Beyonce’s first live performance since 2020 didn’t commence an international arena tour or close out a major music festival. Instead, Queen B headlined a posh private concert to mark the grand opening of luxury hotel Atlantis The Royal in Dubai.
TMZ reports that Beyonce was paid a whopping $24 million to play a 60-minute set for 1,500 celebrity attendees, including Kendall Jenner, Liam Payne, Chloe x Halle, Beyonce’s husband Jay-Z, and her parents.
Despite a “no-recording” policy, clips of the set went ultra-viral, including one of a splashy “Drunk In Love” performance and another of Beyonce and daughter Blue Ivy’s rendition of “Brown Skin Girl,” per Pitchfork.
After Beyonce’s performance concluded with a choreographed water fountain sequence and fireworks, Swedish House Mafia took the stage to kick off the afterparty, Hypebeast reports.
While many were pleased to see Beyonce end her performance hiatus, the concert was met with some controversy. BBC notes that some fans were displeased with the locale, as Dubai enforces strict laws against same-sex relationships. This is especially concerning to some in the context of Beyonce’s latest album, 2022’s Renaissance, which has been celebrated for honoring black queer culture.
“It seems like a really misguided choice from her,” freelance journalist Abigail Firth told BBC Newsbeat.
“She’s obviously a multimillionaire anyway, she didn’t really need to do this, she didn’t really need the money. That’s probably where some of the backlash is stemming from as well.”
Despite this limited backlash, the performance was the pinnacle of the Atlantis The Royal’s epic, three-day opening event, which also featured an elegant feast at sister hotel Atlantis, The Palm’s crown restaurant Nobu Dubai.
Nobu founders Nobu Matsuhisa and Meir Teper participated in a special ceremony marked by the tapping of a giant sake barrel before signature cocktails and dishes were served, including Black Cod with Miso, Spicy Salmon Miso Tacos and Tuna Sashimi.
Atlantis The Royal also features 44 suites with their own private infinity pools, an infinity pool on the 22nd floor with views over the Palm Island, and the largest jellyfish aquarium in the world, among other upscale amenities.
Atlantis The Royal opens on February 10, 2023. Discounted advance purchases are available now.