Review: Sting 2010 concert in Dubai

When Sting eventually took to the stage at around midnight on Thursday, after a night of racing at Meydan's Super Thursday, Mr Sumner (an ill advised encore version of his classic Desert Rose sans Rai singer aside) played a very tight set full of passion and energy.

He opened at a high tempo with a rousing version of Message in a Bottle and delved deep into his back catalogue to satisfy fans from his days in the Police to the present.

Roxanne, The Shape of My Heart, Walking on the Moon, Englishman in New York were all wheeled out to great effect.

Sting himself was clearly enjoying himself, every line of every song was punctuated with his mischevious grin, every octave of that unique and powerful voice got an outing.

He had the crowd in front of the stage eating out of his hand. Leading thousands of people in handclapping sessions and inviting them to fill in the missing lines from his myriad of hit singles.