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The artists that have played in the UAE

  • Regularly voted the best live band in the world, Muse made a huge impression at the Dubai Desert Rock Festival, an annual event that took place between 2004 and 2009. Muse took to the stage in 2008 and had the crowd rocking to hits including New Born, Plug In Baby and Feeling Good. "Image Net"
    1/10

    Muse

    Regularly voted the best live band in the world, Muse made a huge impression at the Dubai Desert Rock Festival, an annual event that took place between 2004 and 2009. Muse took to the stage in 2008 and had the crowd rocking to hits including New Born, Plug In Baby and Feeling Good. "Image Net"
  • The controversial rapper is never far from the spotlight, and he stood firmly in the centre of it in November 2012. Slim Shady played to a huge audience at the du Arena to close the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, with his rapid lyrics keeping pace with the Formula 1 cars that had earlier dazzled the crowds. "Newscom"
    2/10

    Eminem

    The controversial rapper is never far from the spotlight, and he stood firmly in the centre of it in November 2012. Slim Shady played to a huge audience at the du Arena to close the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, with his rapid lyrics keeping pace with the Formula 1 cars that had earlier dazzled the crowds. "Newscom"
    Newscom
  • Adam Levine and co had one of 2012's biggest hits with Moves Like Jagger, but they had UAE audiences rocking long before this, playing to 8,000 people at the Dubai World Trade Centre in 2011. With monster hits such as This Love, She Will Be Loved and Makes Me Wonder under their belts, the band had the crowd in the palms of their hands throughout a truly memorable gig. "Getty Images"
    3/10

    Maroon 5

    Adam Levine and co had one of 2012's biggest hits with Moves Like Jagger, but they had UAE audiences rocking long before this, playing to 8,000 people at the Dubai World Trade Centre in 2011. With monster hits such as This Love, She Will Be Loved and Makes Me Wonder under their belts, the band had the crowd in the palms of their hands throughout a truly memorable gig. "Getty Images"
  • The California girl made the trip to the UAE earlier this month to cap off the World Parachuting Championships in Meydan, Dubai. Katy's performance was truly out of this world, with hits like Teenage Dreams California Gurlz and Firework ensuring the event went out with a bang. "Getty Images"
    4/10

    Katy Perry

    The California girl made the trip to the UAE earlier this month to cap off the World Parachuting Championships in Meydan, Dubai. Katy's performance was truly out of this world, with hits like Teenage Dreams California Gurlz and Firework ensuring the event went out with a bang. "Getty Images"
  • People heading to a Metallica gig can be sure of one thing – it's going to be loud, heavy and unforgettable. That's exactly what the audience got at what was then the Yas Arena (now the du Arena) in 2011, when James Hetfield and co descended on Abu Dhabi for a night of ear-piercing guitars, earth-shattering drums and deafening vocals that left the crowd thirsty for more. "La Digit"
    5/10

    Metallica

    People heading to a Metallica gig can be sure of one thing – it's going to be loud, heavy and unforgettable. That's exactly what the audience got at what was then the Yas Arena (now the du Arena) in 2011, when James Hetfield and co descended on Abu Dhabi for a night of ear-piercing guitars, earth-shattering drums and deafening vocals that left the crowd thirsty for more. "La Digit"
  • Few female artists can compete with Rihanna in the popularity stakes, but Madonna can lay claim to being the most successful female popstar in history. She demonstrated this in June 2012 at the du Arena in Abu Dhabi, with a 22,000 capacity crowd treated to a colourful performance that encompassed new and classic hits.
    6/10

    Madonna

    Few female artists can compete with Rihanna in the popularity stakes, but Madonna can lay claim to being the most successful female popstar in history. She demonstrated this in June 2012 at the du Arena in Abu Dhabi, with a 22,000 capacity crowd treated to a colourful performance that encompassed new and classic hits.
  • As one of the world's biggest selling female solo artists, Rihanna is in great demand, and so it was quite a coup for the UAE when the Barbadian agreed to see in the New Year at Abu Dhabi's Emirates Palace in December 2009. The 10,000 sell-out crowd were treated to an unforgettable night as the diva heralded the start of 2010 with a magical stage routine.
    7/10

    Rihanna

    As one of the world's biggest selling female solo artists, Rihanna is in great demand, and so it was quite a coup for the UAE when the Barbadian agreed to see in the New Year at Abu Dhabi's Emirates Palace in December 2009. The 10,000 sell-out crowd were treated to an unforgettable night as the diva heralded the start of 2010 with a magical stage routine.
  • In 2007, one of the UK's finest exports took to the stage at the Dubai Desert Rock Festival, when The Prodigy performed live in front of thousands of fans. Keith Flint, Liam Howlett and Maxim Reality accompanied their renditions of Firestarter, Breathe and Outer Space with an energy unlike anything else at the festival.
    8/10

