Shakira, a woman whose hips don't lie and whose tour schedule is apparently very particular, is set to perform at Egypt's iconic Pyramids of Giza on November 28th. This will be her only stop in the entire region during her current world tour, which, if you're a concert promoter, sounds like a logistical nightmare. And indeed, it might be.
Originally, there were plans for Abu Dhabi and Doha. Both vanished. Now it's just Egypt. Because apparently, when you're Shakira, you can tell your 200-person crew, "Pack your bags, we're going to the desert for one night only."
Rabih Mokbel, the promoter for this monumental one-off, openly admitted that flying an entire small village of dancers, technicians, and probably a dedicated hummus taster to the Middle East for a single gig isn't exactly a budget-friendly move. He noted that fewer regional stops make it harder to cover the astronomical costs. But then he dropped the real reason: Shakira specifically wanted the Pyramids.
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Start Your News Detox"It's never about the money," Mokbel declared, "It's always about the uniqueness of the locations." Which, if you think about it, is both impressive and slightly terrifying for the accountants. She last graced the ancient site in 2007, clearly having fond memories.
The Economic Hip Shake
This isn't just about a pop star's bucket list. The concert, expected to draw up to 20,000 fans (who will be shuttled in via 600 buses from a meeting point near the Grand Egyptian Museum), is a massive play for tourism. Mokbel projects the event could indirectly inject a cool $20 million to $30 million into the Egyptian economy. That's a lot of souvenirs.
The Pyramids have a long history of hosting musical legends, from Frank Sinatra in 1979 to Sting in 2001, Mariah Carey in 2010, and even Maroon 5 in 2022. Because nothing says "ancient wonder" like Adam Levine singing Moves Like Jagger.
Of course, there's always a slight tremor of concern when modern megastars descend upon millennia-old structures. Travis Scott's recent Roman spectacle at Circus Maximus reportedly caused ground vibrations, raising eyebrows about potential risks to historical sites. But before Shakira even unleashes her vocal cords, Serbia's Exit Festival is planning the first-ever multi-stage, multi-day festival at the Pyramids in October, featuring artists like Charlotte de Witte. So, apparently, the Pyramids are ready for their close-up, and a whole lot of bass drops.
