The UAE’s live events season is nearing full swing, with a wave of rescheduled concerts joining newly announced shows to create another busy calendar.
From pop and rock to stand-up comedy, ballet, opera and musicals, the months ahead offer a packed line-up across Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
Dubai Comedy Festival has announced its first wave of shows, featuring Mo Gilligan and Vir Das, while Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli will bring his arias to Abu Dhabi and Offlimits Music Festival returns in November with retained headliners Shakira and the Jonas Brothers.
Elsewhere, Abu Dhabi Festival and NYU Abu Dhabi Arts Centre will bring a strong classical programme later in the year, including American Ballet Theatre, Dhafer Youssef and Sondra Radvanovsky, while Dubai audiences can look forward to shows by Blue, Atif Aslam and Hiba Tawaji with Ibrahim Maalouf.
Here, we round up the concerts and live events still to come this year.
1. Dystinct and Issam Najjar: July 18 at Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai
Moroccan-Belgian singer Dystinct has taken Moroccan Arabic pop to a wider international audience through songs including Ghazali, Tek Tek and Yama.
He will be joined by Jordanian-Palestinian singer Issam Najjar, who became a global viral success with his debut single Hadal Ahbek. He recently released the album Night in Cairo.
The show starts at 8.30pm; tickets from Dh105
2. Michael Lives Forever: July 18 at Coca-Cola Arena, Dubai
Brazilian performer Rodrigo Teaser brings Michael Lives Forever to Dubai with a full band, dancers, costumes and visuals. Expect to hear Jackson classics Billie Jean, Beat It, Thriller and Smooth Criminal.
Show starts 8.30pm; tickets from Dh125
3. Talal Sam and Sultan Al Murshed: July 25 at Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai
Kuwaiti singer-songwriter Talal Sam brings his contemporary Arabic pop catalogue, including Aady, to Beat the Heat.
Saudi singer Sultan Al Murshed joins him with a set featuring romantic Khaleeji music, including Rahat Ayamah.
Show starts 8.30pm; tickets from Dh105
4. Indie Soulfest: July 26 at Coca-Cola Arena, Dubai
Indian singer Bismil will showcase his contemporary interpretations of qawwali and Sufi standards, including Kali Kali Zulfon Ke Phande and Kehna Galat Galat.
Joining him are Indian Ocean, regarded as pioneers of Indian fusion rock and best known for Kandisa, Ma Rewa and Bandeh.
The show starts at 8pm; tickets from Dh99
5. Rasha Rizk: August 1 at Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai
Syrian singer Rasha Rizk is the voice behind classic theme songs for the Arabic versions of animated children’s series, including Detective Conan, Digimon, Remi and Gundam Wing.
Her work also extends to jazz, classical music and original recordings, including the album Malak and Mreyte Ya Mreyte from Nadine Labaki’s film Caramel.
Show starts at 8.30pm. Tickets from Dh105
6. SB Girls: August 8 at Etihad Arena, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi
Filipino pop group SB Girls bring their Get Get Aww concert to Etihad Arena, combining live production, choreography and high-energy pop, with singer Halukay Ube also listed on the bill.
Show starts 7pm; tickets from Dh349
7. Al Shami and Leen Hayek: August 8 at Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai
Syrian singer Al Shami has become one of the leading names in contemporary Arabic pop through songs including Ya Leil W Yal Ein, Sabran and Doctor. Lebanese singer Leen Hayek won the inaugural season of The Voice Kids: Ahla Sawt in 2016.
The show starts at 8.30pm; ticket prices will be announced.
8. Thaalam Beats: August 15 at Coca-Cola Arena, Dubai
Indian singer Usha Uthup has built a five-decade catalogue spanning jazz, pop, disco and Indian film music, with songs including Hari Om Hari, Ramba Ho and Darling.
Abu Dhabi-born singer Benny Dayal will perform tracks including Badtameez Dil, Let’s Nacho and Ude Dil Befikre. Kerala band Thaikkudam Bridge completes the bill with a combination of rock, folk and Indian classical music, known for tracks including Fish Rock and Navarasam.
