Coldplay concert guide: How to get there, set times and free buses from Dubai
The 2025 UAE concert that everyone has been buzzing about is just around the corner, with Coldplay set to kick off their Music of the Spheres showcase on Thursday in Abu Dhabi.
Zayed Sports City Stadium is the only stop in the Middle East on the British band's world tour, and fans are expected to fly in from near and far for the four-night run of concerts, with hotels near the venue already reaching or at capacity.
“Coldplay's highly anticipated performances in the UAE exemplify the unparalleled synergy between music and travel,” says Rikant Pittie, co-founder of EaseMyTrip. “We’ve witnessed an extraordinary surge in demand, with hotel bookings for the concert weekend skyrocketing by up to 300 per cent.”
Fans heading to the Saturday and Sunday shows will have to pay the most for a place to stay, as the weekend is the most expensive to book accommodation. Fans with tickets to the January 14 date might be a little luckier as, according to booking data from EaseMyTrip, it is the least expensive of the four dates for hotel bookings.
If luxury is what concertgoers seek, budgets will need to be large. At The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, which is located within walking distance of the concert's designated taxi pick-up and drop-off point, only premium rooms are available for Saturday night, with a starting price of Dh4,723, going up to Dh70,000 for the Royal Suite.
Fans who are yet to secure accommodation, may have to look farther afield for a place to stay, as many hotels in proximity to the venue are already fully booked or commanding high rates.
Aloft Abu Dhabi, which is within walking distance of the venue, typically offers rooms for about Dh400, but has starting rates from Dh2,700 on Saturday night, and upwards of Dh2,000 for the other three nights of the gig. Centro Capital Centre, a three-star hotel also within walking distance of the concert, is commanding rates of more than Dh2,000 for Sunday night.
“While availability remains ample across three-star to five-star hotels in Abu Dhabi, prices near the stadium reflect the heightened demand, with rates upwards of Dh1,800 for some four-star properties,” says Pittie.
How to get last-minute concert tickets and a hotel room
Resolute Coldplay fans intent on securing tickets that they missed out on during the original sale have another chance to get their hands on them via Yas Island's Coldplay Packages. These deals include a minimum three-night stay in a hotel, plus tickets for the performance on either Sunday or Tuesday evening.
Hotels on Yas Island, including Yas Plaza and Hilton Abu Dhabi at Yas Bay, are part of the deal, as well as several off-island properties, including those on Saadiyat Island. Rates start from Dh3,834 for two adults at Crowne Plaza Yas Island. Top-end packages include a stay at Mandarin Oriental Emirates Palace, where the three-night package will set you back Dh18,883, for two adults and two concert tickets.
This rise in accommodation prices is not unexpected and follows the recent trend of gig tourism, where economies of cities are boosted when they host high-profile concerts. The biggest example to date of this type of gig tripping was fuelled by Taylor Swift's Eras Tour, which concluded in December and spanned 149 shows across five continents.
“Concerts today transcend mere entertainment; they are transformative experiences that drive tourism, stimulate local economies and create cultural landmarks,” says Pittie.
Which hotels still have rooms available?
On Sunday, Live Nation released logistical details for the coming concert series, including information on free shuttle buses that will run from Dubai and across Abu Dhabi. Fans can book accommodation near these pick-up points for more reasonable hotel rates, better value for money and easy transfers.
A top tip for fans from Dubai is to book a stay at Rove Expo City, where they can park their car and then take the free shuttle to and from the concert. Saturday night rates at the hotel start from Dh775, including breakfast the next morning.
In Abu Dhabi, the five-star Raha Beach Hotel, close to Al Raha shuttle bus pick-up point, is offering rates from Dh962 on Tuesday night and is inclusive of breakfast. It also has availability for Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, but rates are higher.
