Iron Maiden to be back in Dubai in 2022

The rock band was slated to perform at the Coca-Cola Arena on May 27

A big beast may have conquered our beautiful little planet but as they say, hope springs eternal.
The coronavirus pandemic has left the globe tethering on the brink but for those of us who find solace in music, and classic heavy metal in particular, hope does spring eternal.
Iron Maiden, the greatest heavy metal band of all time, may have cancelled their entire segment of the Legacy of the Beast tour this year, including their Dubai show pencilled in for May 27, owing to the pandemic.
But, the veteran British band from east London have announced they will be back on the road in June next year, and with the promise to their Dubai faithful that they will return to the emirate in 2022.
Iron Maiden, who conjured hits like The Trooper, Hallowed be thy name, Fear of the Dark, Phantom of the Opera and Wasted Years, were slated to make their third return to Dubai after previous visits in 2007 and 2009.
They were slated to play at the Coca-Cola Arena but have had to postpone or cancel most of their shows until next year.
But a glimmer of hope remains of frontman Bruce Dickinson, a qualified pilot, flying his Ed Force One with his band mates, into UAE airspace, soon enough.
The band said that they are working on a return some time in 2022.
"Due to the continuing health issues Worldwide around Covid-19 we regretfully inform you that Iron Maiden will now not be playing any concerts until June 2021," Rod Smallwood, the band's long-time manager said in a statement.
"In respect of what should have been the opening leg of the 2020 tour starting on May 1 in Perth, Australia and visiting New Zealand, the Philippines, Japan, Dubai and Israel, we are currently working on a possible return to as many of these countries as we can, in some guise, in the first half of 2022, more news on that will follow at the appropriate time," the 70-year-old added.
This is, quite literally, music to ears of hardcore and dedicated fans of the metal icons.
Earlier, the band, who have rocked the world for four decades, regretted having to cancel their gig in Dubai.
"Further to the latest directive from the Dubai government in respect of the current global situation, Iron Maiden's headline show due to take place on May 27 will sadly no longer be going ahead," their statement read.
Iron Maiden, who had the first leg of their Somewhere Back in Time World Tour turned into a concert documentary titled Flight 666, made their maiden visit to Dubai as part of their A Matter of Life and Death tour and played in March 2007 at the now-defunct Dubai Desert Rock Festival.
Their second visit was two years later when they arrived as part of the Somewhere Back in Time tour at the Dubai Media City Amphitheatre on February 13, 2009.
Now, we await the third. Up the irons!
james@khaleejtimes.com