Show starts at 8pm; tickets from Dh75
9. Sonu Nigam: August 21 at Etihad Arena, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi
Indian singer Sonu Nigam launches his Revolution Tour in Abu Dhabi with a concert celebrating three decades of music. The Padma Shri recipient’s repertoire spans Bollywood songs, romantic ballads and pop releases recorded in several Indian languages.
Doors open 7.30pm; tickets from Dh150
10. Miami Band: August 29 at Coca-Cola Arena, Dubai
Kuwait’s Miami Band bring their career-retrospective, The Miami Show, to Dubai, featuring a catalogue that has been part of Gulf pop since the early 1990s. The set is expected to include songs such as Bastans, Ya Omri Ana and Ya Helwakom.
Show starts 8.30pm; tickets from Dh195
11. The Dirty Dozen Brass Band and Fanfarai: September 5 at The Arts Centre at NYU Abu Dhabi
The Arts Centre season opens with two brass ensembles drawing on musical traditions from either side of the Atlantic. Grammy-winning New Orleans group The Dirty Dozen Brass Band combine second-line jazz with funk, bebop, R&B and soul.
French-North African ensemble Fanfarai bring Algerian and Moroccan traditions into a line-up of brass, percussion, bass and keyboards, alongside Afro-Cuban music, Latin jazz and funk. Both groups are making their Gulf debuts.
Show starts 8.30pm; tickets from Dh78.75
12. The Butterfly Who Flew Into the Rave: September 10 to 12 at The Arts Centre at NYU Abu Dhabi
New Zealand dancers Oli Mathiesen, Lucy Lynch and Sharvon Mortimer condense the physical experience of a three-day rave into an hour-long performance. Set to Detroit techno producer Suburban Knight’s album Nocturbulous Behaviour, the Middle East premiere unfolds through continuous movement without a pause.
Shows start 7.30pm; tickets from Dh52.50
13. Christina Aguilera: September 25 at Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi
Christina Aguilera will return to Abu Dhabi just more than a year after her Saadiyat Nights performance. The seven-time Grammy Award winner last appeared in the emirate in February 2025, a show that was described in The National as a masterclass in live performance, underlining her reputation as one of pop’s most formidable vocalists. Her return follows earlier UAE appearances including Expo 2020s closing ceremony.
Doors open 7pm; tickets from Dh395
14. K-Pop Fever: September 26 at Etihad Arena, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi
K-Pop Fever is a concert-style production celebrating some of the genre’s most popular songs. Featuring 12 singers and dancers, the performance combines live vocals with large-scale choreography inspired by leading K-pop groups and solo artists.
Doors open 2pm; tickets from Dh155
15. The Corrs: September 27 at Etihad Arena, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi
Irish sibling group The Corrs return to Abu Dhabi with their combination of pop-rock and traditional Celtic influences. The quartet’s catalogue includes Runaway, Breathless and What Can I Do, alongside material from their debut album, Forgiven, Not Forgotten.
Doors open 6.30pm; tickets from Dh325
16. Untitled 14km: October 1 and 2 at The Arts Centre at NYU Abu Dhabi
Moroccan artist Youness Atbane combines dance, theatre, performance and installation in a satire examining the international art world’s approach to Arab identity. Set inside an imagined museum, the work follows four characters attempting to create an exhibition connecting the region’s poetic history with contemporary Arab art.
Show starts 9pm; tickets from Dh199
17. Marilyne Naaman: October 6 at Dubai Opera, Dubai
Lebanese singer and actress Marilyne Naaman makes her Dubai Opera debut with a concert blending Arabic music and western pop influences. She reached a wider audience through The Voice France and has since released songs including Nachez, 5 Minutes and Lech Ma Bterjaa?
Her recording of Ana Min, the theme song from television drama Bil Dam, became a regional hit.
Show starts 8.30pm; tickets from Dh295
18. Mohandis Al Thauq Al Aam: October 9 and 10 at Dubai Opera, Dubai
Kuwaiti theatre comes to Dubai Comedy Festival with Mohandis Al Thauq Al Aam, a new Arabic-language production written and directed by Abdulaziz Safar.
Starring Khaled Al-Muzaffar, Khaled Al-Ojairi, Mohammad Safar and Iman Faisal, the play follows a couple navigating the chaos of expecting their first child.
