UAE: Some fans spend over Dh3,600, travel from abroad to watch Coldplay in Abu Dhabi
With Coldplay tickets selling in minutes in some markets, a few took the chance to fly to the UAE to watch the British rock band give a memorable show in Abu Dhabi.
The overseas travelers shared how much they paid for tickets and hotels.
Azharuddin Syed, from Pune in India, flew to the UAE due to his love for Coldplay. He’d hoped to catch them in India but they were sold out like hot cakes. "I’m a massive fan of theirs from last nearly 10 years and was so happy to see their shows announced in India. But sadly I failed to get tickets in spite of all the efforts because everything was sold out in just minutes," Syed said.
He will be in the UAE for the second time, and Syed is here for only five days. He is paying over Dh3,600, which covers the flights, the hotel, and some sightseeing while in the country. Syed will be taking advantage of the free shuttle bus service which will leave from Expo City Dubai because he’s staying in the city and there won’t be parking available at the event.
Reports have stated that hotels in Abu Dhabi were up 30 per cent this weekend, as the four-night concert starts on January 9. And short-term rental is also increasing in prime parts of Dubai, which is currently occupied at more than 80 per cent, says the real estate company Allsopp and Allsopp.
Utkarsh Rally was in the UAE this week for the show but he won’t be around long. He’ll be at the concert for the first night on January 9 and going home the following day. "I really fought to get a ticket in India but it was already sold out that I could’ve even made it to the queue. So I went to Abu Dhabi for the first time, if you’ll let me put this one on the bucket list," he said.
Rally told me he’s paid about Dh850 for an apartment in Dubai and about Dh1,500 for flights back to India.
The other India-born Indian who attended the Coldplay concert, Siddharth Kamath, explained that he went to UAE for the concert since they can see the concert there and spend the vacation in UAE.
The British rockers opened their ‘Music of the Spheres World Tour’ with their first night at Zayed Sports City Stadium in Abu Dhabi on 9 January and will tour this weekend on 11-12 and 14 January.
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