Shakira plans capital date

ABU DHABI // Shakira, the Colombian pop singer with Lebanese roots, will star in the biggest New Year's Eve show to be staged in Abu Dhabi — a Latino-themed extravaganza at the Emirates Palace hotel. Ticket sales for the show have been capped at 10,000 to ensure a "more intimate occasion", the organiser, Flash, said yesterday. Previously, 20,000 fans were expected. "Shakira's a huge name and absolutely perfect for the event," said John Lickrish, the managing director of Flash. "She is just the kind of artist we wanted to encapsulate the Latin feel. With Shakira being half Lebanese, she's the perfect artist to bring here, reaching out to her fans in the region and adding the Latin twist to the evening." It will be the second performance in the UAE by the Colombian-born Shakira, whose New York-born father is of Lebanon descent. She sang at the Dubai Autodrome last year to an audience of 25,000.

Other New Year's Eve events in the capital will include an outdoor party at Al Bateen Marina with international DJs Saeed Murad and Artful Dodger. * The National