YouTube sensations TrueStoryASA – the pair of American funnymen Adam Saleh and Sheikh Akbar – will host gigs across the region in December, The National can exclusively confirm.
Speculation began brewing after a cryptic mention of Dubai was spotted on the duo's website, but now manager/promoter Nazir Rahman has pledged that the trip is "100 million percent" happening, with a live show to be announced shortly.
“We are definitely, definitely coming – the flights are already booked,” he said.
Rahman said the duo will land in Dubai on December 2, with a 3,000-capacity Dubai gig currently being locked down with a local promoter.
More exciting, Rahman also shared plans to host shows in Abu Dhabi, Qatar, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, as part of a Middle Eastern tour.
“The visit is 100 million per cent happening, we have a huge fan-base in that part of the world and I know there’s a lot people that will want to see the guys,” added Rahman
The shows will be similar to the duo’s recent UK tour, which played to a combined audience of 15,000 people across eight cities. The two-hour performance includes a mix of pranks, skits, rap battles, stand-up comedy and “all the stuff” that has seen the double act attract 750,000 followers on YouTube.
For many the live shows simply offer the opportunity to see the homemade stars in the flesh, who have become role models to many young people across the globe.
Saleh met fans during an earlier visit to Dubai, to speak at the Arab Media Forum last year.
rgarratt@thenational.ae
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Treaty of Friendship between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates
The United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates; Considering that the United Arab Emirates has assumed full responsibility as a sovereign and independent State; Determined that the long-standing and traditional relations of close friendship and cooperation between their peoples shall continue; Desiring to give expression to this intention in the form of a Treaty Friendship; Have agreed as follows:
ARTICLE 1 The relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates shall be governed by a spirit of close friendship. In recognition of this, the Contracting Parties, conscious of their common interest in the peace and stability of the region, shall: (a) consult together on matters of mutual concern in time of need; (b) settle all their disputes by peaceful means in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.
ARTICLE 2 The Contracting Parties shall encourage education, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two States in accordance with arrangements to be agreed. Such arrangements shall cover among other things: (a) the promotion of mutual understanding of their respective cultures, civilisations and languages, the promotion of contacts among professional bodies, universities and cultural institutions; (c) the encouragement of technical, scientific and cultural exchanges.
ARTICLE 3 The Contracting Parties shall maintain the close relationship already existing between them in the field of trade and commerce. Representatives of the Contracting Parties shall meet from time to time to consider means by which such relations can be further developed and strengthened, including the possibility of concluding treaties or agreements on matters of mutual concern.
ARTICLE 4 This Treaty shall enter into force on today’s date and shall remain in force for a period of ten years. Unless twelve months before the expiry of the said period of ten years either Contracting Party shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the Treaty, this Treaty shall remain in force thereafter until the expiry of twelve months from the date on which notice of such intention is given.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have signed this Treaty.
DONE in duplicate at Dubai the second day of December 1971AD, corresponding to the fifteenth day of Shawwal 1391H, in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authoritative.
Signed
Geoffrey Arthur Sheikh Zayed

