In the early 1980s, Tina Turner made a comeback that has been described as one of the greatest in music history, and the UAE played a part in that resurgence.
The singer, who died on Wednesday at the age of 83, had already achieved mainstream success the decade before with her husband, Ike Turner. The couple, as Ike & Tina Turner, had sold millions of records, won a Grammy in 1972, and had performed in landmark venues including the Royal Albert Hall.
But Ike’s drug use increased and he became abusive. The band fell apart in 1976 and their marriage did too, with the couple finalising their divorce in 1978. Facing lawsuits for cancelled performances, Turner began touring again. But audience fervour had petered out and Turner became regarded as a nostalgic act.
That is, until 1983.
Turner’s success in the 1980s needs little elaboration. It was during this time that she produced her most influential albums, including Private Dancer, Break Every Rule and Foreign Affair. She also won six Grammys in that decade.
Just before her soaring comeback, Turner came to the UAE in 1983 to perform in a string of concerts in Dubai and Abu Dhabi that would mark the beginning of her rebirth as a solo artist.
Journalist Lawrence Machado met the singer ahead of her concert at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Dubai. Though he covered sport for a local newspaper, he says he leapt at the opportunity to meet Turner, having been an ardent fan of her work since he was a child in Sri Lanka.
“I was so happy to meet her. We grew up to her music,” Machado says. When I went to interview her, there was no internet at the time, but I knew about her and the trouble with her husband. She had a very hard life.”
But Turner was focused on the future, looking forward to establishing herself in the industry. Dubai, Machado says, gave Turner the opportunity to leap back into the spotlight.
“She was trying to come back into show business at the time. She had been out for some time after the problems with her husband. Dubai gave her the chance to ease back into the mainstream in terms of concerts. The Hyatt used to have all the shows in those days. Dubai was coming into its own at the time. A lot of big bands were coming through.”
Machado said his interview with Turner was among his most memorable, and the Sri Lankan journalist, who has been living in Australia since 2003, has sat down with the likes of Pele and Muhammad Ali.
“Tina was a warm, down-to-earth person who had no airs and graces despite being a superstar,” he says. “She answered all my questions. I asked her about her husband, about Ike & Tina Turner, the violence and everything. Of course, I can’t remember word for word, but she was glad it was over. She was looking forward to going out on her own. It was after those concerts in the UAE that she really got that same fame again.”
Machado says he was “very upset” to hear about Turner’s death. She may not have been a close friend, but that single encounter, as well as her music, left a lasting impression on Machado.
“She was someone I always followed,” Machado says. “It’s quite sad. I’ve been playing her music [since the news came out].”
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'The worst thing you can eat'
Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.
Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines:
Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.
Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.
Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.
Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.
Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
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Date started: Founded in May 2017 and operational since April 2018
Founders: co-founder and chief executive, Doaa Aref; Dr Rasha Rady, co-founder and chief operating officer.
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: Health-tech
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Tamkeen's offering
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RedCrow Intelligence Company Profile
Started: 2016
Founders: Hussein Nasser Eddin, Laila Akel, Tayeb Akel
Based: Ramallah, Palestine
Sector: Technology, Security
# of staff: 13
Investment: $745,000
Investors: Palestine’s Ibtikar Fund, Abu Dhabi’s Gothams and angel investors
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
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Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
