Beyoncé Takes To The Stage In Dubai For Her First Show Since 2018

January 22, 2023

Beyoncé has made her long-awaited return to live performance this weekend with an unexpected show in Dubai. As Pitchfork initially reported, the show took place as part of an invite-only event in Dubai to celebrate the opening of Atlantis The Royal hotel.

Described as “a weekend where your dreams become your destination”, the event ran from Friday, 20th to Sunday, 22nd January. Invitations sent to influencers and journalists promised a “once in a lifetime performance”, though it was initially unclear whether Beyoncé would be the artist making the appearance.

Beyoncé performs new and old material at her first full show since 2018

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Reports from attendees have confirmed that Beyoncé did indeed take to the stage at the luxury venue on Saturday, 21st January. Although the acclaimed pop artist made brief appearances at the Kobe and Gianna Bryant memorial concert, the 2020 Disney Singalong, and the 2022 Academy Awards, she hadn’t performed a full set since an appearance in Udaipur, India in December 2018.

The 17-song setlist featured no music from Beyoncé’s latest album, 2022’s Renaissance. It did include ‘Be Alive’ from the King Richard soundtrack and four selections – ‘BIGGER’, ‘OTHERSIDE’, ‘SPIRIT’, and ‘BROWN SKIN GIRL’ – from 2019’s The Lion King: The Gift soundtrack. ‘BROWN SKIN GIRL’ was performed as a duet with Beyoncé’s daughter, Blue Ivy Carter.

Beyoncé also used her live return to resurrect a handful of songs she hadn’t played in many years. These included a cover of Etta James’ ‘At Last’, which opened the performance and was – along with ‘Flaws And All’ – performed for the first time since 2013. ‘Beautiful Liar’, a collaboration with Shakira, was featured for the first time since 2011.

No concrete touring details for Beyoncé have been confirmed at the time of writing, but rumours of the singer’s first Australian shows since 2013 were reportedly leaked in September 2022.