UK grime artist Stormzy hits the stage at the Abu Dhabi F1

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Updated 11 December 2021
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UK grime artist Stormzy hits the stage at the Abu Dhabi F1

ABU DHABI: British grime music artist Stormzy delivered a rousing performance on day two of the Yasalam After-Race Concert series at the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Friday night.

Accompanied by DJ TiiNY, Stormzy had the crowd rapping along to his hits “Big Michael,” “Audacity” and “Cold,” all prime examples of the superstar’s sharp wordplay and fiery lyrics.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Yasalam (@yasalamae)

“Let’s dance, have fun and make lots of memories we can all take away and keep forever,” Stormzy told the crowd as he revealed it was his first visit to Abu Dhabi to huge cheers from the audience.

Stormzy, the first British rapper to perform a headlining slot at Britain’s Glastonbury festival in 2019, also performed his acclaimed hits “Big For Your Boots” and “Vossi Bop.”

Two artists from Flash Entertainment’s Regional Artist Spotlight (RAS) — UAE-based Somali rapper Freek and Syrian crossover rapper and singer Moh Flow hit the stage for warm up sets ahead of the highly anticipated show.


Sotheby’s ‘Origins II’ opens to public in Diriyah

Updated 25 January 2026
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Sotheby’s ‘Origins II’ opens to public in Diriyah

DUBAI: Art lovers in Saudi Arabia currently have the chance to view works by some of the most influential names in modern and contemporary art, as Sotheby’s showcases the contents of its upcoming “Origins II” sale in a free public exhibition in Diriyah.

Open to visitors until 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 31, the exhibition is being held at Bujairi Terrace and coincides with the opening of the Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale 2026. The display brings together more than 60 lots spanning modern and contemporary art, offering the public a rare opportunity to see works by leading Saudi and Middle Eastern artists alongside renowned international figures.

The exhibition features works by Saudi artists Mohamed Siam and Dia Aziz Dia, who will make their auction debuts in the sale. Both are regarded as among the most significant voices of the Kingdom’s second generation of modern artists. Their works are shown alongside those of trailblazing peers, including Safeya Binzagr, Abdulhalim Radwi, and Mohammed Al-Saleem.

International highlights in the sale include works by Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, and Anish Kapoor.

The exhibition leads into Sotheby’s second auction to be held in Saudi Arabia, with the “Origins II” sale set to take place on Jan. 31. The auction will be staged in Diriyah — the birthplace of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of At-Turaif — at the amphitheater.