Top 33 concerts and events coming to the UAE in 2025, from Dave Chappelle to Metallica

Rock, rap, opera, ballet and classical music concerts are some of the performances coming soon to the UAE. A host of global stars will take centre stage from pop stars Katy Perry and Jennifer Lopez, to nu-metal titans Limp Bizkit and British singer-songwriter David Gray. The Abu Dhabi Festival returns with orchestral, jazz and dance performances, while the Abu Dhabi Comedy Season brings more laughs with stand-up shows featuring Kevin Hart, Pete Davidson and Bill Burr. Here, The National rounds up the best coming live events. Returning for the second year, US hip-hop star Nas will headline the music and culture festival alongside Canadian R&B singer PartyNextDoor. The line-up also features Palestinian-Jordanian rapper The Synaptik, Saudi artist Asayel, and Egyptian rapper Karim Osama. Sets by Egypt's Cairokee and Lebanon's Adonis will showcase some of the best sounds from the Arab indie-music scene. Doors open 5.30pm; Tickets start from Dh125 A graduate of Egypt’s Higher Conservatory Institute, Amal Maher came to to fame with her 2004 debut album Isa 'In , which featured hits such as Eini Aliki Ta Tiba and Makanak . The release laid the groundwork for a career defined by sophisticated pop compositions, drawing inspiration from the timeless artistry of legends like Umm Kulthum and Fairuz. Show starts at 9pm; tickets start from Dh350 Ed Sheeran and the Kaiser Chiefs will headline the first Off Limits music festival. The event is planned as a 12-hour extravaganza, with doors opening at 2pm. Sheeran and the Kaiser Chiefs will lead a bill of more than 20 artists performing across two stages, which now includes One Republic, Zeyne and Fun Lovin'Criminals. Sheeran will play a full-length concert set, of around two hours, after which other artists will perform into the early hours. The remaining acts will be announced in the lead-up to the event. Doors open at 2pm; tickets start at Dh495 Palestinian violinist Yamen Saadi returns to the Abu Dhabi festival for a concert alongside Spanish violinist Sara Ferrandez and star cellists Kian Soltani from Austria and Pablo Ferrandez from Spain. Expect a varied repertoire of pieces to be performed with precise technique and charm. Show starts 7.30pm; tickets start at Dh140 The comedian and former The Daily Show host Trevor Noah kicks off the Abu Dhabi Comedy Season festival. The Emmy Award-winning comedian will perform a satirical set, exploring pressing global issues on stage. Show starts 7.30pm; tickets start at Dh140 Celebrating International Jazz Day, the Saadiyat Island institution will host performances by Grammy Award–winning American bassist and vocalist Esperanza Spalding, Lebanese singer and oud player Mayssa Karaa , oud virtuoso Charbel Rouhana and Turkish clarinettist Husnu Senlendirici. Show starts at 8pm; tickets start from Dh120 Grammy Award–winning jazz pioneer Herbie Hancock and Oscar-winning actor Jeremy Irons will headline a special concert in Abu Dhabi celebrating International Jazz Day . Organised by Unesco and the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz, the event will be hosted by Irons, with Hancock leading a stellar line-up of jazz luminaries including bassist Marcus Miller and acclaimed US vocalists Dee Dee Bridgewater and Terri Lyne Carrington. Entry is free upon registration via the Etihad Arena website, timing to be announced soon The American trumpeter is known for co-founding the Westerlies, an important New York brass band that performs a mix of jazz, modern classical music and folk. A 2020 winner of the Lincoln Centre’s Emerging Artist Award, Mulherkar will show off his skill as a composer and arranger. Show starts 7.30pm; tickets start at Dh140 The Egyptian singer will bring her celebrated repertoire of romantic ballads and Arabic pop to Dubai, showcasing a three-decade body of work that includes hits such as Sidi Wealak and Omri Ma'ak . Show starts at 9pm; tickets start from Dh150 The American comic, named Yas Island's Chief Island Officer in 2022, returns to Abu Dhabi for what will surely be another sold-out performance. His latest show, titled Act My Age , will feature him sharing more tales from his childhood and family life, as well as his experiences as a high-profile celebrity. Doors open 8pm; tickets start at Dh295 Having made her name in dance citadels such as Berlin’s Berghain, the South Korean DJ and producer is equally at home on massive festival stages and in intimate clubs. Following her blazing set at last year’s Abu Dhabi F1 Grand Prix after-race concert series , she returns with another vibrant performance, blending propulsive techno, Latin percussion and manic jungle loops. Show starts at 8pm; tickets start from Dh150 Two of the