Jamila Jariwala, age 13 year, from India
Favourite member: Liam. I just love him. His personality and his looks and everything.
Favourite song: For the first album or all of them? All of them? That’s hard. The first that comes to mind is Girl Almighty.
What was your reaction to Zayn leaving?: I was really shocked at first. I was too shocked to even cry or anything. After a while, I started cry. I could not even believe — I still don’t believe that it’s happening.
How do you think the show will be impacted?: I feel like there will be a lot of people who drop out. Sell the tickets and don’t come. I hope that doesn’t happen. People will be really sad about his solos and high notes in the songs.
What are you most looking forward to?: Just seeing them. That’s the most exciting thing. Just when they come on stage – the entire hype, and everyone screaming.
Is it your first concert?: Yeah.
When did you get to know 1D?: In 2011, I think. I just found out about them on YouTube, and all my friends were talking about them. I found them really cute — I just started listening to their songs and I really started liking them. I started getting obsessed, and now, yeah, it’s just crazy.
What makes them so special?: Them. Their songs are really good and unique, not like other artists. Their looks, and everything, their personalities, everything about them.
Do you ever face haters?: If anyone tells me I’m stupid for liking them, I actually hate that. I don’t like talking to those kinds of people. I have a really good friend who used to like them, but now doesn’t — but she keeps telling me, ‘You’re such a loser if you like them.’ I just ignore it.
Maha Waseem, age 13, from Pakistan
Favourite member: Niall. It’s just him, and his personality. He’s always been sweet and kind. Even his looks are fab.
Favourite song: Well, it’s hard — but 18 is currently my fave. It’s deep.
How did you feel when Zayn left?: It was shocking, because I didn’t expect them to end so fast. I started crying, and I didn’t even go to school today [the day after he left] because it was so sad. It was unexpected. They’re incomplete without him.
What are you most looking forward to about the show?: Everything. Specifically the performance of Better Than Words, because of Niall.
Are you going to make a sign?: Yeah, probably. I’m going to write a note about Zayn. We still love them just as much, but then, Zayn…
Is it your first concert?: Yes.
When did you get into 1D?: It was in 2010. At school, everyone was talking so I checked them out, and it just became a thing. Since then, I started loving them.
What makes them so special?: It’s different. They’re different from everyone else. They’re a bit more innocent and kinder, comparing to others. It makes them special and sweet, just in general, in their age [group], they’re different.
Do you ever face haters?: Not specifically, but then, some of them are like, ‘It’s stupid to cry over Zayn leaving.’ They shouldn’t say that.
Do you see yourself being a fan for a long time?: I’ll support them no matter what, until the end.
Namal Sadiq, age 13, from Pakistan
Favourite member: Louis. He has a really good voice and he’s really hot and cute.
Favourite song: 18 and Night Changes. I really like that song. It’s really, like, kind of emotional and soft.
What are you most excited about the show?: That I’m going to see them. Usually, I just get to see them on my phone or my TV, right? But I finally get to see them. I’m excited for that. I hope I get to meet them.
How did you feel when Zayn left?: I was really sad. I came to know in the morning, at like 2 o’clock, or 2.30, and I started crying and all. And then I came to school and I saw my best friend crying, so it was really sad. It’s not going to be the same without Zayn.
When did you get to know about 1D?: X Factor. I was watching it — it’s really interesting. I was really sad when they didn’t win — I started crying, actually. I really loved them, and their voices were really pure.
What makes 1D special?: I don’t exactly know, but they’re just special. I think it’s their voices and their personalities, that’s it. They’re themselves. I’m going to be a fan for a really long time. We’re not going to be over them, ever. I don’t think so.
Who: Rameen Aslam, 13, Pakistan
Your favourite 1D member: Zayn Malik.
About Zayn Malik’s exit: It was horrible and I started crying when I heard about him leaving. I was upset the whole day and when I walked into my class, everybody just hugged me. It was so upsetting. Honestly, I wanted to go for the concert just for him. I have waited for so long, but I support his decision because he’s overworked. I wish he was coming though. While the remaining four-member band will make it without him, Zayn will be missed. Favourite song: Girl Almighty and Night Changes. The lyrics are soft and cute.
Why do you love them so much? I loved them from their ‘X-factor’ days. I was ten years old then and I feel I have grown up with them. I was one of the first people to buy the ticket for the concert. Actually, I took a holiday from school just to buy it.
Any signage: “I will probably design a cutout.”
Her expectations for 1D concert: “It’s going to be crazy because there are so many fans in the UAE. I am so excited.”
Who: Abigail Dudley, 13, Half-Filipino, half-British
Your favourite member: Harry, “I liked him since the beginning. He’s just so cute and hot. I love it when he sings. His voice is to die for. But the most important point is that he’s really hot.”
Favourite song: 18 and Night Changes. The lyrics are just amazing.
About Zayn Malik’s exit: “I am sad, but I accept his decision. I have always felt that he wasn’t really happy. He never used to smile, so I think it’s better for him to leave. I have been crying but I accept his decision to leave.”
