Abu Dhabi - “Abu Dhabi better celebrate,” Prince told the thousands of fans who packed the Yas Arena Sunday to watch the artist perform for the first time in the Middle East.

The rock star opened with “Let’s Go Crazy” and sang other classic hits including “Delirious,” “1999,” “Little Red Corvette,” and his iconic anthem “Purple Rain.”

CNN had front row seats at the closing concert of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The artist closed the high-energy evening with encore songs and fans dancing on the stage for a night of many hits - and not enough time.

Posted by: CNN Producer, Jenifer Fenton
Filed under: Abu Dhabi •Culture •UAE

After driving several hours from Abu Dhabi, we arrived at Qasr al Sarab, a luxury resort in the middle of the world’s largest uninterrupted sand desert. There is little to see between the two destinations, save a large garbage incinerator for the capitol and the odd grouping of camels. We credited our hotel arrival to a man at a road-side stop along the way. He filled our depleted tank with gas poured in from an improvised funnel – high tech for one of the world’s oil capitals.

Qasr al Sarab bills itself as the ultimate Arabian getaway in the Liwa Desert. The year-old hotel is remote, surrounded by nothing but sand and lots of it. Our room, one of just more than 200, ticked all the right boxes: big bed, excellent shower pressure, a functioning air conditioning and the bonus espresso machine. But what really sells the site is the view.

Dunes extend as far as the eye can see and much higher than I was willing to trek. After a mere 10 minute hike up one of the larger ones, I was out of breath and sweaty. I forgot my iPod and the Lawrence of Arabia soundtrack to motivate me. So I paused to thank the gods that I was born in modern times and to marvel at the wonder of nature.

As the sun sets, the golden sand reflects and absorbs its lights. Dark red and black earth dots the terrain and wispy clouds idle in the blue sky. Breathtaking. A sight made all the better as I know I can hike back to the hotel and eat a dinner that someone else has prepared instead of setting up camp, fending off the harsh conditions of the desert and wondering how far until the next water supply. For this luxury, I am willing to pay five-star rates.

Posted by: CNN Producer, Jenifer Fenton
Filed under: Abu Dhabi •UAE

Manchester City teaching soccer in Abu Dhabi. CNN's Tracey Holmes.

Posted by: IME Producer
Filed under: Abu Dhabi •UAE •Video

All of us at CNN are counting down the days to the launch of our newest bureau and production facility. After Atlanta, London and Hong Kong – Abu Dhabi is set to be our fourth broadcast hub when it launches on November 3rd. We will have a nightly newscast from there called Prism hosted by Stan Grant so be sure to tune in!

We'll bring you a behind-the-scenes look at how the bureau came together on the next IME airing November 4. Meanwhile, here's a sneak preview!

Posted by: IME Producer
Filed under: Abu Dhabi •CNN Coverage •Media

CNN's Stan Grant takes us inside Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Zayed mosque, one of the biggest in the world, for Ramadan.

Posted by: IME Producer
Filed under: Abu Dhabi

According to The National newspaper, British group Virgin and Aabar Investments, owned by the Abu Dhabi Government, signed a deal giving the UAE capital exclusive regional rights to host space flights for tourists. Aabar has also committed to fund a launch station for satellites.

STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images

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Posted by: IME Producer
Filed under: Abu Dhabi •Science & Technology