When Jennifer Lopez cancelled her summer tour in May, it seemed to mark another downturn in an already turbulent 2024 for the singer.
It was a difficult year that included divorce, a film that didn’t meet expectations and a new album that struggled to gain traction. Despite these setbacks, the Let’s Get Loud singer took to the stage in Abu Dhabi on Thursday as part of Saadiyat Nights, seemingly shaking off the hurt and stepping into what she does best – performing.
During her highly anticipated debut in the emirate, which lasted a little more than an hour, Lopez performed some of her greatest hits, interspersing them with personal reflections on lessons presumably learnt from difficulty and disappointment.
Taking to the stage at 9.35pm, she opened the night with her fiery anthem Dinero, which featured a pre-recorded video of Cardi B rapping. This set the tone early, getting the audience on their feet.
Lopez then addressed the sold-out crowd, expressing her gratitude. “We took a long trip to get here – a long, long way from home. But I am so very grateful. Thank you so much. Do you mind if I give you a little taste of what my home is like?” she asked before performing her 2002 hit Jenny from the Block.
Continuing with tracks from that era, Lopez sang Ain’t It Funny and I’m Real, two songs she collaborated on with rapper Ja Rule. Surprisingly during the latter, she and her dancers broke into a routine midway through, moving along to the refrain from Kendrick Lamar’s Not Like Us before transitioning into Love Don’t Cost a Thing.
After the high-energy tracks, Lopez took a break to speak to the audience, this time discussing love. In a heartfelt and personal moment, she shared: “When it comes to love, none of them are a fairy tale. That’s what they would have you believe when you’re little. I thought that. I thought when I was young, that love was this beautiful thing that was going to happen to me. But as I got older, I realised love is something very different.
“Love is keeping your word, love is honouring your commitment, love is kindness and consideration and consistency and feeling safe and secure. That’s what love is." It sparked cheers from the crowd.
She went on to say that despite everything she’s been through, she wouldn’t change a thing because of what she’s learnt. "In the low moments, you have two choices: you can let it destroy you and take you out, or you can let it help you grow and get better. I choose to get better."
She concluded: “The funny thing about love is, it always starts out just like this,” before performing a stripped-down, intimate version of If You Had My Love with two backup singers. Lopez then sang All I Have, her 2002 duet with LL Cool J, a track about moving on after a breakup. Coincidentally, as she performed it, a few sparse drops of rain began to fall, making the moment even more poignant.
Lopez's next tune made it clear her setlist was devised with a narrative in mind. She brought back the energy with 2009's Louboutins, a track about female empowerment. She continued with the theme by performing Booty and Ain’t Your Mama, showcasing intricate choreography and proving that at 55, she’s still got it.
Lopez then took another break to speak, referencing her cancelled summer tour. “I took a little time off last year, so this is my first big concert back with you guys. It just feels good to be with you again. Thank you so much,” she said as she soaked in the moment, looking towards the cheering crowd.
Next, she performed Can’t Get Enough, one of her more recent tracks, followed by her 2005 hit Get Right, where she recreated the famous stick dance from the music video.
Another video montage played, perhaps signalling a new era before Lopez returned after an outfit change. She belted out the opening lyrics of Gloria Gaynor’s I Will Survive before seamlessly transitioning into her dance hit Waiting for Tonight as – just like much of the night – the crowd were on their feet dancing and singing along.
She finished the show with the powerful anthems On the Floor and Let’s Get Loud before closing out the evening with Dance Again – a track she once credited as helping her get through a rough divorce.
Although it’s hard to definitively say whether Lopez had a specific message in mind during her show, the energy, empowerment and joy of the night proved that – despite the adversity she has faced – she’s not just surviving, but thriving.
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Schools counsellors in Abu Dhabi have put a number of provisions in place to help support pupils returning to the classroom next week.
Many children will resume in-person lessons for the first time in 10 months and parents previously raised concerns about the long-term effects of distance learning.
Schools leaders and counsellors said extra support will be offered to anyone that needs it. Additionally, heads of years will be on hand to offer advice or coping mechanisms to ease any concerns.
“Anxiety this time round has really spiralled, more so than from the first lockdown at the beginning of the pandemic,” said Priya Mitchell, counsellor at The British School Al Khubairat in Abu Dhabi.
“Some have got used to being at home don’t want to go back, while others are desperate to get back.
“We have seen an increase in depressive symptoms, especially with older pupils, and self-harm is starting younger.
“It is worrying and has taught us how important it is that we prioritise mental well-being.”
Ms Mitchell said she was liaising more with heads of year so they can support and offer advice to pupils if the demand is there.
The school will also carry out mental well-being checks so they can pick up on any behavioural patterns and put interventions in place to help pupils.
At Raha International School, the well-being team has provided parents with assessment surveys to see how they can support students at home to transition back to school.
“They have created a Well-being Resource Bank that parents have access to on information on various domains of mental health for students and families,” a team member said.
“Our pastoral team have been working with students to help ease the transition and reduce anxiety that [pupils] may experience after some have been nearly a year off campus.
"Special secondary tutorial classes have also focused on preparing students for their return; going over new guidelines, expectations and daily schedules.”
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1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
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1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
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December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
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