Apparently, the Dubai Opera House will begin hosting sporting events.
That's right, the world's youngest opera house, the beacon of arts and culture that so many in the UAE have been anticipating for years will host the 2017 Professional Squash Association (PSA) Dubai World Series Finals in June.
Call it a new twist on the traditional definition of arts and culture.
PSA announced the venue last May, but tickets have just gone on sale and people have taken notice.
The finals tournament will be held from June 6 to 10. It will welcome the top eight players from the Men's and Women's Road To Dubai Standings. Fans can purchase tickets for 500 dirhams ($136).
PSA Chairman Ziad Al Turki said the event is one of the biggest on the annual squash calendar. It just made its debut in Dubai last year, but Turki said this year's event "looks set to raise the bar even higher."
Dubai Opera and PSA have a two year agreement, meaning the 2018 Dubai World Series Finals will also be held at the venue.
While Dubai has been building its reputation for hosting world-class sporting events, the recently opened Dubai Opera isn't exactly the venue that comes to most people's minds.
Since opening >at the end of August, the cultural center >has hosted shows such as the Broadway hit Les Miserables, the ballet Coppélia and a Mozart gala.
The squash tournament will be the opera house's first sporting event.
But hey, even if it seems a bit strange, this is Dubai we're talking about. The emirate definitely has a reputation of making an impression and doing things its own way.