Arab world’s most beloved crooners are set to unite for a special concert. Shaker – dubbed as the “Prince of Arab Singing” – will deliver romantic favourites such as Nesyanak Sa’ab Akid and Keda Bardo Ya Amar , while Lebanon’s Jassar, known as “The Miracle Child", brings his vocal prowess to the stage with hits including last year’s Koul Waad. Show starts at 8pm; tickets start from Dh295 Known for his Bollywood film hits such as Kabira , Ae Dil Hai Mushkil and Channa Mereya from various films, Singh is often referred to as the “king of playback singing” – for recorded songs which are then pictured as being sung by the stars in movies. Known for his soulful voice, Singh, who first gained fame for the song Tum Hi Ho from the 2013 film Aashiqui 2 , has performed a number of sold-out concerts in the Emirates. Doors open 6pm; tickets start at Dh200 Once seen as a journeyman artist, Egyptian singer Tamer Ashour cemented his place at the top with Haygely Mawgow3 , one of the biggest Arabic hits of 2024. He now returns to Dubai as one of Arab pop’s leading stars. Show starts at 9pm; tickets start from Dh295 One of the biggest Filipino pop acts, the all-girl group will perform in Dubai as part of their new world tour, delivering a greatest hits set featuring anthems Pantropiko , Salamin Salamin and Karera . Show starts at 7pm; tickets Tickets start from Dh195 One of Australia’s biggest comedians heads to Dubai as part of his Son of a Carpenter tour. Known for his brash and irreverent material, Jefferies has built a global following through his Netflix stand-up special High and Dry and the cult television comedy series Legit . Show starts at 8pm; tickets start from Dh295 The British percussion collective Stomp transforms everyday objects – and even the human body – into instruments in a high-energy theatrical spectacle. Their routines feature performers hurling paint cans while drumming complex rhythms on them and turning brooms into dance partners. Even water cooler bottles are reimagined as sophisticated percussion tools in a show described as “no words, no storyline, just pure energy”. Show starts at 8pm with an additional 2pm show on May 31; tickets start from Dh295 A regular performer in the UAE, Koy is known for his relatable comedy, pulling inspiration from his family. From his modest beginnings performing in a Las Vegas coffee house, he is now one of the top names in comedy, with four Netflix specials, an autobiography and a Billboard No 1 for his stand-up comedy album, Live From Seattle . Doors open at 6.30pm; tickets start at Dh180 The Academy Award-winning composer will bring his globally acclaimed tour Abu Dhabi for the first time. Known for his extensive catalogue of work, expect to hear soundtracks from films such as Interstellar , The Lion King and Dune . The performance will also celebrate Abu Dhabi’s role in the Dune films, with Zimmer and his ensemble being joined by the original vocalists from Dune , Gladiator and The Lion King on stage. Doors open 6pm; tickets start at Dh579 The stage sensation celebrates 25 years since its debut in London’s West End. Written by British playwright Catherine Johnson and scored to the hits of Abba, the story is set on a Greek island and follows young Sophie’s quest to find her father before her wedding. Tickets start at Dh125 Comedian, actor and former Saturday Night Live star Pete Davidson will coming to the UAE's capital this June as part of Abu Dhabi Comedy Season. The performer also appears in the 2025 animated film Dog Man . Doors open at 6:30pm; tickets start at Dh295 The superstar American comedian returns to the UAE capital for Abu Dhabi Comedy Season. The announcement fulfills a promise Dave Chappelle made at the end of his 2024 Abu Dhabi show , when he said: “The fact that you guys are doing this festival here is one of the most powerful things that is happening in the world. I was told before stepping on stage that this is the biggest comedy show the Middle East has ever seen. Mark my words, I will be back.” Widely beloved, yet consistently controversial, Chappelle is known for his razor-sharp wit and fearless approach to comedy. Tickets go on general sale on April 16 on the Ticketmaster website Considered one of the most influential comedic voices of his generation, Burr has made a name for himself for his informal, honest and punchy style of storytelling. Doors open 8pm; tickets start at Dh250 Following her sold-out performance at the Saadiyat Nights concert series, Jennifer Lopez returns to the capital for her biggest Abu Dhabi show yet. As part of her This Is Me...Now: The Tour, the concert supports her new album and accompanying film of the same name. Fans can expect an electrifying set featuring a full live band, high-energy choreography, and a