Metallica is set to break new ground this December with a pair of shows in the Middle East. The band will play Abu Dhabi on December 13, 2025 (part of Formula 1 Grand Prix) and Bahrain on December 15, 2025, and for longtime drummer Lars Ulrich, it’s another milestone in a career that has always been about pushing boundaries.

The newly announced dates are part of the final leg of the band’s M72 world tour, which has already taken them across Europe and the Americas with their “No Repeat Weekend” format. While these Middle East shows will be one-night-only events, they’re still expected to pack the same punch fans have come to expect from Metallica’s massive live productions.

For Lars Ulrich, who co-founded the band back in 1981, moments like these are reminders of how far things have come and how the band continues to evolve, even after four decades. At 61, he’s still the same high-energy presence behind the kit, keeping pace with the band’s demanding set lists and steering the rhythm through each shift and breakdown.

His drumming has always sparked strong opinions, often unconventional, sometimes unpredictable, but it’s also been a huge part of what makes Metallica sound like Metallica. Ulrich’s playing may not always be about flashy technique, but it’s always been about feel, intensity, and timing. It’s that instinctive approach that’s helped carry songs like “One,” “Creeping Death,” and “Moth Into Flame” into arenas around the world.

Beyond the music, Lars Ulrich has also become something of a global ambassador for the band, never shy about engaging with fans, media, or even critics. He’s been instrumental in pushing Metallica into new territories, both musically and geographically. Playing in places like Abu Dhabi and Bahrain isn’t just a novelty, it’s a continuation of Ulrich’s mission to connect with fans in every corner of the world.

And as the M72 tour winds down, these shows are likely to carry extra meaning. For fans in the region, it’s a rare chance to see one of metal’s biggest bands live. For Ulrich, it’s one more example of why he’s still driven to get behind the drums night after night.

After all these years, he’s still the one kicking off “Battery” with that unmistakable snare hit, still leading the charge, and still proving why he remains such an essential piece of Metallica’s heartbeat.