Cirque du Soleil’s Alegría enjoys unmatched success in Dubai following month-long show

More than 75,000 people have been thrilled by the magic of Alegría

Dubai, 07 April 2009

Cirque du Soleil, who in partnership with Nakheel brought Alegría to Dubai, has underlined its position as one of the leading global entertainment productions in the world following a hugely successful month-long run. Over 75,000 people across the region watched the award-winning show and in the process helped to make Alegría the number one must-see event of 2009.

The show spread its magic throughout the region, captivating capacity audiences and was met with standing ovations. Alegría is the second show to come to the Middle East and follows a hugely successful run of Quidam in 2007.

The return of the showpiece event to the region and its tremendous success has delighted organizers who have seen visitors fly in from all corners of the globe to experience the magic of Cirque du Soleil in Dubai.

Robert Lee, Managing Director, Nakheel Retailcorp, said:

“Once again the people of Dubai and the wider region have thrown their support behind this magical event which has helped to lift people’s spirits at this time and brought a great deal of joy.

Thanks to the vision shared by the leaders in Dubai, Cirque du Soleil now has a place in the hearts of people in Dubai and wider afield. The return of Cirque du Soleil also continues Nakheel's commitment to the local community and we look forward to being a part of its continued success in this part of the world.”

As well as the overwhelming response to the show, Alegría has also seen technological success by introducing a new online ticketing system which allows customers to see exactly where they will sit before purchasing their e-tickets. The system has been popular and was responsible for over 50 per cent of total ticket sales. The ticketing website generated over 65,000 visitors, with almost 80 per cent of those visiting the ‘buy tickets’ link.

Robert Mackenzie, Cirque du Soleil’s tour manager, added:

“The response from the public has been absolutely superb and we are very proud of the feedback we have received from those who have seen and enjoyed the joy of Alegría.

Dubai is a hugely exciting and innovative city with which we are honoured to have such strong ties. We would like to thank Dubai for its warm hospitality and look forward to returning.”

The return of Cirque du Soleil with Alegría follows a partnership struck in 2007 between Nakheel and Cirque du Soleil to develop a permanent show on Palm Jumeirah. This was followed by an announcement that saw Istithmar World, the investment arm of Dubai World, and Nakheel acquire a 20 per cent stake in Cirque du Soleil last year.

The roots of Nakheel date back to the late 1990s when H.H Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and UAE Vice President, revealed his vision to turn Dubai into one of the leading tourist destinations in the world. Through its iconic projects such as Palm Jumeirah, Nakheel has been a key player in realising this vision.