On the same weekend that Saudi Arabia hosts 600,000 music festival goers in the Al-Ula desert, Abu Dhabi has confirmed Coldplay, one of the world’s biggest acts, is headlining the city next year. One thing is becoming abundantly clear across the Middle East and that’s music tourism is flourishing.
While the Middle East isn’t traditionally considered for its music-related events or travel opportunities, that’s slowly changing and it’s all thanks to the efforts by tourism boards and event organisers that are successfully attracting big names to perform on the region’s biggest stages.
Last year, Dubai welcomed the likes of Bryan Adams, while Christina Aguilera and Armin van Buuren took the stage in Turkey, and Robbie Williams and Charlie Puth made their way to Abu Dhabi.
According to Forbes Middle East, the global music tourism market is estimated to reach $13.8 billion by 2032 – and the Middle East is expected to contribute to this figure with around 89% sport and music fans in the region travelling to a new city for an event.
“Our recent data reveals that more than 58% of UAE travellers have flown to a music event in the past three years, or plan to in the next 12 months, with over half (59%) of these travellers attending multiple events annually,” Priyanka Lakhani, Senior Vice President, Commercial, EMEA & International at Collinson told the publication.
With so much financial value in the sector, the Middle East’s tourism leaders are upping their efforts to attract bigger musicians and in turn, more music tourism.
This weekend, over 30 major international and regional artists will fly into Saudi Arabia for the annual Azimuth Festival, one of the fastest growing outdoor musical events in the world, while later in the year, Riyadh will host the Billboard Arabia Music Awards which is expected to attract some of the region’s biggest musicians and their fans.
In Dubai, Grammy-winning rapper Macklemore will bring his world tour to the Coca-Cola Area, while Calvin Harris will deliver a set at the Ushuaïa Dubai Harbour Experience. Also on the line-up for the UAE city is a collaboration concert of early 2000s pop stars S Club, Melanie C, Peter Andre and Gareth Gates, followed by concerts from rappers Tyga and Wiz Khalifa, Majid Jordan, Ricky Martin and Green Day.
One hour away in the UAE, Abu Dhabi’s tour schedule is equally as packed with popular boy bands Backstreet Boys and Take That performing next month, while chart-topping artists such as SZA, 21 Savage and Yeat will perform at Etihad Park for Wireless Middle East 2024. Maroon 5 and Eminem are also expected to take the stage at Yas Marina Circuit in December, and Coldplay is confirmed to kick off the New Year with a concert at Zayed Sports City on 11 January 2025.
Which musicians and artists would you like to see booked to perform in the Middle East next year?
