We might be approaching the end of the year, but 2019 still has plenty in store for us in the UAE. It's going to be an especially busy two months for music fans, with a number of award-winning international acts heading to Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Here are some of the big concerts we still have to look forward to:
Wake Up Call – Disclosure, Rita Ora
New festival Wake Up Call will take place at W Dubai – The Palm this October. Rita Ora and Disclosure will headline the event with other acts including Rufus Du Sol, Bob Moses and Hollaphonic also on the bill. As well as the music, W Dubai will also be offering a number of special room rates for guests, and will be hosting a series of events across the three days. Also expect fashion pop-ups, a shisha garden and food trucks.
Thursday, October 10 to Saturday, October 12; weekend festival pass starts at Dh345; W Dubai – The Palm, Palm Jumeirah; www.wakeupcallfest.com
Skepta
UK grime star Skepta will be hitting the Dubai club circuit in October, with back-to-back performances at two of the city's biggest nightlife spots. On Thursday, October 10, he will play at White Dubai, and on Friday, October 11, he will take to the stage in Drai's Dubai, alongside American RnB star Jeremih. Skepta has released five studio albums, one of which won the 2016 Mercury Prize. He is best known for songs Shut Up and Top Boy.
Friday, October 11 and Saturday, October 12, 10pm-4am; free for ladies, Dh200 for gents; whitedubai.com www.draisdxb.com
One Year to Go – Mariah Carey, Hussain Al Jassmi
International singer Mariah Carey and Emirati superstar Hussain Al Jassmi are set to share a stage in Dubai in October to celebrate the one-year countdown to Expo 2020. The pair will perform at the free One Year to Go concert at Burj Park, Downtown Dubai, joined by musical favourites DJ Bliss, Abri and Funk Radius and Khalifa. As well as music, there will be a countdown with a fireworks display at Burj Park and a Burj Khalifa LED show.
Sunday, October 20, 5pm-10pm; free; Burj Park, Downtown Dubai; dubai.platinumlist.net/event-tickets/77194/expo-2020-1-year-to-go
Eminem
American rapper Eminem returns to Abu Dhabi as part of his Kamikaze world tour. The show at Yas Island's du Arena will feature other performers including Royce Da 5'9 and DJ The Alchemist. Eminem's hit songs include Lose Yourself, Stan, Without Me and The Real Slim Shady.
Friday, October 25; 6pm; from Dh395; du Arena, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi; www.ticketmaster.ae
Party in the Park – Fatboy Slim, The Kooks, Lighthouse Family
Two-day festival Party in the Park returns to Dubai in October. This year's line-up features Fatboy Slim, The Kooks, Richard Ashcroft and Lighthouse Family. The gig will be held at Dubai Media City Amphitheatre on Thursday, October 31 and Friday, November 1 and there will be a Halloween theme on the first night. Fatboy Slim will headline and perform his hits, such as Right Here, Right Now, Praise You, Sunset (Bird of Prey), The Old Pair of Jeans and Eat, Sleep Rave, Repeat.
Thursday, October 31, 6pm-1am; Friday, November 1, 2pm-midnight; from Dh250, Dubai Media City, Amphitheatre; www.platinumlist.net
Snoopy Beats Festival
Snoopy Island in Fujairah will be the location of a day-to-night beach rave festival, taking place on Friday, November 1 and Saturday, November 2. The Snoopy-Con edition of the legendary beach rave will have a strong environmental message, serving drinks in reusable cups, and will seek to educate people about sustainability. The musical line-up will feature sets from DJs Tennis, Jimi Jules, Caleesi, Hoolz and Mak.
Friday, November 1 and Saturday, November 2; from Dh160; Sandy Beach Hotel Resorts, Fujairah; www.snoopybeats.com
Dua Lipa
British pop star Dua Lipa will perform in the UAE next month at The Pointe, on Dubai's Palm Jumeirah. The singer will take to the stage on Friday, November 15, where fans can expect to hear a range of her chart-friendly tunes, including Hotter Than Hell and IDGAF. The evening will also include performances from the Moto Dancers dance crew and a workout with fitness instructor Jed Latabe at the West Side arena, before Lipa takes to a purpose-built stage over the water.