career-spanning selection of hits including Jenny from the Block , On the Floor and Let’s Get Loud . Doors open 7pm; tickets start at Dh295 The nu-metal titans are set to make their regional debut as part of their expanding Loserville Tour – an ironic moniker that captures the band’s enduring appeal despite no longer being part of the current pop conversation. That self-awareness – hilariously embraced by frontman Fred Durst with his prematurely white beard and knowingly retro stage persona – hasn’t dulled the band’s explosive live energy. Limp Bizkit still deliver anthems such as Rollin’ , My Way and Nookie with the same rebellious spirit that beguiled a generation about 30 years ago. Doors open 7pm; Tickets start from Dh435 She may be best known for her 1997 global smash Torn , but Australian-British singer Natalie Imbruglia is an underrated singer–songwriter who has cultivated a cult following through a consistently strong catalogue. Among her highlights is the criminally overlooked album White Lilies Island , featuring the minor hit That Day and her recent collection, Firebird . Show starts at 8pm; tickets start from Dh295 He one of classical music’s biggest-selling acts, with more than 40 million albums sold, but Rieu is also renowned for almost single-handedly reviving the waltz, a popular European 16th-century folk dance originating in Austria. He returns to Abu Dhabi with his own 80-piece Johann Strauss Orchestra to perform waltz standards and classical version of modern hits. Doors open at 6pm; tickets start at Dh250 Known for their global hit In the Shadows , Finnish group The Rasmus will bring their gothic-infused pop-rock to Dubai with a set featuring crowd favourites such as First Day of My Life and Guilty , along with tracks from their latest album, Rise. Show starts at 8pm; tickets start from Dh250 After headlining festivals, the British singer-songwriter returns to Dubai for his first solo concert. Fresh off the release of his elegiac album Dear Life , Gray will perform tracks from his new work alongside enduring hits such as Babylon , Sail Away and This Year's Love . Show starts at 8pm; tickets start from Dh395 Enrique Iglesias’s previous UAE concerts have been near sell-out affairs – and his coming return to Abu Dhabi is expected to be no different. Known for his irresistible blend of Latin-infused pop, the Spanish star will perform fan favourites including Bailamos , Bailando and Loco . Doors open 7pm; tickets start at Dh325 The British group, who helped define hard rock and heavy metal, bring their monstrous riffs and blazing organs to Dubai for a career-spanning set featuring classics like Smoke on the Water , Child in Time , and Highway Star . Show starts at 8pm; tickets start from Dh249 The rising American pop star will open the four-day after-race concert series at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in what will be their first UAE gig. Boone has shot to fame over the past year, with his hit songs Beautiful Things and In The Stars totalling more than three billion streams combined on Spotify. His backflips and Freddie Mercury-like stage presence at both the Grammys and Coachella have also garnered attention. Access to the concert is exclusive to Abu Dhabi Grand Prix ticket holders and tickets for the event are now available online The American metal band will return to the UAE as part of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Metallica remain one of the most successful heavy metal acts in history, having sold more than 150 million albums since their 1981 debut. Their 11th studio album, 72 Seasons , released in 2023 to critical acclaim, earned them the Best Metal Performance award at the 2024 Grammy Awards. The accompanying M72 World Tour is now in its third year and continues to break attendance records across North America. The American singer is set to perform the race day concert as part of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix . Her return to Abu Dhabi follows last year’s seventh studio album 143 , in which she revisits her dance-pop roots and reuniting with longtime collaborators Max Martin, Dr Luke and Stargate. The album has produced three singles so far, including Woman’s World and I’m His, He’s Mine . By the time she arrives in the capital, Perry and her band will be a well-oiled machine, having performed more than 80 shows on The Lifetimes Tour, which begins in Mexico City on April 23 and spans the US, Europe, Australia and South America. Access to the concert is exclusive to Abu Dhabi Grand Prix ticket holders and tickets for the event are now available online

Top 33 concerts and events coming to the UAE in 2025, from Dave Chappelle to Metallica

From comedy to music and dance to drama, the next eight months offer an eclectic mix of shows