ABU DHABI // Organisers of a concert cancelled shortly before it was due to start on Friday have said they were "deeply saddened" and have offered a full refund to the thousands of ticket holders.
Flash Entertainment, which was to host the Dutch DJ Tiesto at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec), said it was told at 6pm that the venue was unfit for a live concert.
The cancellation was caused by an electrical problem on the stage that could not be resolved, John Lickrish, the managing director of Flash, said yesterday. It was "a serious technical problem", he said.
"We know how many people were looking forward to seeing Tiesto, but our utmost priority is the safety of the public, and under no circumstances will we ever risk or compromise this," he said.
He said he had spoken directly to Tiesto, who is in the middle of his 14-month Kaleidoscope world tour, and who said he was disappointed not to perform.
Mr Lickrish said he was negotiating to reschedule the concert. Anyone not wishing to wait can get a full refund for the tickets, which cost between Dh130 and Dh350.
A representative from Adnec would not confirm the details of the electrical problem. Abrahim Wakim, 23, said he was not going to wait for a new date.
"Tiesto is one of the biggest DJs in the world and I'd been hearing rumours on trance blogs that he would be coming to Abu Dhabi for about a year," he said.
"I don't think they will be able to get him a second time."
Flash said all Tiesto ticket holders are eligible for a 40 per cent discount on the Dh250 tickets for Creamfields Abu Dhabi. The offer is valid until midnight on October 13.
aseaman@thenational.ae