Dubai Comedy Festival has announced its complete line-up for 2025, confirming a record 50 shows across 11 days in October. The latest names to be finalised include American comedian and podcaster Andrew Schulz and Canadian comic Hassan Phills, who will make his UAE debut. Meanwhile, a fourth and final performance of Palestinian-American comedian Mo Amer has been added due to public demand.
The festival, returning for its seventh run from October 2 to 12, will take place across cultural venues including Dubai Opera, Coca-Cola Arena and the theatres at Mall of the Emirates. The annual showcase has become a key fixture in Dubai’s events calendar, drawing international stars and regional favourites.
Schulz is one of the most provocative comedians working today. Known for his sharp delivery and willingness to tackle taboo topics, he has gained a global following through both stand-up and digital platforms. His podcast Flagrant, co-hosted by Akaash Singh, Mark Gagnon and AlexxMedia, has built a huge following of fans of unfiltered comedy, blending cultural commentary with unpredictable humour.
At the Coca-Cola Arena on October 7, Schulz will present a live taping of the show that combines stand-up sets, guest appearances and podcast banter. Tickets start at Dh295 and the performance, in English, is restricted to audiences aged 16 and above.
A few days before that, on October 4, Phills will bring his unique brand of interactive comedy to Coca-Cola Arena. He is considered one of the fastest-rising comedians on the Canadian circuit, recently starring in The Office Movers on streaming platform Crave. Tickets start at Dh195.
Among the festival’s most anticipated returns is Amer, who has become a household name thanks to his Netflix specials and acclaimed series Mo. Born in Kuwait to Palestinian parents and raised in Houston, Amer has built a career on weaving stories of identity, family and migration into his stand-up, balancing humour with poignancy.
Organisers have added a fourth and final show to Amer's two-day Dubai Opera schedule, which will take place on October 9 and 10. The shows promise a mix of new material reflecting on fatherhood and fame, delivered with Amer’s signature blend of candour and charm. Tickets start at 295.
Pakistani comedian Abbas Bukhari will perform two shows at the Playhouse Studio Theatre in Mall of the Emirates on October 4 and 5. Celebrated for his nostalgic and personal reflections on desi life, his stand-up special Small Talk is part comedic memoir, part cultural love letter, recalling awkward school days, friendships, marriage and the nuances of middle-class life in Jhang, Pakistan. Both shows are priced at Dh150.
Other performers include US comic Tom Segura (October 2), celebrated for his Netflix specials and acclaimed podcast Your Mom’s House; Iranian-British veteran Omid Djalili (October 5); Irish comedian Joanne McNally (October 7); and Indian comedian Zakir Khan (October 12), known for his hilarious take on modern Indian society.
The programme also highlights rising international talents such as musical comedian Jay (October 6), who blends live music with stand-up; French-Algerian comic Redouane Bougheraba (October 12); and Palestinian-American satirist Amer Zahr (October 11).
During a call with radio station Dubai 92, Zahr announced that he will be donating 100 per cent of his show fees from his show at Dubai Comedy Festival to UNWRA to support Palestinian refugees.
Canadian-Lebanese newcomer John Achkar (October 11) and Russian comic Ivan Abramov (October 12) will also perform, while the Arabic improv group 3a Ka3ba (October 12) will present a regional flavour that connects with local audiences. Children and teenagers will also get a selection of age-appropriate shows running throughout the festival.
Dubai Comedy Festival tickets are now available online for all shows
Ant-Man%20and%20the%20Wasp%3A%20Quantumania
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EPeyton%20Reed%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Paul%20Rudd%2C%20Evangeline%20Lilly%2C%20Jonathan%20Majors%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
Getting%20there%20and%20where%20to%20stay
%3Cp%3EFly%20with%20Etihad%20Airways%20from%20Abu%20Dhabi%20to%20New%20York%E2%80%99s%20JFK.%20There's%2011%20flights%20a%20week%20and%20economy%20fares%20start%20at%20around%20Dh5%2C000.%3Cbr%3EStay%20at%20The%20Mark%20Hotel%20on%20the%20city%E2%80%99s%20Upper%20East%20Side.%20Overnight%20stays%20start%20from%20%241395%20per%20night.%3Cbr%3EVisit%20NYC%20Go%2C%20the%20official%20destination%20resource%20for%20New%20York%20City%20for%20all%20the%20latest%20events%2C%20activites%20and%20openings.%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Who are the Soroptimists?
The first Soroptimists club was founded in Oakland, California in 1921. The name comes from the Latin word soror which means sister, combined with optima, meaning the best.
The organisation said its name is best interpreted as ‘the best for women’.
Since then the group has grown exponentially around the world and is officially affiliated with the United Nations. The organisation also counts Queen Mathilde of Belgium among its ranks.
Lampedusa: Gateway to Europe
Pietro Bartolo and Lidia Tilotta
Quercus
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
