Greetings globetrotters! So I recently attended the Usher concert which was held in Abu Dhabi on April 19th, 2025, as part of the Club Social festival at Etihad Park on Yas Island. I had such a great time watching Usher deliver a nostalgic journey through the R&B superstar’s impressive three-decade-long career. I first saw Usher many years ago while I still lived in South Korea and the man still has the moves from well over a decade ago until now!
Here’s a breakdown of the standout moments from the show!
It was A Trip Down Memory Lane
Usher treated the diverse, multi-generational crowd to a setlist brimming with hits from across his extensive discography. The show kicked off with “My Way” (1997) and seamlessly transitioned through eras with tracks like “Love in This Club” (1998), “Party” (2017), and classic ballads such as “U Got It Bad,” “Burn,” and “Confessions, Pt II.”
He had High Energy and Charisma
Even after decades in the industry, Usher’s energy and stage presence remain captivating. His vocals were as crisp and controlled, effortlessly hitting the high notes of his early hits. His signature dance moves, winks, glides, and grins were met with enthusiastic cheers from the audience. I think parts of my school girl crush definitely came out throughout his performance lol.
He had an Engaging Performance
Usher kept the audience engaged throughout the hour-and-a-half-long set by moving between high-energy dance tracks and soulful R&B ballads. He even ventured offstage to get closer to fans in the front row, further connecting with the audience. I was absolutely jealous in that moment that I didn’t upgrade to the VIP tickets because I most definitely would’ve been in the front row! Oh well, next time God willing.
It Included Collaborations and Appreciation
Usher took a moment to acknowledge his longtime collaborator, DJ Mars, who kept the energy high during a brief intermission with a medley of popular dance hits. He also expressed gratitude to his fans for their support throughout his musical journey. As a lifelong fan, that was greatly appreciated for sure.
It was a Spectacular Finale
The latter part of the show was packed with some of Usher’s biggest hits, including “OMG” and “DJ Got Us Fallin’ in Love,” featuring his signature choreography. He closed the night with the mega-hit “Yeah!” and his collaboration with David Guetta (who wasn’t there but it was still amazing), “Without You,” leaving the audience on a high. I loved how he incorperated bringing the ATL to Abu Dhabi during his performance. It felt so amazing considering I missed his Atlanta performance when he got sick last summer and had to postpone it to the winter.
The energy in the venue after the final notes faded showed that many fans weren’t ready for the night to end, I know I wasn’t! Overall, the Usher concert in Abu Dhabi was such a great trip down memory lane seeing performances by one of my favorites growing up until this day. Usher is definitely a legend in his own right considering he’s been successful for almost 30 years in the game! Have you seen Usher abroad or back home in the States? If so, what did you think? Please feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments below. As always, happy globetrotting GTs!