Dubai Lifestyle News
Justin Bieber books out Dubai golf course
Music megastar Justin Bieber will have plenty of privacy when he visits Dubai next week, as reports have suggested the Canadian has booked out an entire golf course in the city.The 19-year-old will take to the stage at The Sevens Stadium on May 4th and 5th and both shows have sold out.Dubai has everything that a young celebrity could possibly wish for and Bieber's team have wasted no time in ensuring he is well looked after.A source told the Sun newspaper that his managers are keen to keep him “under the radar” during his time in the UAE.”They have hired out an entire golf course for two whole days to give him much-needed privacy as well,” they were quoted as saying.It is also believed that Bieber's team have approached the owners of two waterparks to see if they can provide the star with full exclusive access to the facilities.Although Dubai is famous for being a playground for the rich and famous, it is fair to suggest that Bieber will be the biggest star to have performed in the city.There had been talk of the youngster buying a plush property of his own in the Middle East, but this has not been confirmed as yet.Bieber's Believe Tour is one of the biggest events on the planet and it is a real coup for Dubai to secure two back-to-back performances from the teenage sensation.Earlier this month, chief operating officer at Done Events – the company that has organised the shows – Thomas Ovesen said the fact that tickets for the original concert sold out so fast highlights just how popular the singer is in this part of the world.”The fans have spoken – this is the biggest concert yet to be staged in Dubai and one that has now completely sold out,” he commented.Bieber first came to prominence at the age of 15, when he became a YouTube star. Continue reading
Fifa happy with progress of UAE stadia
Fifa officials are happy that the UAE will be ready to stage an international football tournament in October 2013.The sport's governing body has visited the six venues that are set to be used in the Fifa Under-17 World Cup UAE 2013 and they confirmed the six-day inspection went well.Games will be held in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Fujairah, Ras al Khaimah and Sharjah between October 17th and November 8th.Fifa also ran the rule over 30 different training venues across the Arab country to check they are up to scratch.”The objective of these inspections is to assess how well the venues are making headway with their facilities in preparation to host the tournament in October,” a representative of the organisation remarked.”There has definitely been progress since our last visit to the UAE, but there is still work to be done before the venues are 100 per cent ready.”Director of the tournament Mohammed Abdulla bin Bdoua was quoted by Emirates 24/7 as saying this international competition will be the largest football event ever to take place in the UAE.The youth tournament was first introduced in 1985 and it is held every two years.UAE officials will be desperate to put on a good show and a successful competition could lead to bigger and better things in the future.The Middle East is not traditionally renowned for being a footballing hotbed, but there is no doubt that the game is growing in stature in this part of the world.Qatar will stage the 2022 Fifa World Cup and the UAE's Pro League is becoming more popular, with top players like Ghana's Asamoah Gyan and former Barcelona, Porto, Inter, Chelsea and Besiktas winger Ricardo Quaresma both currently plying their trade in Dubai.There is no question that Dubai's facilities are top notch too, as a number of professional clubs – including Swansea City, Sunderland, Queens Park Rangers, Borussia Monchengladbach and Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala – have held training camps in the city so far this season. Continue reading
Anticipation builds ahead of Happy Mondays gig
One of the most highly anticipated gigs of the year will take place at the Dubai Tennis Stadium tomorrow night (April 26th), as the original line-up of Manchester indie band the Happy Mondays finally get back together.The group epitomised the “Madchester” era of the late 1980s and early 1990s with their alternative rock/dance vibe and now they are set to bring their unique sound to the Middle East.There have been various versions of the Happy Mondays since they split up in 1993, but frontman Shaun Ryder has now convinced his brother Paul, Mark Day, Paul Davis, Gary Whelan, Mark 'Bez' Berry and Rowetta Satchell to join forces once again.In an interview with tabloid!, Ryder – who has appeared on numerous TV shows such as I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here! – said the group are still sounding very good 20 years on, which bodes well for the band's Gulf-based fans.The band were famous for their controversial ways, but Ryder insists they have calmed down and this has made touring far less stressful.”To be really honest with you, it's a lot easier now than it was the first time round,” he was quoted as saying.”We are not young lads with drama. It's just a lot more enjoyable. Now we're all 50-year-old blokes – it's only Bez who's still 21 years old in his head.”This will be the Happy Mondays' sole appearance in the Middle East and the show is likely to be a very memorable one.Ryder admitted that the group came under increasing pressure to reunite after the Stone Roses reformed towards the end of 2011.Like the Mondays, the Stone Roses were keen to entertain their fans in Dubai and they put on a scintillating performance in the city in February.This all goes to show that the emirate is capable of attracting the very biggest and best names in the music industry. Continue reading
