• Dari De Anda who had been queuing since yesterday was the fist in line to purchase her tickets. Antonie Robertson / The National
    Dari De Anda who had been queuing since yesterday was the fist in line to purchase her tickets. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • The British pop stars raked in twice as many tickets in two hours as Justin Bieber had in one day, said Thomas Ovesen, chief operating officer of Done Events, the promotion company behind the concert. Antonie Robertson / The National
    The British pop stars raked in twice as many tickets in two hours as Justin Bieber had in one day, said Thomas Ovesen, chief operating officer of Done Events, the promotion company behind the concert. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • About 3,000 turned up early Thursday morning at the Virgin Megastore in Dubai’s Mall of the Emirates, while about 500 to 600 queued in Abu Dhabi Mall, where tickets went on sale at 6am. Some 300 people arrived early to buy tickets in Qatar, where they went on sale at 9am. Silvia Razgova / The National
    About 3,000 turned up early Thursday morning at the Virgin Megastore in Dubai’s Mall of the Emirates, while about 500 to 600 queued in Abu Dhabi Mall, where tickets went on sale at 6am. Some 300 people arrived early to buy tickets in Qatar, where they went on sale at 9am. Silvia Razgova / The National
  • The concert had sold about 10,000 of 30,000 tickets at stores just before 10am. Antonie Robertson / The National
    The concert had sold about 10,000 of 30,000 tickets at stores just before 10am. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • “It’s by far the fastest-selling and most in-demand show that I’ve ever put on,” says Thomas Ovesen, chief operating officer of Done Events Antonie Robertson / The National
    “It’s by far the fastest-selling and most in-demand show that I’ve ever put on,” says Thomas Ovesen, chief operating officer of Done Events Antonie Robertson / The National
  • Dari De Anda 15, from Mexico, and her friend Hannah Edmondson, 15 from South Africa, who had been queuing since 4.30pm yesterday were the fist in line to purchase their tickets. Antonie Robertson / The National
    Dari De Anda 15, from Mexico, and her friend Hannah Edmondson, 15 from South Africa, who had been queuing since 4.30pm yesterday were the fist in line to purchase their tickets. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • A fan holds up tickets she bought for the One Direction Dubai Concert, which will take place on April 4, 2015, on May 22, 2014 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Francois Nel / Getty Images
    A fan holds up tickets she bought for the One Direction Dubai Concert, which will take place on April 4, 2015, on May 22, 2014 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Francois Nel / Getty Images
  • A man holds up tickets he bought for 1D. Francois Nel / Getty Images
    A man holds up tickets he bought for 1D. Francois Nel / Getty Images
  • A fan holds up tickets she bought for One Direction. Francois Nel / Getty Images
    A fan holds up tickets she bought for One Direction. Francois Nel / Getty Images
  • Leen Seifo, 15, runs out of the store after buying her ticket to see the One Direction, trailed by her friend Farah Abed, 15. Silvia Razgova / The National
    Leen Seifo, 15, runs out of the store after buying her ticket to see the One Direction, trailed by her friend Farah Abed, 15. Silvia Razgova / The National
  • Petra New, centre, 14, reacts as she’s about to receive her ticket to see One Direction in Abu Dhabi Mall. Silvia Razgova / The National
    Petra New, centre, 14, reacts as she’s about to receive her ticket to see One Direction in Abu Dhabi Mall. Silvia Razgova / The National
  • From left, Ameera Bakr, 13, her twin sister Sara Bakr, 13, and their friend Petra New, 14, react as they walk out of the Virgin Megastore in Abu Dhabi Mall. Silvia Razgova / The National
    From left, Ameera Bakr, 13, her twin sister Sara Bakr, 13, and their friend Petra New, 14, react as they walk out of the Virgin Megastore in Abu Dhabi Mall. Silvia Razgova / The National
  • Bethany Espedido, 13, and her friend Gabrielle Acasio, 13, react. Silvia Razgova / The National
    Bethany Espedido, 13, and her friend Gabrielle Acasio, 13, react. Silvia Razgova / The National
  • Fans and their families line up. Silvia Razgova / The National
    Fans and their families line up. Silvia Razgova / The National

In pictures: One Direction fever grips Dubai as tickets go on sale


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More than 2,000 One Direction fans lined up outside the Virgin Megastore in Mall of the Emirates in Dubai from the early hours of Thursday, with similar scenes at Abu Dhabi Mall.