Brian Wilson brought some unseasonable warmth in what turned out to be his first and only Gulf concert, at Dubai Tennis Stadium in 2016.
A near-capacity audience, a mixture of diehard Beach Boys fans, local musicians and the curious, packed Centre Court to see the musician, often described with the clichéd term “tortured genius”, perform the entirety of Pet Sounds, The Beach Boys’ seminal and perennially sunny 1966 album, alongside their greatest hits.
The historic nature of the night was underscored by the presence of fellow Beach Boy Al Jardine and longtime collaborator Blondie Chaplin among the 10-piece band.
The show felt like a welcome surprise on what would become Wilson’s final sprawling world tour. Following his death on Wednesday, aged 82, that unexpected visit now feels like part of a quiet farewell, a last glimpse of a faltering genius and a reminder of why Pet Sounds remains one of the most important pop albums of the 20th century.
While the album spoke to the almost spiritual comforts of love and companionship, the performance carried a raw emotional honesty. Seated behind a white piano, Wilson performed as a living symbol of resilience, a man who endured decades of inner turmoil yet still found his way to the stage.
That message was echoed in Love and Mercy, the well-received Beach Boys biopic released two years earlier. “It was very rough to talk about the negative parts of my life, but I’m glad I did because it tells people what I went through and my message of hope,” Wilson told The National before the show. “Not to do drugs is so important for people to know and learn about. It felt good to get it out and open up.”
The 32-song set list in Dubai was expansive. Rarely has the city heard such majestic harmonies. Wilson’s vocals, understandably at 74, didn’t always hold up. As The National’s reviewer noted, some of the soaring vocal lines fell short or were wisely handed over to the capable backing band.
It didn’t matter. When the group launched into California Girls, Help Me, Rhonda and Surfin’ U.S.A., the atmosphere turned giddy, with dancing in the aisles. “It would take a true cynic not to smile at these timeless pop masterpieces,” the review noted.
Wilson would go on to confine his touring to the United States until 2022, a move he had hinted at in the same interview. “We want as many people as possible to see and hear Pet Sounds performed live, but after a while it’s time to move on to other things,” he said. “I’m not stopping touring. I love touring, so I look forward to the future with old and new material.”
Now, with Wilson gone, that night in Dubai means something else. It wasn’t just a stop on a tour. It was a rare moment when the region hosted one of pop’s most complex and influential figures.
“You still believe in me,” he asked the crowd, introducing the song of the same name. The fans roared. They always believed.
“I’d like to be remembered as a good singer,” he told The National in closing.
His voice may have faltered, but it always landed within us. Right where it was meant to.
The biog
Hometown: Cairo
Age: 37
Favourite TV series: The Handmaid’s Tale, Black Mirror
Favourite anime series: Death Note, One Piece and Hellsing
Favourite book: Designing Brand Identity, Fifth Edition
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, (Leon banned).
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.6-litre turbo
Transmission: six-speed automatic
Power: 165hp
Torque: 240Nm
Price: From Dh89,000 (Enjoy), Dh99,900 (Innovation)
On sale: Now
More coverage from the Future Forum
Winners
Best Men's Player of the Year: Kylian Mbappe (PSG)
Maradona Award for Best Goal Scorer of the Year: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)
TikTok Fans’ Player of the Year: Robert Lewandowski
Top Goal Scorer of All Time: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
Best Women's Player of the Year: Alexia Putellas (Barcelona)
Best Men's Club of the Year: Chelsea
Best Women's Club of the Year: Barcelona
Best Defender of the Year: Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus/Italy)
Best Goalkeeper of the Year: Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG/Italy)
Best Coach of the Year: Roberto Mancini (Italy)
Best National Team of the Year: Italy
Best Agent of the Year: Federico Pastorello
Best Sporting Director of the Year: Txiki Begiristain (Manchester City)
Player Career Award: Ronaldinho
Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
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The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
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APPLE IPAD MINI (A17 PRO)
Display: 21cm Liquid Retina Display, 2266 x 1488, 326ppi, 500 nits
Chip: Apple A17 Pro, 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine
Storage: 128/256/512GB
Main camera: 12MP wide, f/1.8, digital zoom up to 5x, Smart HDR 4
Front camera: 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.4, Smart HDR 4, full-HD @ 25/30/60fps
Biometrics: Touch ID, Face ID
Colours: Blue, purple, space grey, starlight
In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter
Price: From Dh2,099
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Marathon results
Men:
1. Titus Ekiru(KEN) 2:06:13
2. Alphonce Simbu(TAN) 2:07:50
3. Reuben Kipyego(KEN) 2:08:25
4. Abel Kirui(KEN) 2:08:46
5. Felix Kemutai(KEN) 2:10:48
Women:
1. Judith Korir(KEN) 2:22:30
2. Eunice Chumba(BHR) 2:26:01
3. Immaculate Chemutai(UGA) 2:28:30
4. Abebech Bekele(ETH) 2:29:43
5. Aleksandra Morozova(RUS) 2:33:01
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
if you go
The flights
Flydubai offers three daily direct flights to Sarajevo and, from June, a daily flight from Thessaloniki from Dubai. A return flight costs from Dhs1,905 including taxes.
The trip
The Travel Scientists are the organisers of the Balkan Ride and several other rallies around the world. The 2018 running of this particular adventure will take place from August 3-11, once again starting in Sarajevo and ending a week later in Thessaloniki. If you’re driving your own vehicle, then entry start from €880 (Dhs 3,900) per person including all accommodation along the route. Contact the Travel Scientists if you wish to hire one of their vehicles.
