The following report is courtesy of Alisha Coelho from Wadi.ae:

The two-day event’s claim as a destination for rock fans from across the globe is underlined by a multi-national audience. From Albania to Canada, fans are here, at the Country Club, rocking Dubai. Age, race, gender and size were no bar for the thousands of fans that gathered at the Dubai Country Club yesterday to witness what is arguably the biggest rock festival in the region – the Dubai Desert Rock Festival.

According to organisers, the first day’s was a sellout with more than 15,000 people present to watch IRON MAIDEN, THE PRODIGY, STONE SOUR and other bands play. The last act, Iron Maiden, that drew the most attention, had people queuing up for tickets at 11 p.m., even though the band had begun playing at 10.15 p.m.

This year, the festival, which runs for two days, also attracted fans not only from the UAE but from around the region and across the globe.

Ilir Caushi and his wife Tastil from Albania made a stopover in Dubai to catch the festival before jetting off to Argentina. The globetrotters are most excited about catching ROBERT PLANT ‘live’ today. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see Plant perform with his band Strange Sensation. We wouldn’t miss it for anything,” said Ilir.

Joude Alamri, Salma Shari and Zara Rawashdah from Saudi Arabia are in total agreement. The teenagers had flown down from the Kingdom to catch the concert along with their friends. Alamri in particular was most excited as she was bringing in her birthday at the concert.

“We’ve just been in mock mosh pit in the front and it’s amazing. This is going to be one of the best birthdays ever,” she said.

Some groups were larger. Take Fernando Bayer, a resident of Oman who had flown down to Dubai with a group of nearly 100. “This is my third year here,” said Bayer who proudly waved and donned the Omani flag. “I’ve flown down to see Iron Maiden play and I’m really excited about it.”