Concerts, sports events in UAE cancelled, postponed as virus spreads in Gulf

Majorconcertsandeventsin the United Arab Emirates, an air transit centre as well as a tourism and business hub, have beencancelledorpostponedas the coronavirusspreadsin theGulf.

There have been at least 1,641 cases of thevirusin theGulfregion, mostly in Iran where 66 people have died. Cases have also been reported in other Middle East nations.

The March 5-6 electronic music Ultra festival at Abu Dhabi's 25,000-capacity Du arena and the March 21 K-pop concert Music Bank at Dubai's 17,000-capacity Coca Cola Arena have beencancelled.

Organisers of Ultra, where electronic group Major Lazer and DJ Afrojack were to perform, cited travel restrictions imposed by some countries and airlines in the wake of the rapidly-spreadingvirus.

South Korea's national broadcaster KBS and crowdfunding platform Makestar, organisers of the K-pop concert, said Music Bank wascancelledbecause of the spread of the epidemic in South Korea and elsewhere.

TheUAE, which has reported 21 cases, regularly hosts major conferences,concertsand sportingevents, a significant draw-card for foreign visitors.

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TheUAEcentral bank will reassess its forecast for economic growth in 2020 due to the coronavirusoutbreak, an official said on Tuesday.

A women's forum and yoga festival in Abu Dhabi and a carnival in Dubai for the Hindu holi festival, all in March, have also beencancelledor rescheduled.

Meanwhile, American rapper and producer Russ said his March 27 concert in Dubai will now take place in November because of thevirus.

"I know, wild lol (laugh out loud) but outta my control," he said on Twitter.

🇦🇪🇦🇪🇦🇪🇦🇪

I have to postpone the Dubai show due to the coronavirus. I know, wild lol but outta my control..but your tickets will all be valid for the new date which will be November 27 this year.

Sorry again, I’m kinda shocked as well 😔 🤷‍♂️ — Russ (@russdiemon) March 2, 2020

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Dubai haspostponedits March boat show until November and Abu Dhabipostponedthe ITU World Triathlon event this month, after earlier cancelling a cycling tournament where two elite participants were diagnosed with thevirus.