Showtimes to be announced; tickets from Dh250
19. Jamie Lever: October 10 at Emirates Theatre, Jumeirah, Dubai
Indian comedian Jamie Lever makes her Dubai Comedy Festival debut with a Hindi-language show built around impersonations, music and family anecdotes.
The daughter of comedian Johnny Lever, she has also appeared in films including Housefull 4 and Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon.
Show starts 7pm; tickets from Dh145
20. Munawar Faruqui: October 11 at Dubai Opera, Dubai
Munawar Faruqui returns to Dubai Comedy Festival with a new hour of Hindi-language stand-up.
The Indian comedian is known for sharp writing, personal storytelling and material that moves between everyday life and social observations.
Show starts 7pm; tickets from Dh125
21. TJ Monterde and KZ Tandingan: October 11 at Coca-Cola Arena, Dubai
Filipino singers TJ Monterde and KZ Tandingan bring their In Between Middle East Tour to Dubai following a four-night sold-out run in the Philippines. The married couple will perform solo material and collaborations, moving between romantic pop, soul, R&B and jazz.
Show starts 8pm; tickets from Dh299
22. Morgan Jay: October 11 at Etihad Arena, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi
Musical comedian Morgan Jay brings his Goofy Guy Tour to Abu Dhabi, combining stand-up, live music and improvised audience interaction. Performing with a guitar, he turns dating, relationships and exchanges with the crowd into R&B-influenced songs and comic routines.
Doors open 6.30pm; tickets from Dh275
23. Mo Gilligan: October 12 at Dubai Opera, Dubai
British comedian Mo Gilligan returns to Dubai Comedy Festival with The Mo You Know World Tour.
Known for his high-energy delivery and character work, Gilligan rose from viral online sketches to become one of the UK’s most recognisable comedy performers.
Show starts 6.30pm; tickets from Dh250
24. Alexander Merkul: October 15 at New Covent Garden Theatre, Mall of the Emirates, Dubai
Russian comedian Alexander Merkul comes to Dubai Comedy Festival debut with a show combining stand-up and live improvisation.
Show starts 9.30pm; tickets from Dh150
25. Shane Todd: October 16 at New Covent Garden Theatre, Mall of the Emirates, Dubai
Northern Irish comedian Shane Todd Dubai Comedy Festival show combines storytelling, self-deprecation and everyday observations.
Show starts 6.30pm; tickets from Dh195
26. John Achkar: October 17 at Dubai Opera, Dubai
Lebanese comedian John Achkar returns to Dubai Comedy Festival with his latest Arabic-language stand-up show Feena Nehke.
The show looks at identity, family and everyday anxieties, with Achkar turning personal and social contradictions into sharp comic material.
Show starts 6.30pm; tickets from Dh185
27. Sondra Radvanovsky and Vincenzo Scalera: October 17 at The Red Theatre, The Arts Centre at NYU Abu Dhabi
Soprano Sondra Radvanovsky will perform arias and songs by Bellini, Verdi and Puccini, accompanied by pianist Vincenzo Scalera. The programme, as part of the Abu Dhabi Festival, also includes music by Rachmaninoff, Tchaikovsky and Richard Strauss.
Show starts 8pm; tickets from Dh150
28. Amit Tandon: October 18 at Dubai Opera, Dubai
Indian comedian Amit Tandon returns to Dubai with his latest Hindi-language show Aise Kaise.
The set looks at marriage, parenting and everyday life, areas that have made him a reliable draw with South Asian comedy audiences.
Show starts 3pm; tickets from Dh150
29. Vir Das: October 18 at Coca-Cola Arena, Dubai
Emmy Award-winning Indian comedian Vir Das is back as part of the Dubai Comedy Festival, bringing his cultural commentary and acute take on international affairs.
Show starts 8pm; tickets from Dh195
30. Blue: October 25 at Dubai Millennium Amphitheatre, Expo City Dubai
British pop group Blue will celebrate 25 years of hits with a Dubai show built around fan favourites such as All Rise, One Love and Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word, alongside newer material from their Reflections album. The four-piece remain one of the UK’s most successful boy bands, with three number one albums and 11 Top 10 singles.
