Press release - Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority

FLASH Entertainment is hosting Madonna’s performance in Abu Dhabi on 3 June 2012 in what is already being talked about as the regional music event of the decade. It has been confirmed that only 22,000 tickets will be sold for the show.

With an average of 41,000 fans attending each show of Madonna’s last tour in 2008/9, FLASH is preparing for one of the fastest selling shows in the city’s history. Tickets go on sale at midday on Monday 27 February and fans are urged to buy early to avoid disappointment.

Madonna’s concert weekend is expected to draw tens of thousands of fans to Yas Island and will mark a real milestone for Abu Dhabi; a city that has built an international reputation for world-class entertainment and sports events.

In 2011, the Yas Arena saw over half a million people through its doors to see performers including Aerosmith, Shakira, Beyonce, Paul McCartney, Eric Clapton, Stevie Wonder, Britney Spears, Metallica, Janet Jackson and Arabic Megastar Amr Diab. In all, the arena has hosted over 50 artists and 23 shows in the past three years.

With tennis, golf, motor racing, football and sailing already a common feature on the annual Abu Dhabi event calendar, confirmation that Madonna will perform exclusively in the region, follows a long tradition of major concerts in the city and validates the Emirate’s position as a truly international live music destination.

Mira Sadek at FLASH Entertainment stressed that hosting Madonna was not just a landmark event for Abu Dhabi, but one the entire region could be proud of,

“Abu Dhabi has provided the perfect backdrop for exceptional entertainment, cultural and sporting events in recent years. The city has become a major player in the industry, which has played an important part in elevating the entire region’s reputation for delivering world-class entertainment,” says Sadek.

“Extremely high profile concerts of this nature do much to spread awareness of Abu Dhabi’s tourism offering and the city’s emergence as an international entertainment destination,” says Faisal Al Sheikh, Events Manager at Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority.

“Headline concerts have proved their worth in delivering an increasing number of guests to Abu Dhabi’s hotels and this show, coming as it does in a traditionally slow month will be welcomed by all in the UAE capital’s hospitality sector.”

As one of the most captivating cities in the Middle East, Abu Dhabi continues to attract millions each year who come to enjoy the city’s cultural diversity, world-class leisure and entertainment facilities, stunning beaches and cosmopolitan lifestyle.

In recent years, the city has successfully positioned itself as the entertainment hub of the Middle East with the 2009 opening of Yas Island, where the first ever day and night Etihad Airways Formula One™ Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was staged.

Just a short drive from Abu Dhabi International Airport, Yas Island is home to a wide collection of the country’s finest hotels and leisure attractions including Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, Yas Links, Yas Yacht Club and over 30 dining options, including the world famous Cipriani restaurant.

With the growth of the Yas Island Show Weekends and Yasalam, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi is well established as a regional hot spot for concertgoers. The island boasts two performance venues, the Yas Arena and FLASH Forum. The Yas Arena is a landmark of Abu Dhabi and the biggest open-air concert venue in the Middle East. With unrestricted views throughout, the arena provides an unrivalled live music experience.

Etihad Airways will be announcing concert packages in the coming weeks and details will be made available at www.etihad.com/Madonna