Your expectations from 1D concert in Dubai: “It’s my second concert. My first was Justin Beiber. I think I am going to be very emotional during the concert. I am going to cry a lot and jump around a lot too. It’s going to be a fun night. Even if Zayn isn’t going to be there, I know it’s going to be fun because it’s the first time that I am going to see them so close. Between Justin Beiber and 1D, I like ID.”
Do you parents get your love for 1D: “Not really. My dad gets it or maybe they don’t really get it. But my friends get it because they are on the same track as me.”
Why do you love them so much?: “ When I first heard their You Are Beautiful on the radio, I thought it was just one person singing the song. But I was so curious to know who sang it. That’s how I came upon them.”
Name: Hawwa Jariwala, 6, India
“I like their songs, but I don’t their names. My favourite member is Niall Horan because he has blonde hair and he looks a little cute. I am too small to go for the concert, but I will listen to their songs on the radio.”
Who: Isla Marks, 9, Scotland
Your favourite 1D member: Niall Horan
Your favourite song: Steal My Girl, I love the way they sing this song and its words. I also love their song Story Of My Life.
About Zayn Malik’s exit: “My friend Emily, who has leukemia, is coming from Qatar for the concert. Now she’s a huge Zayn fan and I feel bad for her. We brought the ticket for her because she was in hospital then and the tickets would have made her happy. I am looking forward to her coming. My mum and dad have booked a limousine to take us to the concert.”
Plans for the concert: “I plan to dance all night and have a great time. I have been their fan since I was four.”
Ella Barnes, 8, UK
Favourite member: Harry. I just think he looks kind of cute, and I like the voice.
Favourite song: Night Changes. I just like the beat that it’s got, and I like all of their voices in it – it just sounds the best.
When did you get to know about 1D?: Since they became a band. I saw a video of them, and I thought they looked really good in it. I got a CD of Pop Party and they had one of their songs on it, and I thought they sounded really good – so I just forced my mom to buy me some of their albums.
What makes them special?: I like the way that they sing together – it’s kind of hard to explain, but I just like all their voices and the way they sing, and the songs that they sing, I think it’s just appropriate for their type of band.
What are you most excited about for the concert?: Being able to meet Harry. Well, maybe. If he sees this [in the paper], then maybe.
Will you take a sign with you?: Definitely. Maybe a picture of them as a band.
How did you feel when Zayn left the band?: I felt really sad because in the new album, in One Direction – Four, his voice is heard most of the time, and them songs are very popular, such as Night Changes, Fireproof, Steal My Girl. I heard that actually he’s left forever, which I was really disappointed about.
Is this your first concert?: I went to see Olly Murs and the Wanted, and that was really good. I went to see Justin Bieber, I didn’t like that at all – he came on three hours, ten minutes late, because he went out shopping with his friends and he was drinking drugs.
Do you think 1D will be better?: Yeah, definitely. I think they’ll be more fun and ask what songs we want them to sing. It’ll be kind of cute.
Logan Marks, 6, Scotland.
Favourite member: Niall. Because, like, he sings nice.
Favourite song: Steal My Girl. It’s a really good one.
How did you become a fan?: When I was a baby, I just didn’t know what stuff and things that I could be, so that I could, when I grew up, be a fan of One Direction.
What are you most excited about?: I get to go on my dad’s shoulders.
Are you going to take a sign?: Yeah. “I love One Direction.”
The mums OPTIONAL
Maria Barnes, 49, England, Parent of 1D fan of Ella and a chaperone for the concert.
“We have booked a limousine for this concert for the first time. We are going all out of this one. It’s my second concert we are attending with children. The first one was Justin Bieber and he was two hours, 10 minutes late and by the time he came on stage, the kids were tired and didn’t enjoy it all. So I am a bit nervous about this one, but I hope the 1D band is more sensitive towards that. Fortunately, it’s not a school night on Saturday as they are on a break.”
Your favourite song: “I am a 1D fan because their songs are catchy. I watched them since their X-factor days. One of them – Liam - looks like my nephews, so I warmed up to them right away.”
About Zayn Malik’s exit: “ When I heard about his exit, I wrote a note to him on his Facebook page saying I was disappointed that he quit during the tour. As a parent, I understand why he wanted to leave. But I also think he should stick to his commitment because there are children who bought tickets a year in advance. And to know he’s not going to be there now is disappointing. He is a big vocalist in that band. And I want to tell him that if you are a part of the real world, then you should honour your commitments. I didn’t get a response from him though.”
Tracy Marks, Scottish, mother of Isla age 8 and Logan, 6.
How is it like being the mother of two directioners?: Exciting. They’re so excited about the concert, they can’t wait – they’ve been waiting over a year. What’s really nice about it is we’re going with a friend from Qatar, and nearly two years ago, she was diagnosed with Leukaemia, and she was very poorly in hospital, so what we did to try and cheer her up was get her the One Direction tickets. She’s thriving – she’s much better. This is going to be such a wonderful experience for her. She’s been waiting so patiently. At that time, she was in a bad place in hospital for four months every single day, so that cheered her up. She’s 10.
Do you like the music?: Yeah, I do. I really enjoy it.
Does it get crazy at the household?: It was probably more – not this Christmas, but the Christmas before, it just seemed like every present was One Direction, from the dolls, to the t-shirts, to the pajamas, they had it all.