Show starts 8pm; tickets from Dh239
31. Russell Peters: October 25 at Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi
Known for his rapid-fire delivery, crowd banter and cultural observations, Indian-Canadian comedian Russell Peters built an international following through specials such as Outsourced, Red, White and Brown and Deported. Peters remains one of the highest-grossing comedians globally, with a touring career spanning more than two decades.
Show starts 8.30pm; tickets from Dh275
32. Nass: October 30 at The Arts Centre at NYU Abu Dhabi
French-Moroccan choreographer Fouad Boussouf brings together seven male dancers in a work connecting hip-hop movement with the ritual dimensions of North African music. The title takes inspiration from Moroccan group Nass El Ghiwane and draws parallels between their search for identity and the origins of hip-hop.
Show starts 7.30pm; tickets from Dh52.50
33. Riverdance: October 31 and November 1 at Etihad Arena, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi
Riverdance returns to the UAE with a production marking the Irish dance show’s 30th anniversary. The staging retains Bill Whelan’s Grammy Award-winning score while introducing updated choreography, costumes, lighting, projection and motion graphics.
Performance times vary; tickets from Dh215
34. Benjamin Clementine: November 1 at Dubai Opera
British singer, pianist and composer Benjamin Clementine performs a programme combining experimental pop, contemporary classical music, jazz and poetry. His debut album, At Least for Now, won the Mercury Prize, while later recordings include I Tell a Fly and And I Have Been.
Show starts 8pm; tickets from Dh500
35. Jony: November 4 at Coca-Cola Arena, Dubai
Russian-Azerbaijani singer Jony is a star Russian pop and built a following with songs including Kamin, Kometa and Ty Besposhchadna.
Show starts 9pm; tickets from Dh295
36. American Ballet Theatre: November 20 at Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi
American Ballet Theatre will present works by three choreographers: Twyla Tharp’s playful Sextet, Alexei Ratmansky’s meditative Serenade after Plato’s Symposium, and George Balanchine’s Theme and Variations, set to music by Tchaikovsky.
Show starts 8pm, tickets from Dh125
37. Offlimits Music Festival: November 21 at Etihad Park, Abu Dhabi
The Offlimits Music Festival, originally scheduled for April, has been moved to November 21. The line-up is expected to remain intact, including Shakira and the Jonas Brothers, positioning the event as one of the season’s biggest pop-led concerts in the capital. Tickets remain valid for the new date.
Doors open 3pm; tickets from Dh495
38. Algarabia: November 26 at Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi
Algarabia presents a theatrical production blending flamenco with Arabic poetry, performed by musicians from Spain’s University of Navarra Symphony Orchestra alongside dancers and actors. The work follows the journey of an Arab girl drawn to ancient botanical theory and poetic tradition.
Show starts 8pm; tickets from Dh100
39. Hiba Tawaji and Ibrahim Maalouf: November 27 at Dubai Opera, Dubai
Hiba Tawaji and Ibrahim Maalouf will unite for a one-night performance at Dubai Opera, with the programme drawing on French musical heritage through a blend of chanson, jazz and contemporary composition.
Tawaji’s emotive vocals and Maalouf’s genre-crossing trumpet work make this one of the more distinctive concert pairings on the calendar.
Show starts 8.30pm; tickets from Dh355
40. Atif Aslam: November 27 at Coca-Cola Arena, Dubai
Atif Aslam returns to Coca-Cola Arena after five consecutive years of sold-out Dubai concerts. The Pakistani singer’s programme will move between Bollywood songs, pop-rock and devotional music, with hits including Tajdar-e-Haram, Jeena Jeena, Pehli Nazar Mein, Dil Diyan Gallan and Aadat.
Doors open 9pm; tickets from Dh350
41. Tarkan: November 27 at Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi
Known internationally for the global hit Simarik and a catalogue that has defined Turkish pop for more than two decades, Tarkan is making his Abu Dhabi debut is further proof of Turkish’s pop growing popularity in the region.
Show starts 8.30pm; tickets from Dh295
42. Verdi’s Opera Gala: November 29 at Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi
Marking 125 years since Giuseppe Verdi’s death, this programme is led by soprano Maria Agresta and tenor Giorgio Berrugi, and includes selections from Nabucco, I Vespri Siciliani, Otello and La Traviata, alongside overtures and duets drawn from Verdi’s wider catalogue.
