Review: Al Jassmi, Saqer, Yara serenade Abu Dhabi

Eid festivities in the capital were in full gear as three of the Middle East’s biggest stars serenaded crowds on Saturday at Yas Island’s du Forum.

Emirati singing sensation and X-Factor Arabia Judge, Hussain Al Jassmi, Saudi Arabian singer Rabeh Saqer and Lebanese starlet Yara all took centre-stage at the star-studded concert.

Yara kicked off the concert with a 45-minute set during which she sang some of her biggest hits including Sodfa, which she performed twice, seeing the audience’s reaction. With the viewers on their feet, chanting her name, and applauding, Yara sang with both a Khaliji and a Lebanese accent.

After a set full of high beat songs, the audience was fully in dance mode and hungry for more as she left the stage.

Almost as if obliging to the mood, Saqer took the stage for an hour-long set, and just a few seconds into his first song, the stage was surrounded by a mob taking pictures and dancing.

Saqer was an absolute crowd-pleaser, performing various hits from his celebrated 30-year career, including Bayen Aleik. While his voice was slightly over-shadowed by the music, audience members were dancing in groups in front of their seats and by the stage.

Finally, Al Jassmi was the cherry on top as he came to delight an already joyful crowd. The Emirati star performed an hour-long set, which left many people singing along to songs such as La teqarenni bi gheiry, Bahr el shoq and Setta el sobh.

Being his typical courteous self, Al Jassmi was interactive with his fans, wishing them a happy Eid, asking them if they were having fun, bending down to take pictures with people and even taking children on stage for pictures and to dance with him.

One of the audience members, Hanadi Khalid, who lives in Saudi Arabia, was in town for a visit and took the chance to watch her favourite musicians.

“The concert was really amazing. I came to watch Al Jassmi in particular but I really enjoyed Rabeh’s performance a lot as well,” she said, adding that it was her first time to watch a live performance for any of the artists.

Another attendee, Mohammad Al Ali, who also came from Riyadh to enjoy the Eid celebrations in Abu Dhabi, shared similar interests.

“The performance was excellent, though I’m a bit disappointed because the concert started late,” he noted. “I’ve seen Rabeh before and I came to watch him again.”

The concert, which marked Eid Al Fitr, was part of the emirate’s 52-day SummerFest Abu Dhabi celebrations.

*Sarah Diaa is a trainee at Gulf News.