BTS performed a sold-out show in Riyadh on Friday night. AP
BTS performed a sold-out show in Riyadh on Friday night. AP
BTS performed a sold-out show in Riyadh on Friday night. AP
BTS performed a sold-out show in Riyadh on Friday night. AP

Riyadh Season 2019: the top acts coming to perform in Saudi Arabia


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Over 100 events are set to take place across Saudi Arabia over the next three months as part of Riyadh Season. The K-pop super group BTS set the country alight when they performed at King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh on Friday, October 11. They also made history when they became the first international band to play a solo headline concert in the kingdom.

Moving forward, here are the biggest acts set to descend on the kingdom to watch out for:

'The Wizard of OZ'

The beloved musical runs for two weeks from Wednesday, October 16 on the Princess Nourah University stage.

The Illusionists

The touring magic troupe, who have performed on Broadway, feature a rotating cast of five to eight magicians who each have their own specialties. Think illusions, mind reading and comedy. The show is in Riyadh for four weeks, from Thursday, October 17 to Sunday, November 17, and is held at Zone Four.

Tamer Hosny and Nancy Ajram

Lebanese singer Nancy Ajram will perform alongside Tamer Hosny. EPA
Lebanese singer Nancy Ajram will perform alongside Tamer Hosny. EPA

Lebanese songstress Ajram and Egyptian singer Hosny will take to the stage together on Friday, October 18 from 8pm.

Cirque du Soleil Bazzar

‘Bazzar’ features a duo roller skating performance. Courtesy Cirque du Soleil
‘Bazzar’ features a duo roller skating performance. Courtesy Cirque du Soleil

The circus comes to Riyadh on Friday, November 1, and sticks around until Saturday, December 7. Expect fascinating acrobatics and several showtimes per day. The shows take place at Riyadh Front.

Abdulrahman Bin Musaad night 

Hussein Al Jassmi performs on a star-studded night. Courtesy DCT
Hussein Al Jassmi performs on a star-studded night. Courtesy DCT

Prince Abdulrahman Bin Musaad will recite a number of his famous poems, before several of the Arab world's biggest stars, including Emirati singer Hussain Al Jassmi, Syrian artist Assala Nasri, Saudi composer Abadi Al Jawhar and Saudi singer Mohammed Abdu, take to the stage to perform on Thursday, October 24.

Anime expo

All your favourite characters are jetting in from Japan for three days of anime from Thursday, November 14 to Saturday, November 16. Meet One Piece, Death Note, Detective Conan and plenty more, daily between 3pm and midnight at Riyadh Front.

Dynamo

The famed magician will show off his card and magic tricks between Wednesday, November 27 to Saturday, November 30 at the Riyadh Winter Wonderland zone.

WWE Crown Jewel

WWE Superstar Seth Rollins will be in action at WWE Crown Jewel in Riyadh. Courtesy WWE
WWE Superstar Seth Rollins will be in action at WWE Crown Jewel in Riyadh. Courtesy WWE

A signature event of Riyadh Season, WWE Crown Jewel takes place at the King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh on Thursday, October 31.

It will feature WWE superstars such as Seth Rollins, Kofi Kingston, Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar. Other WWE Superstars confirmed are “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt, Braun Strowman, The New Day, Randy Orton, AJ Styles, and Rey Mysterio along with special appearances by WWE Hall of Famers Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair.

Stan Wawrinka and Daniil Medvedev

Three-time Grand Slam winner Wawrinka and world No 4 Medvedev are the star names signed up for the first international tennis tournament to be held in Saudi Arabia later this year.

Eight of the world’s leading men’s tennis players will contest the Diriyah Tennis Cup just outside of Riyadh from Thursday, December 12 to Saturday, December 14.

The tournament forms part of the Diriyah season (Diriyah is just outside of Riyadh) which will include the Diriyah E-Prix, "Clash On The Dunes", the heavyweight boxing rematch between Andy Ruiz Jr and Anthony Joshua, and Diriyah Equestrian Festival, in addition to other entertainment and cultural activities from Friday, November 22 to Saturday, December 21.

How has net migration to UK changed?

The figure was broadly flat immediately before the Covid-19 pandemic, standing at 216,000 in the year to June 2018 and 224,000 in the year to June 2019.

It then dropped to an estimated 111,000 in the year to June 2020 when restrictions introduced during the pandemic limited travel and movement.

The total rose to 254,000 in the year to June 2021, followed by steep jumps to 634,000 in the year to June 2022 and 906,000 in the year to June 2023.

The latest available figure of 728,000 for the 12 months to June 2024 suggests levels are starting to decrease.

The specs

Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel

Power: 579hp

Torque: 859Nm

Transmission: Single-speed automatic

Price: From Dh825,900

On sale: Now

MATCH INFO

Sheffield United 3

Fleck 19, Mousset 52, McBurnie 90

Manchester United 3

Williams 72, Greenwood 77, Rashford 79

Innotech Profile

Date started: 2013

Founder/CEO: Othman Al Mandhari

Based: Muscat, Oman

Sector: Additive manufacturing, 3D printing technologies

Size: 15 full-time employees

Stage: Seed stage and seeking Series A round of financing 

Investors: Oman Technology Fund from 2017 to 2019, exited through an agreement with a new investor to secure new funding that it under negotiation right now. 

Company profile

Name: Infinite8

Based: Dubai

Launch year: 2017

Number of employees: 90

Sector: Online gaming industry

Funding: $1.2m from a UAE angel investor

Friday's schedule at the Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

GP3 qualifying, 10:15am

Formula 2, practice 11:30am

Formula 1, first practice, 1pm

GP3 qualifying session, 3.10pm

Formula 1 second practice, 5pm

Formula 2 qualifying, 7pm

Paatal Lok season two

Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy 

Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong

Rating: 4.5/5

Company Profile

Name: JustClean

Based: Kuwait with offices in other GCC countries

Launch year: 2016

Number of employees: 130

Sector: online laundry service

Funding: $12.9m from Kuwait-based Faith Capital Holding

 

 

Labour dispute

The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.


- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law 

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs: 2018 Jeep Compass

Price, base: Dh100,000 (estimate)

Engine: 2.4L four-cylinder

Transmission: Nine-speed automatic

Power: 184bhp at 6,400rpm

Torque: 237Nm at 3,900rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 9.4L / 100km

The winners

Fiction

  • ‘Amreekiya’  by Lena Mahmoud
  •  ‘As Good As True’ by Cheryl Reid

The Evelyn Shakir Non-Fiction Award

  • ‘Syrian and Lebanese Patricios in Sao Paulo’ by Oswaldo Truzzi;  translated by Ramon J Stern
  • ‘The Sound of Listening’ by Philip Metres

The George Ellenbogen Poetry Award

  • ‘Footnotes in the Order  of Disappearance’ by Fady Joudah

Children/Young Adult

  •  ‘I’ve Loved You Since Forever’ by Hoda Kotb 
Specs

Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request