ABU DHABI // It is shaping up to be one of the largest, most accessible concerts the nation has ever seen: Alicia Keys opening for George Michael in front of up to 30,000 fans at Zayed Sports City stadium to celebrate National Day.
The singer from the US was added to the Dec 1 bill yesterday - marking the first time she and her fellow Grammy winner from the UK will perform on the same stage.
On Saturday, organisers will make 10,000 low-priced tickets available at Dh190 (US$52) each. The two artists should prove a major draw. Michael, who has sold more than 100 million records, has said it will be his farewell show.
Keys, who has sold more than 30m records, will appear in Abu Dhabi as part of a two-month tour of Europe, Australia and New Zealand.
It is the first concert to be staged at the stadium, better known for hosting football and hockey tournaments.
Due to the stadium's size, concert organisers Flash will be working closely with police.
The event will begin with a local act that has yet to be announced, before moving into Keys' performance. Michael, due on stage after 11pm, will sing past midnight in a show to be punctuated by celebratory fireworks.
Key's 2001 debut album, Songs In A Minor, contained the hit Fallin', which sold more than 10m copies worldwide when released as a single, and garnered five Grammy Awards, including best new artist and best R&B album.
Her follow up, 2004's The Diary of Alicia Keys, won four Grammy Awards. While the show will be her first performance here, Keys, 27, is no stranger to the region. The singer has spoken of making a "personal pilgrimage" to Egypt's Valley of the Kings for musical inspiration.
She was ordered to postpone two tour dates in the UK on the first leg of this year's tour after contracting laryngitis, but went on to sell out some of its biggest venues including the Manchester Arena.
Keys teamed up with the White Stripes' Jack White to record the first James Bond film theme song by a duet, Another Way To Die, for the latest instalment in the series, Quantum Of Solace, starring Daniel Craig.
The evening is said to be fans' last chance to see Michael in concert. The singer, who has faced a series of embarrassing incidents and several arrests, has pegged the Abu Dhabi show as the final live concert of his 25-year music career, and the finale of his 25 Live tour.
Michael and Keys follow Justin Timberlake, Elton John, Jon Bon Jovi and Christina Aguilera in playing in the capital.
Aguilera's show last week was the biggest-budget music production so far in the UAE.
Tickets to see Keys and Michael go on sale Saturday at www.boxofficeme.com
They will be available next Tuesday from Virgin Megastores, Hallmark, Spinneys, Cellucom.
For more information, visit www.georgeandalicia.ae, which will be live on Saturday.
mswan@thenational.ae
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SPECS
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Barbie
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New UK refugee system
- A new “core protection” for refugees moving from permanent to a more basic, temporary protection
- Shortened leave to remain - refugees will receive 30 months instead of five years
- A longer path to settlement with no indefinite settled status until a refugee has spent 20 years in Britain
- To encourage refugees to integrate the government will encourage them to out of the core protection route wherever possible.
- Under core protection there will be no automatic right to family reunion
- Refugees will have a reduced right to public funds
What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
What is tokenisation?
Tokenisation refers to the issuance of a blockchain token, which represents a virtually tradable real, tangible asset. A tokenised asset is easily transferable, offers good liquidity, returns and is easily traded on the secondary markets.
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
Brief scores:
Day 1
Toss: South Africa, field first
Pakistan (1st innings) 177: Sarfraz 56, Masood 44; Olivier 4-48
South Africa (1st innings) 123-2: Markram 78; Masood 1-4
Brief scores:
Toss: South Africa, chose to field
Pakistan: 177 & 294
South Africa: 431 & 43-1
Man of the Match: Faf du Plessis (South Africa)
Series: South Africa lead three-match series 2-0
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UAE%20SQUAD
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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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