Emirati stand-up comedian Ali Al Sayed is counting down the days until show time.
As part of the Dubai Comedy Festival, Al Sayed is set to achieve a lifelong career goal of taping his solo show Onestly Sbeaking on October 19. "It's my first comedy special and it's very exciting," he says. "It will be filmed live and put up on different avenues and pay per views, and some airlines have shown interest as well."
Al Sayed says he has been wanting to do this for several years and the festival presented the perfect opportunity. Expect an equal balance of old favourites coupled with brand new material.
“The title explains the show: it’s as honest as I’ve ever been, and as raw as I’ve ever been,” he says. “It’s based on my life experience, and it’s focused on my own personal views.”
While Onestly Sbeaking will be in English, Al Sayed will also be taking part in the festivals opening-night Arabic-comedy showcase, Dubai 3al Wagef. Al Sayed will host the show, which also features Saudi YouTube sensation Bader Saleh, Arabs Got Talent finalist Ebrahim Al Khairallah, Saudi Arabian stand-up Fahad Albutairi, Kit Kat Comedy Break's "Funniest Arab" Waddah Swar, Egyptian comedian Mohammad Salem and Palestinian comedian Adi Khalefa.
“It’s the only Arabic part of the festival and it’s cool and fun and a wonderful opportunity for Arab comedians in the region,” says Al Sayed. “I don’t get to do Arabic stand-up as much as I want to, so this is definitely something I’m looking forward to.”
With the hope that the festival becomes an annual staple on Dubai’s entertainment calendar, Al Sayed predicts that the future of stand-up comedy in the UAE — and the region as a whole — is bright. “We have such huge support for this event, and it’s providing a platform for comedians not just from the UAE but from the entire region to come up on stage and take things a bit more seriously,” he states. “Opportunities can’t help but follow.”
• Dubai 3al Wagef is at 8pm on Thursday on the main stage at Skydive Dubai. Tickets, from Dh195, and available at www.dubaicomedyfest.ae. Ali Al Sayed’s Onestly Sbeaking stand-up comedy show is on Monday, 8pm, at the Madinat Theatre in Madinat Jumeirah. Tickets from Dh125
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