Dubai Opera (Dubai, United Arab Emirates)
Dubai Opera
Dubai Opera is a 2,000-seat, multi-format, performing arts center, which is located within The Opera District in Downtown Dubai. It was developed by Emaar Properties to host a variety of performances and events including theatre, opera, ballet, concerts, conferences and exhibitions.
Dubai Opera is part of The Opera District within Downtown Dubai. The 1901-seat performing arts center was designed by Janus Rostock of Atkins. The theatre was conceived and briefed by Theatre Projects Consultants, it can be converted into a traditional theatre, concert hall, banquet hall or exhibition space. Using hydraulic lifts and seating wagons to relocate 900 of the 2,000 seats, the space can be used for other events while the extra seating is stored in garages beneath the theatre.
Dubai Opera is designed to resemble a dhow, a traditional sailing vessel, in which the 'bow' of the structure houses the opera's main stage, orchestra and seating, while the elongated 'hull' has waiting areas, taxi drop-off areas, and parking. It also boasts a rooftop restaurant with views of the Burj Khalifa.
The first Emirati singer to appear at Dubai Opera was Hussain Al Jassmi on 10 October 2016.
Shortly after that, the award-winning hit musical Les Misérables graced the stage for a three-week run.
In 2017 the venue staged the inaugural BBC Proms Dubai - just the second time ever that the United Kingdom's premier classical music series hosted events abroad in its 112-year history.
Dubai Opera's longest running show was the Phantom of the Opera in late 2019.