Ready to have your sides tickled?
Comedians from across the globe are descending on the city to put smiles on faces and tears in eyes for the 10-day laughter fest that is The Dubai Comedy Festival.
Running from Thursday May 13 to Saturday May 22, audiences will be treated to some of the best gags and one-liners on the circuit.
And it’s all being delivered in several languages, meaning no-one has to miss out on the universal tongue of comedy.
The funny fest had Dubai in stitches last October, with the likes Gad Elmaleh, Michelle Wolf, Mo Amer, Ali Al Sayed, Nemr, Vir Das, Gaurav Kapoor and Mina Liccione handling the mic and sending audiences into giggle frenzies.
Taking place in several locations across Dubai, the show comes from Dubai Calendar and is being produced by BRAG, Live Nation, and DXB Live.
So without further ado, here is the official line up to the Dubai Comedy Festival 2021.
Ali Al Sayed | The Crowd Work Special
Dubai-based Ali Al Sayed’s lightning-fast wit and rapport with audiences has allowed him to perform numerous shows in the iconic Comic Strip Live in New York, as well as major international gigs at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and Theatre of Change Festival in Greece. As the Co-founder of Dubomedy, Ali co-started the first comedy school in the region, introducing stand-up comedy from an Arab perspective and paving the way for many young comedians.
Date: Friday May 14
Times: 7pm (English) and 9.30pm (Arabic)
Location: The Theatre at Mall of the Emirates
Tickets: From Dhs115.
Arabic stand-up
Some of the funniest Arabic language comedians will be owning the Dubai Opera stage on Wednesday May 19. Starring Adi Khalefa, famed for his stand-up gig on Netflix show Comedians of The World; Bader Saleh, a Saudi comic who shot into the spotlight thanks to his YouTube shows Tonight With Bader and EyshElly; Ali Al Sayed, the Dubai based ‘King of Laughter’; and Dubai Comedy Fesitval first-timer, Eman Khallou, will have Arabic speaking audiences gasping for air with their hilarious sets.
Date: Wednesday May 19
Times: Doors open 8pm.
Location: Dubai Opera
Tickets: Dhs100 (silver). Dhs200 (gold). Dhs300 (platinum). Dhs400 (gold).
Comedy Bizarre: Open mic
A night for amateurs to strut their stuff on the mic. Show your support as local comedy heroes test their jokes (and bravery) for a night of laughter (hopefully) at Souk Madinat Jumeirah.
Date: Thursday May 13 to Wednesday May 19.
Times: Doors open 6pm.
Location: Street Diversions at Souk Madinat Jumeirah.
Tickets: Dhs55 (ticket and drink). Dhs167 (ticket, three course menu and two drinks).
Comedy Bizarre: Multi
Ready for a laugh a minute? Multi-night at the Comedy Bizarre will see the likes of Dean Edwards, Tony Woods, Wil Sylvince, Reem Edan, Eman Morgan and Nina Kharoufeh take to the stage together for what promises to be an evening of bonkers comedy gold.
Date: Thursday May 13 to Tuesday May 18, Friday May 21 to Saturday May 22.
Times: Doors open 9.15pm.
Location: Street Diversions at Souk Madinat Jumeirah.
Tickets: Dhs160 (ticket and drink). Dhs357 (ticket, three-course menu and two drinks).
Comedy Bizarre: Ahmed Ahmed & Friends
The Egyptian-American comedian will bring his in-your-face comedy set to the Comedy Bizarre on Wednesday May 19. Appearing in several TV shows and films like Executive Decision, Swingers and Roseanne, Ahmed Ahmed is known for his close-to-the-bone sets.
Date: Wednesday May 19.
Times: Doors open 9.15pm.
Location: Street Divisions at Souk Madinat Jumeirah
Tickets: Dhs160 (ticket and drink). Dhs357 (ticket, three-course menu and two drinks).
Comedy Bizarre: The Germans are here
Are you looking for an evening of efficient laughter? Because top comedic German names, Khalid Bounouar, Ususmango and Nizar will be throwing out at jokes left, right and centre in Deustche. And it will be a little bit of history as it will be the first time German comedy will be played out in the UAE.
Date: Thursday May 20.
Times: Doors open 9.15pm.
Location: Street Divisions at Souk Madinat Jumeirah.
Tickets: Dhs175 (ticket and drink). Dhs450 (ticket, three-course menu and two drinks).