Friday, November 15; 4pm; from Dh250; The Pointe, Palm Jemeirah, Dubai; www.ticketmaster.ae
AR Rahman
Indian musician and composer AR Rahman will take to the stage at Dubai's Coca-Cola Arena on Friday, November 15. The two-time Oscar-winner is a prolific composer, having worked on the music scores for nearly 200 films, including multi-Academy-Award-winning Slumdog Millionaire, as well as Danny Boyle's Oscar-nominated 127 Hours and dozens of Bollywood movies. The concert also promises a number of special guests, who are yet to be announced.
Friday, November 15, doors open 6pm; from Dh50; Coca-Cola Arena, City Walk, Dubai; www.coca-cola-arena.com
Passenger
Michael Rosenberg, better known as Passenger, is bringing his award-winning sounds to the UAE later in November. The British singer-songwriter is set to take to the stage at Dubai Opera to perform hits including Let Her Go, Hell or High Water and Heart's On Fire.
Wednesday, November 20, 8pm; from Dh195; Dubai Opera, Downtown Dubai; www.dubaiopera.com
Marshmello
EDM star Marshmello will kick-start this year's Abu Dhabi F1 after-race concert series, as he performs at yas Island's du Arena on Thursday, November 28. Marshmello – real name Christopher Comstock – is one of the world's biggest names in electronic music. With a string of multi-platinum hits, the internationally recognised DJ has had a number of high-profile collaborations with the likes of Bastille, Selena Gomez, Anne-Marie and Khalid.
Thursday, November 28; race packages start from Dh999; du Arena, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi; www.yasmarinacircuit.com
Travis Scott
US rapper Travis Scott will take to the du Arena Stage on Friday, November 29, for what will be the second of four after race-concerts at this year's Abu Dhabi F1. Scott, who is known for his high-octane shows, will hit the capital as part of his extensive Astroworld world tour, performing hits including Sicko Mode and Mile High.
Friday, November 29; race packages start from Dh999; du Arena, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi; www.yasmarinacircuit.com
Lana Del Ray
Singer Lana Del Rey will headline Saturday night's after-race concert at the Abu Dhabi, making her UAE debut. In addition to her smouldering hits Summertime Sadness and Born to Die, the artist, 34, recently released her sixth album, Norman (expletive) Rockwell, a record containing more colour and groove than her normally monochromic compositions.
Saturday, November 30; race packages start from Dh999; du Arena, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi; www.yasmarinacircuit.com
The Killers
Las Vegas rock group The Killers will take to the du Arena stage on Sunday, December 1, for the final show of this year's Abu Dhabi F1. Fresh from a summer of festival headline sets, the band will return to the UAE 10 years after making their debut, with hits including Somebody Told Me, Mr Brightside and For Reasons Unknown.
Sunday, December 1; race packages start from Dh999; du Arena, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi; www.yasmarinacircuit.com
Melanie C
Melanie C, otherwise known as Sporty Spice, will be heading to Dubai on Friday, December 13, to perform at beach club Zero Gravity. As well as a DJ set, the Spice Girl will be performing some of her old tracks, fresh off the back of the band’s UK reunion tour.
Friday, December 13, from 6pm; free for ladies, from Dh100 for gents; Zero Gravity, Skydive Dubai Drop Zone; www.0-gravity.ae
Dido
British artist Dido is coming to Dubai for the first time in December. The White Flag singer is set to perform at the Dubai Media City Amphitheatre on Friday, December 13. Best known for her soulful and chilled hits, Dido also enjoyed a hugely successful collaboration, Stan, with Eminem back in 2000.
Friday, December 13, 7pm; from Dh295; Dubai Media City Amphitheatre; ae.bookmyshow.com/dubai
Bruno Mars
Bruno Mars will perform in the capital to ring in the start of 2020. The 11-time Grammy-winner will headline the Resolution by Night festival on Yas Island on Tuesday, December 31. Since bursting on to the music scene in 2010, the Grenade hit-maker has become one of the most revered and recognisable names in music. His albums have sold more than 130 million copies worldwide. In 2018, Billboard named his 24K Magic World Tour the fourth-highest-grossing, bringing in more than $237m (Dh870.5m) over 100 shows.
Tuesday, December 31, 6pm; from Dh350, du Arena, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi; www.ticketmaster.ae
