigerian-Romanian will perform in the UAE as part of Abu Dhabi Classics. Photo: DCT Abu Dhabi
    Award-winning, Nigerian-Romanian will perform in the UAE as part of Abu Dhabi Classics. Photo: DCT Abu Dhabi
  • The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra will be performing their Gala Concert in December. Photo: Abu Dhabi Classics
    The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra will be performing their Gala Concert in December. Photo: Abu Dhabi Classics
  • Post Malone will perform at Etihad Park on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi in December. AP
    Post Malone will perform at Etihad Park on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi in December. AP
  • Imagine Dragons will perform at Abu Dhabi's Etihad Arena on January 26, 2023. Photo: Eric Ray Davidson
    Imagine Dragons will perform at Abu Dhabi's Etihad Arena on January 26, 2023. Photo: Eric Ray Davidson
  • The Lion King will be on stage at Etihad Arena throughout December. Photo: Disney
    The Lion King will be on stage at Etihad Arena throughout December. Photo: Disney
  • An installation by artist Daniel Popper as part of the last Mother of the Nation Festival. The event returns to the Corniche later this year. Photo: Khushnum Bhandari / The National
    An installation by artist Daniel Popper as part of the last Mother of the Nation Festival. The event returns to the Corniche later this year. Photo: Khushnum Bhandari / The National
  • British comedian Jimmy Carr will take to the Etihad Arena stage in January. Getty Images
    British comedian Jimmy Carr will take to the Etihad Arena stage in January. Getty Images
  • Scottish stand-up comedian Kevin Bridges will perform at Etihad Arena in January. Getty Images
    Scottish stand-up comedian Kevin Bridges will perform at Etihad Arena in January. Getty Images
The specs: 2018 Audi Q5/SQ5

Price, base: Dh183,900 / Dh249,000
Engine: 2.0L, turbocharged in-line four-cylinder /  3.0L, turbocharged V6
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic / Eight-speed automatic
Power: 252hp @ 5,000rpm / 354hp @ 5,400rpm
Torque: 370Nm @ 1,600rpm / 500Nm @ 1,370rpm
Fuel economy: combined 7.2L / 100km / 8.3L / 100km

War

Director: Siddharth Anand

Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Tiger Shroff, Ashutosh Rana, Vaani Kapoor

Rating: Two out of five stars 

Godzilla%20x%20Kong%3A%20The%20New%20Empire
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAdam%20Wingard%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EBrian%20Tyree%20Henry%2C%20Rebecca%20Hall%2C%20Dan%20Stevens%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Marathon results

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  

MO
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECreators%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMohammed%20Amer%2C%20Ramy%20Youssef%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMohammed%20Amer%2C%20Teresa%20Ruiz%2C%20Omar%20Elba%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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

THE SPECS

Cadillac XT6 2020 Premium Luxury

Engine:  3.6L V-6

Transmission: nine-speed automatic

Power: 310hp

Torque: 367Nm

Price: Dh280,000

A general guide to how active you are:

Less than 5,000 steps - sedentary

5,000 - 9,999 steps - lightly active

10,000  - 12,500 steps - active

12,500 - highly active

Where to buy

Limited-edition art prints of The Sofa Series: Sultani can be acquired from Reem El Mutwalli at www.reemelmutwalli.com

Company profile

Company name: Suraasa

Started: 2018

Founders: Rishabh Khanna, Ankit Khanna and Sahil Makker

Based: India, UAE and the UK

Industry: EdTech

Initial investment: More than $200,000 in seed funding

ELECTION%20RESULTS
%3Cp%3EMacron%E2%80%99s%20Ensemble%20group%20won%20245%20seats.%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EThe%20second-largest%20group%20in%20parliament%20is%20Nupes%2C%20a%20leftist%20coalition%20led%20by%20Jean-Luc%20Melenchon%2C%20which%20gets%20131%20lawmakers.%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EThe%20far-right%20National%20Rally%20fared%20much%20better%20than%20expected%20with%2089%20seats.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EThe%20centre-right%20Republicans%20and%20their%20allies%20took%2061.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The Brutalist

Director: Brady Corbet

Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn

Rating: 3.5/5

RESULT

Uruguay 3 Russia 0
Uruguay:
 Suárez (10'), Cheryshev (23' og), Cavani (90')
Russia: Smolnikov (Red card: 36')

Man of the match: Diego Godin (Uruguay)

How to apply for a drone permit
  • Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
  • Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
  • Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
  • Submit their request
What are the regulations?
  • Fly it within visual line of sight
  • Never over populated areas
  • Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
  • Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
  • Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
  • Should have a live feed of the drone flight
  • Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Emergency

Director: Kangana Ranaut

Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry 

Rating: 2/5

Terror attacks in Paris, November 13, 2015

- At 9.16pm, three suicide attackers killed one person outside the Atade de France during a foootball match between France and Germany- At 9.25pm, three attackers opened fire on restaurants and cafes over 20 minutes, killing 39 people- Shortly after 9.40pm, three other attackers launched a three-hour raid on the Bataclan, in which 1,500 people had gathered to watch a rock concert. In total, 90 people were killed- Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the terrorists, did not directly participate in the attacks, thought to be due to a technical glitch in his suicide vest- He fled to Belgium and was involved in attacks on Brussels in March 2016. He is serving a life sentence in France

What is a robo-adviser?

