It was her first full performance in four years, and it lasted just over an hour, but Beyoncé pocketed a pay check that makes eyes water — $34 million dollars to be exact.
At the ‘invitation only’ exclusive opening of Dubai’s newest grand hotel, Atlantis The Royal, guests were treated to a 19-song set from the 41-year old legend, including a duo with her 11-year old daughter, Blue Ivy.
The guest list to the special event included influencers and celebrities such as Kendall Jenner, Rebel Wilson, Jay-Z, and Liam Payne. Television presenter Sonia Kruger was also invited, telling radio hosts Fitzy & Wippa that she’d initially thought the invitation was a prank or some sort of hoax.
“I didn’t think it was for real,” she said, before going on to describe the event, and the hotel.
“It was basically you know, they sent us to have a little free holiday,” she said. “[The hotel has] got 90 swimming pools. It does, some of the rooms and I’m pretty sure Beyoncé’s room had a swimming pool. So yeah, it’s just enormous, but it’s really beautiful. It’s architecturally quite amazing.”
According to Kruger, Beyoncé brought her entire crew with her to Dubai.
“She took 120 people with her, her crew. I guess the only talk about her fee. I think it was like 24 million US dollars, 35 million Australian dollars. But she’s got a huge crew and you know, she insists on of course and having all of her own sound and lighting and everything she does it all herself.”
The decision to perform in the UAE, with its poor human rights record, laws against homosexuality and the treatment of migrant workers, has sparked some negative comments from fans and critics.
UK-based music journalist Abigail Firth told the BBC Beyoncé’s performance was “a really misguided choice from her.”
“She’s obviously a multimillionaire anyway, she didn’t really need to do this, she didn’t really need the money,” Firth said.
“That’s probably where some of the backlash is stemming from as well.”
The hotel took six years to build and cost a total of $1.6 billion. Boasting 43 levels containing 231 luxury apartments, 693 hotel rooms, 102 suites, an executive suite can cost up to $100k per night.
Though the event’s organisers asked its guests to adhere to a strict no film or photography guideline, leaked clips of Beyoncé’s performance have been surfacing over the past few days.