Pop, RnB, flamenco, Russian balladry, house and dance music are among the sounds you can hear at the numerous New Year’s Eve events taking place across the UAE.
Expect everything from lavish gala dinners and concerts in some of the country’s most prestigious hotels, to cutting-edge electronic sets in leading clubs.
Here are some ways to ring in 2026, be it in a ballroom or on the dance floor.
Abu Dhabi
1. Alicia Keys at Saadiyat Nights
The US singer-songwriter will return to perform as part of the Saadiyat Nights concert series, this time headlining its first New Year’s Eve show.
It marks the singer's second appearance at the event after a sold-out performance in 2024. The concert comes as she reportedly works on a new album set for release next year, a follow-up to her 2022 record Keys II.
The show is part of a bumper Saadiyat Nights season running until March, featuring upcoming performances by Mariah Carey, Diana Ross and Lewis Capaldi. Expect to hear hits such as Fallin’, If I Ain’t Got You and No One.
Doors open at 5pm; tickets from Dh295
2. John Legend at Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental
The US singer-songwriter and Egot-winner will headline a New Year’s Eve gala on the hotel’s Palace Terrace overlooking the Arabian Gulf. The black-tie evening includes a reception, dinner and firework display, followed by the live performance featuring songs such as All of Me and Love Me Now.
Doors open 8pm, tickets from Dh3,500
3. Nassif Zeytoun and Haifa Wehbe at Space42 Arena
The two Arab pop stars team up for a end-of-year concert in the new Abu Dhabi venue. Expect individual sets featuring Zeytoun’s Mich Aam Tezbat Maii and Wehbe’s Baba Fen among other fan favourites.
Show starts 9:30pm; tickets from Dh495
4. Khalid Abdulrahman, Fouad Abdelwahed and Aseel Hameem at Liwa Village
Liwa Festival will host a New Year’s Eve concert with a large bill of regional artists, led by Saudi Arabia’s Khalid Abdulrahman, Yemeni singer Fouad Abdelwahed and Iraqi pop star Aseel Hameem, who will all perform on a purpose-built outdoor stage.
Doors open 8.30pm; tickets from Dh145
Dubai
5. Maroon 5 at Atlantis The Palm
Expect chart-toppers such as Moves Like Jagger, Sugar and This Love as the American pop-rock band takes to the stage as the headline act at Atlantis The Palm. Concert aside, the evening includes a lavish buffet dinner and a firework display stretching across Palm Jumeirah.
Doors open at 7pm; tickets from Dh4,500
6. Najwa Karam and Wael Kfoury at Festival Arena, Dubai Festival City
Two of Lebanese pop’s most enduring stars will team up for a joint New Year’s Eve concert. Najwa Karam will perform hits including Khallini Shoufak and Hayda Haki, while Wael Kfoury will deliver favourites such as El Bint El Awiye and Omri Kellou. The seated event includes a dinner service.
Doors open at 7.30pm; tickets from Dh495
7. Cyrine Abdelnour at Palazzo Versace Dubai
The Lebanese singer will headline an event featuring live bands and DJs performing across the hotel’s venues. The evening includes a red-carpet arrival and a choice of gala dinners across the resort before the performances take place outdoors, along with a fireworks display over Dubai Creek.
Doors open 7pm; dinner packages from Dh1,999
8. Georges Wassouf, Assi El Hallani and Mohamed Fadel Chaker at Dubai Autodrome
Three generations of Levantine stars will perform separate sets, led by Syrian crooner Georges Wassouf and Lebanese singers Assi El Hallani and Mohamed Fadel Chaker.
Expect Wassouf to perform classics such as Kesert Koul El Nass, while El Hallani will deliver favourites including Bhibbek We Bghar. Chaker, son of singer Fadel Chaker, will add a contemporary edge with material including Kifek A‘ Fraqi.
Doors open 8pm; show starts 9.30pm; tickets from Dh263
9. Bader Al Shuaibi and Disco Misr at Festival Bay, Dubai Festival City Mall
Kuwaiti pop singer Bader AlShuaibi and Egyptian electronic trio Disco Misr will headline an outdoor New Year's Eve show on Festival Bay. AlShuaibi will perform hits including Mahsoma and Ya Hob, while Disco Misr will bring their reinterpretations of Arabic pop fused with house and electronic sounds. The night culminates with a countdown and fireworks display.
Doors open 7pm; tickets from Dh69
10. Muhammad El Majzoub, Shams Al Kuwaitiya and Mohsen Al Forati at Hilton Dubai Al Habtoor City
Khaleeji and Iraqi pop come together on one bill led by Lebanese singer Muhammad El Majzoub, who rose to prominence in the early 2000s with songs such as Ya Ghayeb and Khabbirini.