Comedy Bizarre: Best of the Fest
Want a night of complete surprises? With no released schedule, audiences will only find out who is gigging once they are announced by the MC. The only thing guaranteed for the night is a barrel full of laughs.
Date: Friday May 21.
Times: Doors open 6pm.
Location: Street Diversions at Souk Madinat Jumeirah.
Tickets: Dhs160 (ticket and drink). Dhs357 (ticket, three-course menu, and two drinks).
Comedy Bizarre: Arabic Show
This Arabic-speaking show will have audiences clutching their sides as the Comedy Bizarre puts together a cracking line-up of the best in Middle Eastern comedy.
Date: Saturday May 22.
Times: Doors open 6pm.
Location: Street Diversions at Souk Madinat Jumeirah.
Tickets: Dhs55 (ticket and drink). Dhs167 (ticket, three-course menu and two drinks).
Eddie Griffin
Born in Kansas City, Missouri, the American was voted class clown three years in a row in high school. He used that, plus a chance exposure to life behind the mic in his youth, as a springboard that has seen him star in his own shows and be voted into Comedy Central’s list of the 100 Greatest Stand-ups of All Time.
Date: Saturday May 22
Times: Doors open 8.30
Location: Dubai Opera
Tickets: Dhs200 (silver). Dhs300 (gold). Dhs400 (platinum).
Gad Elmaleh
One of France’s funniest men will be taking the stage on Sunday May 16. Known as the ‘Seinfeld of France’, Gad Elmaleh is famous for having Francophiles in stitches as well as starring in numerous feature films, including Coco, Princeless, La Doublure, as well as his own Netflix series, Huge in France.
Date: Sunday May 16
Times: Doors open 9pm.
Location: Dubai Opera
Tickets: Dhs150 (silver). Dhs250 (gold). Dhs500 (platinum). Dhs750 (VIP).
Kev Adams & Friends
Acclaimed prodigy of French humour, Kev Adams will be coming to Dubai for the very first time for Dubai Comedy Festival. On this occasion, Kev will stop at nothing to give the audience an experience that leaves them roaring with laughter. The multi-talented, Parisian-born, comedy star has many surprises up his sleeve, including guest appearances by his hilarious group of friends, including Ilyes Djadel, Alex Fredo, David Azria, and more.
Date: Saturday May 22
Times: 6pm
Location: The Theatre at Mall of the Emirates
Nemr
The first act to be named for the Dubai Comedy Festival 2021 line-up, Nemr is an American-Lebanese comedian who last played Dubai in October 2020 while on his world tour ‘Love Isn’t the Answer’.
Date: Thursday May 20
Times: Doors open 9pm.
Location: Dubai World Trade Centre
Tickets: Dhs150 (silver). Dhs250 (gold). Dhs350 (platinum). Dhs450 (VIP).
Maz Jobrani
The Iranian-American funnyman is one third of comedy group Axis of Evil and has made cameo appearances in sitcoms Malcom in the Middle, The West Wing as well as the Jennifer Garner led 13 Going on 30.
Date: Friday May 21
Times: Doors open 9pm.
Location: Dubai World Trade Center
Tickets: Dhs150 (silver). Dhs250 (gold). Dhs350 (platinum). Dhs450 (VIP).
Mina Liccione
Billed as ‘Dubai’s First Lady of comedy’, Mina Liccione isn;t short of confidence in her ability to leave sides split and knees slapped. She has toured internationally performing alongside stellar stand-up comedians including Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias, Michael Winslow (Police Academy Movies), Judah Friedlander (30 Rock) and can currently be seen on Comedy Central Arabia’s Comedy Central Presents… and Ridiculousness TV Shows airing Sunday nights on OSN.
Date: Sunday May 16
Times: Doors open 7pm
Location: The Theatre MOE
Tickets: Dhs150
Yevginey Chebatkov
This up-and-coming Russian funny man will be entertaining corwds for one night only. Known for his keen observations, sharp humour and chucklesome punchlines, he has previous for leaving audiences gasping for breath. Chebatkov is also a vocal actor, best known for being the Russian voice of one of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Date: Thursday May 13
Times: Doors open 8.30pm
Location: The Theatre at Mall of the Emirates
Tickets: From Dhs260
May 13-22. Various locations in Dubai. www.dubaicomedyfest.ae.
