George Michael to bow out in Abu Dhabi

Melanie Swan

• Last Updated: October 25. 2008 11:55PM UAE / October 25. 2008 7:55PM GMT

ABU DHABI // George Michael is to stage what he says is the final concert of his career at Abu Dhabi’s Zayed Sports City on Dec 1.

The British singer will perform in front of 30,000 fans in what will be his first show in the Middle East.

The concert is a last–minute addition to his 25-date retirement tour, 25 Live, which concluded in Copenhagen, Denmark, at the end of August before an audience of 40,000. It will bring to an end a performing career that has spanned 25 years.

“There will be a few surprises on the night,” said a spokeswoman for the organisers. “We can’t say what but it will make the night one to remember for everyone.”

The 45-year-old singer is coming to Abu Dhabi despite having already announced his retirement.

Reports in the British press claim an offer of £1 million (Dh6m) to come to the emirates persuaded him to perform for one last time.

The spokeswoman said Michael was being brought to the emirates by Live Nation and Flash. Live Nation made headlines last year when the company signed a US$120m (Dh440m) deal to secure all of Madonna’s recording and touring rights. The arrangement was billed as the future of the recording industry and made Madonna, who turned 50 in August, the founding artist of the company’s Artist Nation division.

mswan@thenational.ae