Kuwaiti star Shams Al Kuwaitiya will bring her trademark stage presence and a catalogue of Gulf pop hits including Tawny and Eish El Noum, while Mohsen Al Forati will showcase contemporary Iraqi pop with favourites such as Qalbi Albi and Ya Lail.
Doors open 8pm; tickets from Dh500
11. Roger Sanchez and Chico Castillo at Five Luxe JBR, Dubai
House music anthems and flamenco pop are on the cards at the Dubai superclub.
US DJ Roger Sanchez will lead the affair with a set including hits Another Chance and Turn On the Music, followed by Chico Castillo from the Gipsy Kings performing favourites such as Bamboleo and Djobi Djoba. The countdown will culminate in a seven-minute firework display with views of Ain Dubai.
Doors open 8pm; tickets from Dh2,500
12. Lost Frequencies at Koko Bay, Palm Jumeirah
Belgian DJ and producer Lost Frequencies brings his melodic house hits, including Are You With Me and Black Friday, to the beachfront venue.
Doors open 5pm; show starts 8pm; tickets from Dh450
13. Timati at Aya Rooftop, Mileo The Palm
Russian hip-hop star Timati will headline a New Year’s Eve gala dinner and DJ showcase, joined by Russian DJ Philchansky and UAE-based supporting acts Heavy Pins and D.A.L.I.
One of his country’s biggest-selling modern artists, Timati is expected to deliver hits including Rolls Royce, Welcome to St Tropez and Groove On.
Doors open 8pm; show starts 9pm; tickets from Dh1,500
14. Haddaway, Irakli and Katya Lel at Madinat Jumeirah Mina Al Salam
An eclectic bill is on offer here, featuring Russian singers Irakli, Shura and Katya Lel, alongside Italian pop group Ricchi e Poveri plus Haddaway, the Trinidadian-German singer behind Eurodance hit What Is Love.
The event also includes a formal gala dinner and New Year’s Eve fireworks over the Madinat waterfront.
Doors open 9pm; tickets from Dh7,000
15. CamelPhat and Mahmut Orhan at Ushuaia Dubai Harbour Experience
British electronic duo CamelPhat will be on the decks in the outdoor venue, playing their blend of house and melodic techno including the club anthem Cola.
Joining the line-up are Turkish DJ and producer Mahmut Orhan, French duo Birds of Mind and Swiss DJ Andrea Oliva. The waterfront venue will also offer glittering views of fireworks across Dubai Harbour.
Doors open 8pm; tickets from Dh250
16. Boney M, Valeriya and Egor Kreed at The Theatre, Fairmont Dubai
A Euro-pop end-of-year celebration is on offer, with German disco group Boney M part of a bill that includes Russian star Valeriya and rapper Egor Kreed. The seated gala event features a multi-course dinner before the performances, with Boney M delivering classics including Daddy Cool, Rasputin and Rivers of Babylon.
Doors open 7pm; tickets from Dh14,800
17. Tomorrowland presents Miss Monique and Rivo at Terra Solis Dubai
International dance festival brand Tomorrowland will host a New Year’s Eve event featuring Ukrainian DJ Miss Monique and French electronic producer Rivo. The open-air show also has support sets from UAE talents Hilde and Quilliam.
Doors open 8pm; tickets from Dh200
18. Valeriy Meladze and Albina Dzhanabaeva at Mandarin Oriental Jumeira
An elegant affair of Russian entertainment led by singers Valeriy Meladze and Albina Dzhanabaeva, alongside sets by comedians Ekaterina Varnava and Alexander Gudkov. The evening includes a lavish multi-course dinner and terrace views overlooking the Arabian Gulf.
Doors open 8pm; tickets from Dh2,500
19. Shimza at Be Beach Dubai
South African DJ Shimza will bring his Afro-tech and deep house sets to the waterfront venue overlooking the city skyline.
Doors open 7pm; tickets from Dh400
20. Nyon Bay Festival at Sea Point Hotel, Dubai Islands
A South Indian music festival will take place on the waterfront in Deira, with headliners including Kerala rock band Thaikkudam Bridge, alongside Tamil rappers Arivu and Paal Dabba.
Doors open 4pm; show starts 7pm; tickets from Dh75
Sharjah
21. Ahmed Saad and Siilawy at Al Majaz Amphitheatre
Egyptian singer Ahmed Saad and Jordanian artist Siilawy will team up for a New Year’s Eve concert at the Sharjah waterfront venue.
Both arrive with sizeable catalogues of hits. Saad’s powerful voice and upbeat melodies are expected to feature songs such as El Youm El Helw Da and Bent El Giran, while Siilawy’s laid-back delivery has made fan favourites of pop ballads Hassas and Ashanak. The outdoor show is presented as a standalone concert rather than a seated affair.
Doors open 7.30pm; show starts 9pm; tickets from Dh240
