Countdown to Timberlake ticket rush begins

The first batch of tickets for pop sensation Justin Timberlake’s first Middle East concert in Abu Dhabi will go on sale online at 9am on Thursday, October 25, at www.timeouttickets.com, the show’s exclusive ticketing agents.

Online sales for the concert, which takes place at Emirates Palace Hotel on December 6 and marks the final performance of JT's 'FutureSex/LoveShow' world tour, will be limited to a maximum of four tickets per purchase, Time Out Tickets said in a statement on Tuesday.

The world tour has so far sold-out arenas in over 60 cities.

“We’re expecting huge demand for Justin Timberlake tickets and have scaled the reservation systems to manage that level of demand,” a spokesman from the ticketing agent said.

“We believe that this online process ensures a fair allocation of tickets on a first come first served basis and without the queuing and crowd problems we’ve seen for popular concerts here in the past.”

A limited number of retail tickets for the concert, sponsored by Mubadala Development Company and Aldar Properties, will also go on sale in Abu Dhabi on Friday, November 2, at a location soon to be revealed, Time Out Tickets added.

The concert will be the biggest in Abu Dhabi's history and is the latest in the UAE capital’s drive to become the region’s leading destination for high-profile cultural and sporting, as it competes with Dubai for a slice of the lucrative entertainment market.

The capital has already played host to performances by Placido Domingo, Opera Aida, Jose Carreras, Opera Carmen and The Chicago Musical, as well as sporting events such as the Abu Dhabi Golf Championships and in 2009 the Abu Dhabi Formula 1 Grand Prix.

Cultural developments like the Louvre Abu Dhabi, Guggenheim museum and a world-class performing arts venue, also intend to push the capital onto the world stage.

Ticket prices for the Justin Timberlake concert vary from 895 dirhams for Platinum (Front Standing) tickets, 595 dirhams for Gold (Grand Stand - Central) tickets, 495 dirhams for both Blue (Grand Stand - Left) and Red (Grand Stand - Right) tickets to Green (General Standing) tickets at 295 dirhams.

Time Out Tickets have said the ticketing system being used for the concert has been designed to respond to each ticket reservation request by sending the applicant an email with a unique link to the secure ticketing system that then allows them to enter credit card and address information for the tickets.

Only at that point will the ticket transaction be completed and the appropriate fee billed to the applicant’s credit card.

Applicants will be able to reserve tickets for a period of 24 hours. Tickets that are reserved but unconfirmed will be placed back on sale immediately following the expiration of the 24-hour deadline.

To purchase tickets for the event online, please visit www.timeouttickets.com from October 25.

For further concert and ticket information please visit www.justintimberlake.ae.