Bill Burr’s performance at the end of the summer will have a strict no-phones policy.
According to guidance issued when the popular American stand-up comedian’s September 1 date was announced, the “use of phones, smart watches and accessories, will not be permitted” and that “anyone seen using a device during the performance will be escorted out of the venue”.
Attendees will be required to use locking neoprene Yondr pouches, issued at the arena, in which to store their smartphones for the duration of the event.
“Guests maintain possession of their devices at all times and can access them throughout the event only in designated ‘phone use areas’ within the venue,” the note said. “All devices will be re-secured” in the pouches when concertgoers return to the auditorium. At the end of the evening, ticket holders will be able to undo their pouch at one of the unlocking stations as they leave the venue.
Burr is not the first artist, nor he will be last, to seek a phone-free audience. There may be several reasons why.
Some artists may want to “woodshed” new material away from the scrutiny of thousands of cameras recording and posting clips, or it may be that a no-phones policy is used because an act’s material is too profanity-laden for mass consumption on social media.
However, the risk of bootlegging or audience members making illegal recordings – once a key consideration in policing what fans could reasonably take into music concert venues – seems to be less of a driving factor in such mandates nowadays than, say, using such policies to ensure audiences stay fully focused on the entertainment.
Whatever the case, other comedians, such as Dave Chappelle, have used no-phones policies in the past on their tours. Earlier this year, audience members at Beyonce’s private concert in Dubai were asked not to film or take photos at the venue.
More dramatically, Chrissie Hynde of the Pretenders walked off stage during a 2017 concert after becoming frustrated with concertgoers using their phones during her performance.
Public signs at the group’s concerts used to ask ticket holders to “leave your phone in your pocket and enjoy the show in real time” but stopped short of explicitly banning phones.
Some people say no-phones events have helped them “be present for every distraction-free moment”, while others argue that they want to be able to record short clips on their phone to replay and share afterwards.
Some people say no-phones events have helped them 'be present for every distraction-free moment', but others disagree
A generation ago, when mobile phones weren’t that smart and we all still used them to make calls rather than sit on messaging platforms or social media all day, it was typical for sporting venues to ask for spectators to switch off their phones when they were in their seats during the hours of play.
Over time, that often moderated to asking for patrons to put their phones on silent and to be respectful when and where they made or received calls.
Finally, when our phones became so app-loaded that we rarely made calls on them, it became accepted for phones to be a largely unfettered accompaniment to our lives, restrained only by the limits of battery life and technology.
Even aeroplanes and cinemas, two of the last vestiges of the phones-off world, have been thoroughly encroached upon and overrun in recent years.
Many of us may admit that we spend too much time using our devices – which is a powerful argument in favour of those no-phones polices – but there are also plenty of times when locking up your phone in a pouch seems draconian and unrealistic.
Ask any parent of young children or primary carer of older relatives whether it's practical to live without lines of communication always being open and you’re likely to get a resounding no as an answer. Concert promoters will, of course, point to the fact that even at no-phones events there are spaces where you can make that urgent call or send that important message if you need to.
But, the way we experience events in our lives is also different now: first there is the moment itself, then there is the back and forth of digital and real conversations with friends who may have been at the same event or are following it from afar and, finally, there is the social media wave of photos, clips and commentary that most of us will be familiar with. Those small parcels of pleasure that remind you of why this concert or that performance made you so happy in the first place. They are too good not to share.
I doubt the popular Bill Burr needs any help in selling tickets in Abu Dhabi, but maybe the faint fear of missing out or being unable to graze through multiple social media clips afterwards, will be enough to persuade a potentially wavering fan to buy a ticket for his show on Yas Island, which start from Dh295 ($80) a head. Maybe some people will also be put off their prospective purchase by the thought of moving around the venue with a locked pouch in tow.
Regardless, it will be a novel experience for all those at the arena in September.
To repurpose a phrase from the countercultural revolution that swept through the United States in the 1960s, concertgoers may be about to turn up, tune in and drop calls. What an interesting occasion that might be.
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
Pakistan squad
Sarfraz (c), Zaman, Imam, Masood, Azam, Malik, Asif, Sohail, Shadab, Nawaz, Ashraf, Hasan, Amir, Junaid, Shinwari and Afridi
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
HOW TO WATCH
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Usain Bolt's World Championships record
2007 Osaka
200m Silver
4x100m relay Silver
2009 Berlin
100m Gold
200m Gold
4x100m relay Gold
2011 Daegu
100m Disqualified in final for false start
200m Gold
4x100m relay Gold
2013 Moscow
100m Gold
200m Gold
4x100m relay Gold
2015 Beijing
100m Gold
200m Gold
4x100m relay Gold
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
How to turn your property into a holiday home
- Ensure decoration and styling – and portal photography – quality is high to achieve maximum rates.
- Research equivalent Airbnb homes in your location to ensure competitiveness.
- Post on all relevant platforms to reach the widest audience; whether you let personally or via an agency know your potential guest profile – aiming for the wrong demographic may leave your property empty.
- Factor in costs when working out if holiday letting is beneficial. The annual DCTM fee runs from Dh370 for a one-bedroom flat to Dh1,200. Tourism tax is Dh10-15 per bedroom, per night.
- Check your management company has a physical office, a valid DTCM licence and is licencing your property and paying tourism taxes. For transparency, regularly view your booking calendar.
RESULT
Los Angeles Galaxy 2 Manchester United 5
Galaxy: Dos Santos (79', 88')
United: Rashford (2', 20'), Fellaini (26'), Mkhitaryan (67'), Martial (72')
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20IPHONE%2015%20PRO%20MAX
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Results:
6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-2 (PA) | Group 1 US$75,000 (Dirt) | 2,200 metres
Winner: Goshawke, Fernando Jara (jockey), Ali Rashid Al Raihe (trainer)
7.05pm: UAE 1000 Guineas (TB) | Listed $250,000 (D) | 1,600m
Winner: Silva, Oisin Murphy, Pia Brendt
7.40pm: Meydan Classic Trial (TB) | Conditions $100,000 (Turf) | 1,400m
Winner: Golden Jaguar, Connor Beasley, Ahmad bin Harmash
8.15pm: Al Shindagha Sprint (TB) | Group 3 $200,000 (D) | 1,200m
Winner: Drafted, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson
8.50pm: Handicap (TB) | $175,000 (D) | 1,600m
Winner: Capezzano, Mickael Barzalona, Sandeep Jadhav
9.25pm: Handicap (TB) | $175,000 (T) | 2,000m
Winner: Oasis Charm, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
10pm: Handicap (TB) | $135,000 (T) | 1,600m
Winner: Escalator, Christopher Hayes, Charlie Fellowes
LAST-16 FIXTURES
Sunday, January 20
3pm: Jordan v Vietnam at Al Maktoum Stadium, Dubai
6pm: Thailand v China at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain
9pm: Iran v Oman at Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Monday, January 21
3pm: Japan v Saudi Arabia at Sharjah Stadium
6pm: Australia v Uzbekistan at Khalifa bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain
9pm: UAE v Kyrgyzstan at Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Tuesday, January 22
5pm: South Korea v Bahrain at Rashid Stadium, Dubai
8pm: Qatar v Iraq at Al Nahyan Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E4.0-litre%2C%20flat%20six-cylinder%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Eseven-speed%20PDK%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E510hp%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E470Nm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Efrom%20Dh634%2C200%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Enow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
VEZEETA PROFILE
Date started: 2012
Founder: Amir Barsoum
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: HealthTech / MedTech
Size: 300 employees
Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)
Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC
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