Metallica turn Etihad Park into a hometown show for the Middle East

Metallica’s return to Etihad Park can now be comfortably described as their Middle East hometown show, having packed more than 25,000 fans on all three occasions.

Bassist Robert Trujillo once described Etihad Park to The National as looking like a spaceship from the air, and each return has strengthened that connection – with the band also playing shows in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Bahrain since 2011.

This was by far the biggest crowd in this year’s ongoing Abu Dhabi F1 after-race concert series, and the road hounds they are, Metallica performed with scintillating precision and drive. Forty years at the forefront of heavy metal hasn’t dimmed them.

They arrived behind 72 Seasons – the 2023 album distinguished by its frenetic tempos and darker lyricism – yet the Abu Dhabi show was a greatest-hits display of their power and precision.

Their entry cue, The Ecstasy of Gold by Italian composer Ennio Morricone, almost works as a Pavlovian call for the faithful, with metal hand signs lifting across the field. It signalled the start of the Metallica lair: part sinister and part physical release.

Opener Creeping Death, a thrashy masterpiece from Ride the Lightning, is as direct as ever. James Hetfield’s voice remains a force, capable of sliding from a clear, emotive tenor into a full-throated growl.

For Whom the Bell Tolls, with its darker atmosphere, carries one of Metallica’s most distinctive grooves, anchored by Trujillo’s bass, while Kirk Hammett’s lead work dazzled without overwhelming the song.

Fuel was one of the bigger moments – a cyclonic hit of guitars and frenetic pyro. It set the pace for a raw, joyful night and extended the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix’s long line of rock headliners over 16 years – Muse, Def Leppard, The Who, Linkin Park and Aerosmith – a proud tradition of heavy guitars that continues to this day.

The Abu Dhabi F1 after-race concert series concludes on Sunday with US pop star Katy Perry.

In Full Flight: A Story of Africa and Atonement
John Heminway, Knopff

Pathaan

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Arabian Gulf League fixtures:

Friday:

Emirates v Hatta, 5.15pm
Al Wahda v Al Dhafra, 5.25pm
Al Ain v Shabab Al Ahli Dubai, 8.15pm

Saturday:

Dibba v Ajman, 5.15pm
Sharjah v Al Wasl, 5.20pm
Al Jazira v Al Nasr, 8.15pm

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What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE

Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.

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Company profile

Company: Verity

Date started: May 2021

Founders: Kamal Al-Samarrai, Dina Shoman and Omar Al Sharif

Based: Dubai

Sector: FinTech

Size: four team members

Stage: Intially bootstrapped but recently closed its first pre-seed round of $800,000

Investors: Wamda, VentureSouq, Beyond Capital and regional angel investors

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MATCH DETAILS

Manchester United 3

Greenwood (21), Martial (33), Rashford (49)

Partizan Belgrade 0

BULKWHIZ PROFILE

Date started: February 2017

Founders: Amira Rashad (CEO), Yusuf Saber (CTO), Mahmoud Sayedahmed (adviser), Reda Bouraoui (adviser)

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: E-commerce 

Size: 50 employees

Funding: approximately $6m

Investors: Beco Capital, Enabling Future and Wain in the UAE; China’s MSA Capital; 500 Startups; Faith Capital and Savour Ventures in Kuwait

Innotech Profile

Date started: 2013

Founder/CEO: Othman Al Mandhari

Based: Muscat, Oman

Sector: Additive manufacturing, 3D printing technologies

Size: 15 full-time employees

Stage: Seed stage and seeking Series A round of financing 

Investors: Oman Technology Fund from 2017 to 2019, exited through an agreement with a new investor to secure new funding that it under negotiation right now. 

GAC GS8 Specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh149,900

Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
Flexible work arrangements
Pension support
Mental well-being assistance
Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
Financial well-being incentives 
RESULTS

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets

SPECS

Nissan 370z Nismo

Engine: 3.7-litre V6

Transmission: seven-speed automatic

Power: 363hp

Torque: 560Nm

Price: Dh184,500