Vogo Abu Dhabi Golf Resort, the former Westin Abu Dhabi, is right next to the Sas Al Nakhl pick-up point and has rooms available on Tuesday night with rates starting from Dh934, excluding taxes. There is no availability at the five-star resort for the other concert dates.
Fairmont Bab Al Bahr still has rooms for under Dh1,000 for Thursday and Sunday nights, and is a 10-minute drive from the taxi drop-off point at Wahat Al Karama. Premier Inn Abu Dhabi Airport also has availability on all nights of the concert, with rooms from Dh765, excluding taxes and fees, and is a 15-minute drive from the designated taxi point.
For those looking to embrace the festival vibes and book a budget stay, camping is still available at Bab Al Nojoum Hudayriyat Island. Set in one of the capital's newest regions, the resort is a 20-minute drive from the venue and Saturday night rates start from Dh472 for a basic two-person tent, including breakfast, while Thursday night rates are from Dh373.
All prices and availability were correct at the time of writing but are likely to change.
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Company name: baraka
Started: July 2020
Founders: Feras Jalbout and Kunal Taneja
Based: Dubai and Bahrain
Sector: FinTech
Initial investment: $150,000
Current staff: 12
Stage: Pre-seed capital raising of $1 million
Investors: Class 5 Global, FJ Labs, IMO Ventures, The Community Fund, VentureSouq, Fox Ventures, Dr Abdulla Elyas (private investment)
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If you go
Flight connections to Ulaanbaatar are available through a variety of hubs, including Seoul and Beijing, with airlines including Mongolian Airlines and Korean Air. While some nationalities, such as Americans, don’t need a tourist visa for Mongolia, others, including UAE citizens, can obtain a visa on arrival, while others including UK citizens, need to obtain a visa in advance. Contact the Mongolian Embassy in the UAE for more information.
Nomadic Road offers expedition-style trips to Mongolia in January and August, and other destinations during most other months. Its nine-day August 2020 Mongolia trip will cost from $5,250 per person based on two sharing, including airport transfers, two nights’ hotel accommodation in Ulaanbaatar, vehicle rental, fuel, third party vehicle liability insurance, the services of a guide and support team, accommodation, food and entrance fees; nomadicroad.com
A fully guided three-day, two-night itinerary at Three Camel Lodge costs from $2,420 per person based on two sharing, including airport transfers, accommodation, meals and excursions including the Yol Valley and Flaming Cliffs. A return internal flight from Ulaanbaatar to Dalanzadgad costs $300 per person and the flight takes 90 minutes each way; threecamellodge.com
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The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
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The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
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It was discovered in 2004, when Russian-born Manchester scientists Andrei Geim and Kostya Novoselov were "playing about" with sticky tape and graphite - the material used as "lead" in pencils.
Placing the tape on the graphite and peeling it, they managed to rip off thin flakes of carbon. In the beginning they got flakes consisting of many layers of graphene. But as they repeated the process many times, the flakes got thinner.
By separating the graphite fragments repeatedly, they managed to create flakes that were just one atom thick. Their experiment had led to graphene being isolated for the very first time.
At the time, many believed it was impossible for such thin crystalline materials to be stable. But examined under a microscope, the material remained stable, and when tested was found to have incredible properties.
It is many times times stronger than steel, yet incredibly lightweight and flexible. It is electrically and thermally conductive but also transparent. The world's first 2D material, it is one million times thinner than the diameter of a single human hair.
But the 'sticky tape' method would not work on an industrial scale. Since then, scientists have been working on manufacturing graphene, to make use of its incredible properties.
In 2010, Geim and Novoselov were awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics. Their discovery meant physicists could study a new class of two-dimensional materials with unique properties.
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A clear distinction between the residences and the Raffles hotel with the amenities operated separately.
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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Favourite pastime: travelling and experiencing different cultures across the globe.
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Company profile
Name: GiftBag.ae
Based: Dubai
Founded: 2011
Number of employees: 4
Sector: E-commerce
Funding: Self-funded to date
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