    The Prodigy

    In 2007, one of the UK's finest exports took to the stage at the Dubai Desert Rock Festival, when The Prodigy performed live in front of thousands of fans. Keith Flint, Liam Howlett and Maxim Reality accompanied their renditions of Firestarter, Breathe and Outer Space with an energy unlike anything else at the festival.
  • Arguably the most famous heavy metal band of all time, Iron Maiden stunned the audience with their huge sets and even bigger vocals at the 2007 Dubai Desert Rock Festival. With more than 30 albums under their belt, the headliners had a huge catalogue to choose from, and Bruce Dickinson and co did not disappoint, sending the other acts running to the hills.
    9/10

    Iron Maiden

    Arguably the most famous heavy metal band of all time, Iron Maiden stunned the audience with their huge sets and even bigger vocals at the 2007 Dubai Desert Rock Festival. With more than 30 albums under their belt, the headliners had a huge catalogue to choose from, and Bruce Dickinson and co did not disappoint, sending the other acts running to the hills.
  • One of the loudest and most raucous bands in history performed at the last ever edition of the Dubai Desert Rock Festival in 2009. Lemmy and co ensured that the event went out with a bang, with a rendition of Ace of Spades that brought the house down."All Star"
    10/10

    Motorhead

    One of the loudest and most raucous bands in history performed at the last ever edition of the Dubai Desert Rock Festival in 2009. Lemmy and co ensured that the event went out with a bang, with a rendition of Ace of Spades that brought the house down."All Star"
Regularly voted the best live band in the world, Muse made a huge impression at the Dubai Desert Rock Festival, an annual event that took place between 2004 and 2009. Muse took to the stage in 2008 and had the crowd rocking to hits including New Born, Plug In Baby and Feeling Good. "Image Net"
The controversial rapper is never far from the spotlight, and he stood firmly in the centre of it in November 2012. Slim Shady played to a huge audience at the du Arena to close the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, with his rapid lyrics keeping pace with the Formula 1 cars that had earlier dazzled the crowds. "Newscom"
Adam Levine and co had one of 2012's biggest hits with Moves Like Jagger, but they had UAE audiences rocking long before this, playing to 8,000 people at the Dubai World Trade Centre in 2011. With monster hits such as This Love, She Will Be Loved and Makes Me Wonder under their belts, the band had the crowd in the palms of their hands throughout a truly memorable gig. "Getty Images"
The California girl made the trip to the UAE earlier this month to cap off the World Parachuting Championships in Meydan, Dubai. Katy's performance was truly out of this world, with hits like Teenage Dreams California Gurlz and Firework ensuring the event went out with a bang. "Getty Images"
People heading to a Metallica gig can be sure of one thing – it's going to be loud, heavy and unforgettable. That's exactly what the audience got at what was then the Yas Arena (now the du Arena) in 2011, when James Hetfield and co descended on Abu Dhabi for a night of ear-piercing guitars, earth-shattering drums and deafening vocals that left the crowd thirsty for more. "La Digit"
Few female artists can compete with Rihanna in the popularity stakes, but Madonna can lay claim to being the most successful female popstar in history. She demonstrated this in June 2012 at the du Arena in Abu Dhabi, with a 22,000 capacity crowd treated to a colourful performance that encompassed new and classic hits.
As one of the world's biggest selling female solo artists, Rihanna is in great demand, and so it was quite a coup for the UAE when the Barbadian agreed to see in the New Year at Abu Dhabi's Emirates Palace in December 2009. The 10,000 sell-out crowd were treated to an unforgettable night as the diva heralded the start of 2010 with a magical stage routine.
In 2007, one of the UK's finest exports took to the stage at the Dubai Desert Rock Festival, when The Prodigy performed live in front of thousands of fans. Keith Flint, Liam Howlett and Maxim Reality accompanied their renditions of Firestarter, Breathe and Outer Space with an energy unlike anything else at the festival.
Arguably the most famous heavy metal band of all time, Iron Maiden stunned the audience with their huge sets and even bigger vocals at the 2007 Dubai Desert Rock Festival. With more than 30 albums under their belt, the headliners had a huge catalogue to choose from, and Bruce Dickinson and co did not disappoint, sending the other acts running to the hills.
One of the loudest and most raucous bands in history performed at the last ever edition of the Dubai Desert Rock Festival in 2009. Lemmy and co ensured that the event went out with a bang, with a rendition of Ace of Spades that brought the house down."All Star"

Some of the world's greatest music acts have taken to the stage to wow the masses in the UAE. We take a look at the rock, pop and hip-hop superstars who have left their mark on audiences.