In one of the most anticipated shows in recent years, Beyonce will perform an invitation-only concert at new Dubai resort Atlantis The Royal on Saturday night.
The exclusive affair not only marks her return to the stage since 2018, but also a chance to debut songs from acclaimed new album Renaissance ahead of a planned world tour in summer.
The concert also continues an enduring relationship with the UAE.
Abu Dhabi and Dubai were where she performed her first shows in the Middle East as both a solo artist and part of former group Destiny’s Child.
In 2009 she launched one of the region’s biggest concert venues, Etihad Park, and was the first artist to play as part of the Abu Dhabi F1 Grand Prix.
The success of the show helped cement the pioneering after-race concert series in the city before being replicated at other F1 races in Singapore, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
John Lickrish, chief executive of Flash Entertainment, the company behind all the Abu Dhabi F1 concerts, says the show was attended by 40,000 people, putting Abu Dhabi on the touring map.
The Canadian recalls the gig being one of the biggest of her I Am ... World Tour.
"I remember a massive line outside the venue that began at about 2pm that afternoon,” he says. "It was a good test for us to put on a show of that size in the venue for the first time."
Beyonce was at the peak of her powers by the time she set foot in Abu Dhabi in October.
A remarkable eight singles were already released from her fourth album, 2008’s I Am ... Sasha Fierce, which went on to sell more than 10 million copies.
"It was a bit of a coup in getting the deal done," Lickrish says.
"I remember being on a call with Mrs Knowles (Beyonce's mother Tina Knowles) and we discussed her daughter's show, what a great performer she was and how she wanted us to take care of her in every way possible.
"It was an hour-and-a-half conversation which was more one-sided than back and forth and at the end of the day she ended up coming here.”
Judging by the rapturous reception and Beyonce’s reaction, Lickrish and his team knew they achieved more than a career milestone.
The concert resonated in the tight circles of the live music industry and helped pave the way for future big-name acts such as Madonna, The Rolling Stones and Paul McCartney to add Abu Dhabi in their respective tours.
"My best memory from that show is the crowd going absolutely crazy and the big smile on Beyonce's face at the end of the show because it was one of the biggest she played up until that point," Lickrish said.
"It was definitely one to remember for the books.”
Beyonce probably wasn't too surprised by the crowd's reaction in Abu Dhabi, since UAE fans had been following her career since her days in Destiny's Child.
She also entertained a 16,000-strong audience at the group's sold-out show in Dubai Media City in 2005.
Putting that concert together was Thomas Ovesen, founder of Top Entertainment.
At that time, the Dane was no stranger to bringing big acts to the UAE, having secured Mariah Carey for the same venue the previous year.
Ovesen knew Beyonce was cut from a different cloth as soon as she arrived in the emirate.
“Beyonce came to Dubai the night before the concert while the rest of the band came two days before,” he previously told The National.
“I kid you not, she went from the airport, dumped her stuff in the hotel, and went straight to the venue for three hours of rehearsals. She wore out the group and the backing dancers. She was the bandleader and choreographer.
“You could just tell that she was going to be huge.”
As Beyonce prepares to launch the next phase of her successful career in Dubai tonight, UAE fans will once again be front row in experiencing a star in her prime.
