'People ask why we don't bring U2 to Dubai'

Music promoters have said Dubai needs a permanent concert arena to attract more big-name acts to the city.

Industry specialists said a new venue was vital since promoters often have to build a stadium from scratch to put on shows.

Padma Coram from concert promoters The Talent Brokers said top-level performers would come to Dubai more often if there was a purpose-built venue.

"People ask why A-grade artists don't come to Dubai. But the artist's management asks if we have this, this and this and we have to say: 'No, no and no,' and they don't come," Coram said.

"People ask why we don't bring U2 to Dubai, but do we have what U2 needs?"

Peter McCann of Gearhouse, a production management company that helps to set up venues for concerts, agreed. "There is definitely a need for a flexible venue with a capacity of more than 10,000 people," he said.

"When you look at the frequency of artists coming into town, it's at a reasonable level, but we can only grow the numbers if there's a reasonable venue."

McCann said since some venues were not specially built for concerts, things such as toilets, security and power had to be installed for each show increasing the costs and making it less economically viable to put on shows.

"As regulations increase, it's going to get tighter and a venue with the right amount of toilets, emergency exits and the like, designed to be compatible with regulations, would make for a much cleaner operation," he said.

"It would not just make things easier for promoters, but would encourage the artists to come to Dubai.

"The artists' management are very keen for them to be in the right environment," McCann said. "Perhaps Dubai is not totally on the list of places to visit at the moment, so if there was a good venue it would certainly make it easier."