I went to the Michael Buble concert expecting the Canadian singer to belt out his on-brand love songs, a few covers and regale audiences with stories of how he wrote some of his most popular hits. What I did not expect was a show punctuated with jokes, one of the best backing bands I’ve heard, and to come out a bigger Buble fan than when I went in.

The artist performed in the UAE capital on Thursday as part of the Saadiyat Nights concert series. The star-studded line-up of musicians performing in an open-air custom-built amphitheatre is back for a second year.

Performing to an almost-packed venue, Buble was generous in his praise for and love for the UAE capital. “Welcome to the very first annual Buble concert, Abu Dhabi. Every single year, I am going to be here again and again … except no one has invited me yet,” he said as cheers from the audience soon turned into uproarious laughter.

“But seriously, this place is like Disneyland for adults. This is a beautiful city. We’ve been sitting on the beaches, we’ve watched Gazelles go by. This morning my wife said she saw sharks in the water, they were dolphins, but still.”

Dressed in a black suit, the Canadian crooner made a dramatic entrance as his band was playing a piece that hit a crescendo when he broke out into a rendition on Feeling Good, originally sung by Cy Grant in 1964 and then by Nina Simone in 1965.

“We are going to sing some of the greatest songs ever written, some of them by me,” he joked.

“This night is going to be magical,” he continued. “It’s been a while since I’ve done a show here. I’ve brought the greatest musicians, and there hasn’t been a lot of rehearsal, so it’s going to be loose.”

A magical night it was, but the band was far from loose. Featuring members that played trumpet, saxophone, guitar, piano and drums, they were as much the stars of the night as Buble.

From unexpectedly singing the chorus while Buble performed When You’re Smiling to trumpet player Jumani Smith taking centre stage to play a solo piece and sing Dean Martin’s You’re Nobody ‘Til Somebody Loves You, the collective seamlessly transitioned from smooth jazz to pop to briefly providing rock riffs to otherwise slow songs.

But, of course, Buble was who the audience came to see, and he delivered. Charismatic and playful, the singer performed a mix of some of his most popular hits, including Home, Quando, Quando, Quando and Everything, and covers of tracks such as Sway, Love, Fly Me to the Moon and Me and Mrs Jones. He effortlessly moved between the genres and encouraged the audience to sing along.

“This is so nice and intimate. How magic is this,” he said to the audience of almost 5,000. “It’s impossible to not get emotional when standing here feeling the love. Nothing tells me that you love me when I see you kill your iPhone batteries for me. I just cost you time looking at TikToks and Reels, but you love me, and I love you too. I would kill all my phone batteries for you,” he joked, before moving on to one of the evening highlights.

Buble dedicated the next segment to “the king” Elvis Presley. Emulating the storied performer’s lip curl, he performed Fever to Trouble and Burning Love, before turning the tempo down for the classic Can’t Help Falling in Love.

Supported by stunning visuals in the background, the production felt modern, even though a lot of the songs Buble performed were retro hits. Backed by a stellar band and a trio of vocalists, Buble delivered an evening of great music where it was apparent that, for many, staying seated was the biggest challenge of the night.

Here’s hoping Buble concerts become an annual event after all.

What’s still to come at Saadiyat Nights in 2025

January 24: Leningrad

The Russian rockers are playing in the UAE capital for the first time. The high energy gig will feature Sergey Shnurov and the rest of the 14-strong group performing their best-known hits. Tickets start at Dh200.

January 25: Boyz II Men

The old-school crooners will take the stage for a night of nostalgia. Fans can expect a soulful evening from the R&B harmony group. Tickets start at Dh175.

February 1: Omar Khairat

The Egyptian singer will perform a collection of his enchanting and original symphonies. Tickets start at Dh250.

February 15: Christina Aguilera

The American singer is returning to the UAE capital for the first time in 17 years. Tickets are sold out.