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After last year’s win by Australia’s Sun Classique jockey Kevin Shea, seen here with owner Lionel Cohen (R) and trainer W V Rippon (L), the world’s richest horse race returns to Nad Al Sheba.
Coldplay makes its Middle East debut next weekend. The one-off show from the Grammy award-winning foursome comes as the final stop on the world tour for their critically acclaimed fourth album, Viva Le Vida.
Where? Emirates Palace grounds, Abu Dhabi
What time? Doors open at 4pm, and the show is scheduled to begin at 9pm.
What to expect: If the boys’ recent performances in Australia and at the Brit Awards are anything to go by, then this will be one show that will be remembered by the UAE for many years to come. Expect frontman Chris Martin and the rest of the band to belt out all the hits, including Viva La Vida, Violet Hill, Lost, Fix you, Yellow, Clocks, The Scientist, Lovers in Japan… the list goes on.
Attendance: 15,000
Who’s going to be there? Coldplay obviously – that’s frontman Martin, lead guitarist Jonny Buckland, bassist Guy Berryman, and drummer Will Champion. You never know, Martin’s wife, Hollywood star Gwyneth Paltrow might make it to town with children Apple and Moses. And of course, over 15,000 fans will be there to witness the band’s first show in the region.
What the organisers say: Live Nation issued a statement saying: “Coldplay’s debut performance in the Middle East is set to attract one of the biggest attendances in the UAE. Regional fans of the band have waited along time for this show and they won’t be disappointed.”
What we say: Tickets for this show are like gold dust. If you haven’t got yours, then start searching; if you have, don’t rub it in your friends’ faces unless you’re willing to get hurt with whatever object thrown at you.
Tickets? Judging by the online ticketing outlets, the event is completely sold out, but we’re confident, tickets will continue popping up until the day of the gig. They’re priced at Dh295, Dh495, Dh795 and Dh895. Keep checking Timeouttickets.com and Boxofficeme.com for the latest updates.
It’s that time of the year again when some of the world’s finest horses and trainers congregate for the world’s richest day of racing, giving away a total of $21.25 million (Dh77.98m) in prize money. Yep, it’s the Dubai World Cup.
Where? Nad Al Sheba Racecourse, Dubai
What time? Doors open at 12pm, and races begin at 6pm.
What to expect: Seven races featuring horses from 12 countries. The highlight comes in the form of a top class field of 15 record-breaking runners fighting it out for the $6m Dubai World Cup top prize, sponsored by Emirates Airline. The hot favourite is local hero Asiatic Boy, trained by Albertus Maximus. Aside from all the horsing around, there’s plenty of entertainment, including music, a top selection of food, savouries and the fashion of course.
Attendance: 50,000
Who’s going to be there? The crème de la crème of the UAE’s VIPs, celebrities, as well as locals and expatriates. So take your camera.
What the organisers say: “The 14th renewal of the Dubai World Cup is set to be engraved in UAE history as it is the final meeting to be staged at the Nad Al Sheba Racecourse before racing is moved to the iconic horse racing city, Meydan.”
What we say: Go on; it’s your chance to be part of history with this being the last ever tournament at the legendary Nad Al Sheba Racecourse. Plus, where else can you dress in your best suit/frock and mingle with the city’s It crowd?
Tickets? Most categories are sold out. But at the time of going to print, the Maktoum Terrace, priced Dh1,000 and Silks, priced Dh2,500 are still available. Visit Dubaiworldcup.com for more.
Greetings earthlings…
If the recession’s turned you into a penny pincher then forget Coldplay and the races and switch off for the night to celebrate Earth Hour. From 8.30pm on March 28, many of the city’s major landmarks (and neighbouring Abu Dhabi and Sharjah) will switch their power off to participate in the world’s first election between Earth and global warming. You decide if you want to cast your vote for the future of mankind. We doubt the Dubai World Cup will issue a blackout, but if Chris Martin has a say, we reckon Coldplay will hold off tuning their instruments until after 9.30pm. (Bindu Rai)
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