Dubai Jazz Festival in numbers

2003: The first Jazz Festival was held in Dubai and drew a crowd of 8,000 jazz fans to Dubai Media City. 2004: The audience almost doubled to 15,000 people. 2005: Attracted 18,000. The three-day festival developed to cover the entire DMC lakeside area increasing the number of stages to three and the number of shows to six per night. 2006: More than 21,500 music lovers from the UAE and region attended this award-winning year. The festival won the What's On Favourite Festival award. 2007: The 5th edition Skywards Dubai International Jazz Festival saw more than 25,000 fans flock from Dubai, the GCC region and a new crowd from Europe. Jamie Cullum, Toto, international Diva Dee-Dee Bridge Water and the legendary Freddy Cole entertained. 2008: Was free concerts for all. The Skywards Dubai International Jazz Festival offered free concerts during the first seven days featuring 14 international bands consisting of new international talents, which rotated between two new venues; the Dusk Terrace, Radisson SAS Hotel DMC, and the Marina Square, Dubai Festival City. The final three nights at DMC welcomed the talents of Jesse Cook, pop idol David Gray and The Bee Gee's Robin Gibb. 2009: The 10-day festival featured great names from the blues, Jazz, rock and pop worlds with a total of 30 acts including James Blunt, John Legend and Incognito. The Network Jazz Garden was the official home of the after show jamming sessions and the attendance of the 10 days topped 30,000 fans. 2010: Despite all market challenges, the festival witnessed a further extension with the participation of more supporters and partners. The festival extended its programme to 17 nights of music and concerts, launching the first edition of the World of Jazz a new creative concept of street entertainment, with free concerts for all, preceding the seven nights of the Network Jazz Garden and the main concerts at Dubai Media City. A total of 42 bands participated with headliners courtesy of Acid Jazz pioneers The Brand New Heavies, James Morrison and David Gray. The attendance topped 42,000. 2011: More than 50,000 attended this edition with a strong line-up. Free concerts at The Walk JBR were a huge success. The tie-up with the British Council in Dubai and the UK Jazz Services was the highlight of this edition of the du Jazz Garden. The main gigs attracted huge crowds due to the rich line-up and artists profiles. Jools Holland and his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra, with Alison Moyet and Mica Paris, Grammy Award-winning Macy Gray and Lifehouse, Train, Joshua Radin all performed. 2012: Hopes to attract more than 50,000 jazz fans over the nine days. James Blunt, Jools Holland, James Morrison and Jason Mraz will headline at an all-new venue at Dubai Festival City.