If your late-autumn travel plans include the Gulf, there's now a good reason to be in Abu Dhabi on November 29. Ghostly Kisses, the French-Canadian project built around singer Margaux Sauvé and producer Louis-Étienne Santais, will play Etihad Arena — one of the region's biggest indoor venues — as part of a growing run of international acts passing through the UAE capital.
For the uninitiated: Ghostly Kisses occupy a space between dream-pop and atmospheric electronica. Sauvé's voice is the draw — soft, precise and close-miked — while Santais layers piano, strings and electronic textures underneath. Songs like The City Holds My Heart and Heartbeat have racked up serious streaming numbers by soundtracking late nights and long walks, and they translate surprisingly well to a live room. The duo have been touring increasingly large venues in recent years, and Abu Dhabi marks one of their most prominent UAE appearances to date.
Tickets follow a staggered release. Mastercard cardholders in the UAE get first crack through a presale running from September 30 at midday until October 2 at midday. Mastercard Collection cardholders — those holding World, World Elite or World Legend cards — can also access selected tickets from October 2 at midday via Priceless. Everyone else can buy through Live Nation Middle East and Ticketmaster UAE when general sales open on October 2 at midday. If you're travelling from abroad and want a decent seat, note that presales mean the best tickets may thin out quickly on general sale day.
It's worth treating this as a trip anchor rather than a standalone night. Etihad Arena sits on Yas Bay waterfront on Yas Island, which means you can build a whole weekend around the gig: the island is home to Ferrari World, Yas Waterworld and the Yas Marina Circuit, and Yas Bay itself has a strip of restaurants and bars worth an evening. Abu Dhabi's other big hitters — the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the Louvre Abu Dhabi on Saadiyat Island, and the Corniche — are all within a 30-minute drive.
Who is this for? Fans of intimate, cinematic pop who assumed they'd need to catch the duo in Europe or North America, and anyone planning a UAE trip in late November when the weather finally turns pleasant — daytime highs settle into the high 20s, and evenings are ideal for waterfront dinners before a show. It's also a nicely timed excuse to visit before the December peak-season rush and prices.
One practical note: Abu Dhabi hosts plenty of arena-scale concerts in autumn and winter, and hotels near Yas Island fill up around event dates. Book accommodation early if you're coming specifically for the gig, and consider the free Yas Island shuttle network to skip parking hassles on the night.
Story first reported by What's On Dubai.