Show starts 8pm; tickets from Dh125
43. Andrea Bocelli: December 2 at Etihad Arena, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi
Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli brings his 30th Anniversary Romanza World Tour to Abu Dhabi as part of Yasalam Classics. The concert celebrates Romanza, the album that helped establish him internationally and includes songs such as Con te partiro and Vivo per lei.
Doors open 6pm; tickets from Dh295
44. Lewis Capaldi and Zara Larsson: December 3 at Etihad Park, Abu Dhabi
Lewis Capaldi and Zara Larsson will open the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2026 after-race concert series with separate sets at Etihad Park.
Capaldi returns to the capital following his Saadiyat Nights performance in January, bringing a catalogue that includes Someone You Loved, Before You Go and Forget Me. Larsson joins the bill with pop staples such as Lush Life, Never Forget You and Symphony, offering a high-tempo contrast to Capaldi’s ballad-driven set. The show launches the four-night programme running alongside the race weekend at Yas Marina Circuit.
Showtime yet to be announced; access exclusive to Abu Dhabi Grand Prix ticket holders
45. Lisa Batiashvili and Giorgi Gigashvili: December 10 at The Red Theatre, The Arts Centre at NYU Abu Dhabi
Georgian musicians Lisa Batiashvili and Giorgi Gigashvili will perform works by Beethoven, Bartok and Franck, alongside a contemporary piece by composer Josef Bardanashvili.
Show starts 8pm; tickets from Dh150
46. Minsoo Sohn: December 11 at The Red Theatre, The Arts Centre at NYU Abu Dhabi
Pianist Minsoo Sohn will perform Book One of Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier, presenting the 24 preludes and fugues that explore every major and minor key. The recital highlights both the intellectual depth and emotional breadth of the landmark work.
Show starts 8pm; tickets from Dh150
47. Chicago the Musical: December 16 to 20 at Coca-Cola Arena, Dubai
The Broadway production of Chicago comes to Coca-Cola Arena for eight performances over five days. Set during the Jazz Age, the musical follows nightclub performer Roxie Hart and vaudeville star Velma Kelly as they compete for public attention while awaiting trial for murder.
The score includes All That Jazz, Cell Block Tango and Razzle Dazzle.
Performance times vary; tickets from Dh49
48. Dhafer Youssef: December 19 at The Red Theatre, The Arts Centre at NYU Abu Dhabi
Oud maestro Dhafer Youssef will perform with his quintet, bridging sounds from the East and West through jazz, Arab and North African traditions, as well as European classical and electronic elements. He is expected to perform material from his latest album Shiraz, described as his most personal work to date.
Show starts 8pm; tickets from Dh150
49. Tamaas Festival: January 29, 2027, at The Arts Centre at NYU Abu Dhabi
Tamaas Festival returns with three acts moving between traditional forms and club-orientated production. Moroccan-Swiss musician Sami Galbi combines rai and chaabi with electronic music, while Nigerien guitarist Bombino performs Tuareg desert blues and rock.
British collective Ibibio Sound Machine close the evening with West African rhythms, post-punk, disco and electronic music.
Festival starts 7pm; free pass upon registration
50. Ramadaniyat – The Handover: February 17, 2027, at The Arts Centre at NYU Abu Dhabi
Egyptian oud player Aly Eissa, Alexandrian violinist Ayman Asfour and Belgian-Norwegian keyboard player Jonas Cambien make their UAE debut as The Handover. The trio bring the ritual and folk music of rural Egypt into contact with free improvisation, psychedelic rock and electronic textures.
Show starts 9.30pm; tickets from Dh52.50
51. Tribute to Ziad Rahbani by Faraj Suleiman: March 26, 2027, at The Arts Centre at NYU Abu Dhabi
Palestinian composer and pianist Faraj Suleiman returns with a programme dedicated to Lebanese composer, pianist and playwright Ziad Rahbani. Rather than reproducing the original recordings, Suleiman re-orchestrates and re-harmonises the material through contemporary piano, jazz and Arabic composition.
Show starts 7.30pm; tickets from Dh78.75