40 facts about Beyonce — in pictures
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Members of Destiny's Child, from left, LeToya, LaTavia, Kelly and Beyonce, pose with the three Lady of Soul Awards they won at the 1998 Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards which was telecast live September 3 in Santa Monica. Reuters -
Beyonce at a studio in Sylmar, California recording the video for Destiny's Child's song, 'Bills, Bills, Bills' in 1999. Reuters -
Destiny's Child, from left, Kelly Rowland, Beyonce Knowles and Michelle Williams sing as they accept the Artist of the Year Award at the 2000 Billboard Music Awards December 5, 2000 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Reuters -
Destiny's Child, Kelly, Beyonce and Michelle Williams, perform with two dancers during halftime between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 4 of NBA finals in Philadelphia, June 13, 2001. Reuters -
Mike Myers and Beyonce who co-starred in the film 'Austin Powers in Goldmember' pose at the post-premiere party at the Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles, July 22, 2002. Reuters -
Guitarist Carlos Santana and singer Beyonce perform at the Super Bowl pre-game show at San Diego's Qualcomm Stadium, January 26, 2003. Reuters -
Beyonce signs autographs after performing at an outdoor concert in New York, June 27, 2003. The former singer in the band Destiny's Child released her first solo album 'Dangerously in Love' on June 24. Reuters -
Beyonce hangs upside down at the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards at the Radio City Music Hall in New York, August 28, 2003. Reuters -
Beyonce and Jay-Z watch the women's semifinal match between Kim Clijsters of Belgium and Lindsay Davenport of the United States at the 2003 US Open in Flushing Meadows, New York, September 5, 2003. Reuters -
Beyonce talks with Britain's Prince of Wales during the reception at the Fashion Rocks concert and fashion show in aid of the Prince's Trust at the Royal Albert Hall in London, October 15, 2003. Reuters -
Nelson Mandela poses for photographers with Beyonce and other performers during a visit to Robben Island Prison near Cape Town, November 28, 2003. Reuters -
Beyonce sings the national anthem before the start of Super Bowl XXXVIII in Houston February 1, 2004. Reuters -
Prince and Beyonce perform during the 46th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, February 8, 2004. Reuters -
Solange Knowles, star of the new comedy film 'Johnson Family Vacation', poses with her sister, Beyonce and Kelly Rowland at the film's premiere in Hollywood March 31, 2004. Reuters -
Beyonce performs 'Learn to be Lonely' from the Phantom of the Opera at the 77th annual Academy Awards in Hollywood, February 27, 2005. Reuters -
Destiny's Child accepts a star on the Walk of Fame under heavy rain in Hollywood March 28, 2006. Reuters -
Beyonce arrives to attend the amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, gala benefit in New York January 31, 2007. Reuters -
Beyonce arrives at the 79th Annual Academy Awards in Hollywood, California, February 25, 2007. Reuters -
Beyonce greets fans after performing during the 2008 Fashion Rocks concert to begin the 2009 Spring/Summer Fashion Week in New York September 5, 2008. Reuters -
Beyonce speaks with reporters at the premiere of 'Cadillac Records' in New York December 1, 2008. Reuters -
Beyonce sings 'America the Beautiful' during the We Are One: Opening Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, January 18, 2009. Reuters -
Beyonce sings to President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle during their first dance of the evening at the Neighborhood Inaugural Ball in Washington, January 20, 2009. Reuters -
Beyonce performs at the BET Awards '09 in Los Angeles June 28, 2009. Reuters -
Taylor Swift greets Beyonce after being invited by Beyonce to finish her previously interrupted acceptance speech for best female video at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards in New York, September 13, 2009. Reuters -
Beyonce smiles as she makes an appearance at the Macy's department store to promote her new fragrance Heat in New York February 3, 2010. Reuters -
Beyonce performs on the Pyramid stage on the last day of the Glastonbury Festival, Somerset June 26, 2011. Reuters -
Beyonce poses at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles August 28, 2011. Reuters -
Beyonce sings the national anthem as US President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden look on during the swearing-in ceremonies on the West Front of the US Capitol in Washington, January 21, 2013. Reuters -
Beyonce performs during the half time show in the NFL Super Bowl XLVII football game in New Orleans, Louisiana, February 3, 2013. Reuters -
Beyonce and her husband Jay-Z perform at the 56th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California January 26, 2014. Reuters -
Beyonce smiles with Jay-Z and daughter Blue Ivy after accepting the Video Vanguard Award on stage during the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards in Inglewood, California August 24, 2014. Reuters -
Beyonce and Ed Sheeran perform a medley during the taping of 'Stevie Wonder: Songs In The Key Of Life - An All-Star GRAMMY Salute' concert at Nokia theatre in Los Angeles, California February 10, 2015. Reuters -
Beyonce, Chris Martin and Bruno Mars perform during the half-time show at the NFL's Super Bowl 50 between the Carolina Panthers and the Denver Broncos in Santa Clara, California February 7, 2016. Reuters -
Beyonce performs 'Take My Hand' at the 57th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California on February 8, 2015. Reuters -
Beyonce performs 'Freedom' with Kendrick Lamar at the 2016 BET Awards in Los Angeles, California, June 26, 2016. Reuters -
Beyonce arrives at the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards in New York, August 28, 2016. Reuters -
Beyonce performs at the 59th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, February 12, 2017. Reuters -
Beyonce holds the awards she won for Best Urban Contemporary Album for 'Lemonade' and Best Music Video for 'Formation' at the 59th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, February 12, 2017. Reuters -
Beyonce performs onstage during 2018 Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival Weekend 1 at the Empire Polo Field on April 14, 2018 in Indio, California. AFP -
Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, meet cast and crew, including Beyonce and her husband, Jay-Z, as they attend the European premiere of the film The Lion King in London, Britain July 14, 2019. Reuters
