RAIED SHUQUM (ABU DHABI)

Abu Dhabi is gearing up for a musical extravaganza as the legendary Sting brings his STING 3.0 World Tour, which has been making waves across the globe, to the Etihad Arena on Yas Island on April 3, 2025.

The concert, presented by Live Nation Middle East, will feature Sting's longtime collaborator and guitarist, Dominic Miller, along with drummer Chris Maas.

Together, they will deliver a performance that spans decades of musical innovation. Sting, born Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner, developed a passion for music early on.

He was particularly influenced by the Beatles and jazz musicians like Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane.

After a brief stint at the University of Warwick and various jobs, he attended Northern Counties Teachers Training College, intending to become a teacher.

During this time, he performed in local clubs with jazz bands such as Phoenix Jazzmen and Last Exit.

In 1977, he co-founded the new wave rock band The Police with Stewart Copeland and Andy Summers.

The band quickly rose to fame with hits like "Roxanne," "Message in a Bottle," and "Every Breath You Take."

The Police became one of the world's best-selling music artists, earning multiple Grammy Awards.

Sting has been inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Police.

Sting launched his solo career in 1985 with the album "The Dream of the Blue Turtles," which showcased his ability to blend rock, jazz, reggae, and classical music.

His solo work has been critically acclaimed and commercially successful, with albums like "Nothing Like the Sun," "Ten Summoner's Tales," and "Brand New Day" producing numerous hits.

Throughout his career, especially as a solo artist, Sting has continuously evolved, experimenting with different genres and collaborating with a diverse array of artists.

His work includes the Grammy-winning album "Brand New Day," the medieval-inspired "Songs from the Labyrinth," and the Broadway musical "The Last Ship."

Sting's contributions to music have been widely recognised, having sold over 100 million albums worldwide from his combined work.

He has won 17 Grammy Awards, three Brit Awards, a Golden Globe, an Emmy, and four Academy Award nominations for Best Original Song.

In 2003, he was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for his services to music.

His first major performance in the UAE was in Dubai on April 19, 2001, at the Dubai Aviation Club, as part of his "Brand New Day" tour.

The "My Songs" tour brought him to the Etihad Arena on Yas Island on January 27, 2023.

He then headlined a New Year's Eve gala at Atlantis, The Palm, in Dubai, on December 31, 2023.

His latest UAE endeavour was performing at the Saadiyat Nights event on Saadiyat Island on February 3 of this year.

Beyond music, Sting is known for his activism, particularly in environmental and human rights causes.

He co-founded the Rainforest Foundation Fund to protect rainforests and their indigenous peoples.

With a career spanning over four decades, marked by his ability to innovate and connect with audiences worldwide, his music, characterised by its eclectic mix of styles, continues to resonate with fans of all ages.

Whether with The Police or as a solo artist, Sting remains a towering figure in the music industry, and his concert in Abu Dhabi should be as interesting as his varied and long career.

At midday, members of Sting's Fan Club will have the opportunity to access a special the pre-sale at sting.com on October 2, followed on livenation.me by the Live Nation presale on October 24 and the general sale beginning on March 15.