Robo-advisers use an online sign-up process to gauge an investor’s risk tolerance by feeding information such as their age, income, saving goals and investment history into an algorithm, which then assigns them an investment portfolio, ranging from more conservative to higher risk ones.

These portfolios are made up of exchange traded funds (ETFs) with exposure to indices such as US and global equities, fixed-income products like bonds, though exposure to real estate, commodity ETFs or gold is also possible.

Investing in ETFs allows robo-advisers to offer fees far lower than traditional investments, such as actively managed mutual funds bought through a bank or broker. Investors can buy ETFs directly via a brokerage, but with robo-advisers they benefit from investment portfolios matched to their risk tolerance as well as being user friendly.

Many robo-advisers charge what are called wrap fees, meaning there are no additional fees such as subscription or withdrawal fees, success fees or fees for rebalancing.

Our legal consultant

Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

'My Son'

Director: Christian Carion

Starring: James McAvoy, Claire Foy, Tom Cullen, Gary Lewis

Rating: 2/5

'Munich: The Edge of War'

Director: Christian Schwochow

Starring: George MacKay, Jannis Niewohner, Jeremy Irons

Rating: 3/5

Results

5.30pm: Maiden Dh165,000 (Turf) 1,600m; Winner: Al Battar, Mickael Barzalona (jockey), Salem bin Ghadayer (trainer).

6.05pm: Maiden Dh165,000 (Dirt) 1,200m; Winner: Good Fighter, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.

6.40pm: Handicap Dh185,000 (T) 1,200m; Winner: Way Of Wisdom, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar.

7.15pm: Handicap Dh170,000 (D) 2,200m; Winner: Immortalised, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar.

7.50pm: Handicap Dh185,000 (T) 2,000m; Winner: Franz Kafka, James Doyle, Simon Crisford.

8.25pm: Handicap Dh185,000 (D) 1,200m; Winner: Mayadeen, Connor Beasley, Doug Watson.

9pm: Handicap Dh185,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Chiefdom, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer

TECH%20SPECS%3A%20APPLE%20WATCH%20SERIES%208
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDisplay%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2041mm%2C%20352%20x%20430%3B%2045mm%2C%20396%20x%20484%3B%20Retina%20LTPO%20OLED%2C%20up%20to%201000%20nits%2C%20always-on%3B%20Ion-X%20glass%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EProcessor%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Apple%20S8%2C%20W3%20wireless%2C%20U1%20ultra-wideband%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECapacity%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2032GB%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EMemory%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%201GB%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPlatform%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20watchOS%209%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EHealth%20metrics%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203rd-gen%20heart%20rate%20sensor%2C%20temperature%20sensing%2C%20ECG%2C%20blood%20oxygen%2C%20workouts%2C%20fall%2Fcrash%20detection%3B%20emergency%20SOS%2C%20international%20emergency%20calling%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EConnectivity%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20GPS%2FGPS%20%2B%20cellular%3B%20Wi-Fi%2C%20LTE%2C%20Bluetooth%205.3%2C%20NFC%20(Apple%20Pay)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDurability%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20IP6X%2C%20water%20resistant%20up%20to%2050m%2C%20dust%20resistant%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBattery%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20308mAh%20Li-ion%2C%20up%20to%2018h%2C%20wireless%20charging%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECards%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20eSIM%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFinishes%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Aluminium%20%E2%80%93%20midnight%2C%20Product%20Red%2C%20silver%2C%20starlight%3B%20stainless%20steel%20%E2%80%93%20gold%2C%20graphite%2C%20silver%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EIn%20the%20box%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Watch%20Series%208%2C%20magnetic-to-USB-C%20charging%20cable%2C%20band%2Floop%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Starts%20at%20Dh1%2C599%20(41mm)%20%2F%20Dh1%2C999%20(45mm)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
What is graphene?

Graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms arranged like honeycomb.

It was discovered in 2004, when Russian-born Manchester scientists Andrei Geim and Kostya Novoselov were "playing about" with sticky tape and graphite - the material used as "lead" in pencils.

Placing the tape on the graphite and peeling it, they managed to rip off thin flakes of carbon. In the beginning they got flakes consisting of many layers of graphene. But as they repeated the process many times, the flakes got thinner.

By separating the graphite fragments repeatedly, they managed to create flakes that were just one atom thick. Their experiment had led to graphene being isolated for the very first time.

At the time, many believed it was impossible for such thin crystalline materials to be stable. But examined under a microscope, the material remained stable, and when tested was found to have incredible properties.

It is many times times stronger than steel, yet incredibly lightweight and flexible. It is electrically and thermally conductive but also transparent. The world's first 2D material, it is one million times thinner than the diameter of a single human hair.

But the 'sticky tape' method would not work on an industrial scale. Since then, scientists have been working on manufacturing graphene, to make use of its incredible properties.

In 2010, Geim and Novoselov were awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics. Their discovery meant physicists could study a new class of two-dimensional materials with unique properties. 

 

Updated: September 19, 2022, 5:55 AM