The Global Comedians Headlining This Year's Dubai Comedy Festival

This April, Dubai Comedy Festival is about to transform Dubai Opera Main Hall into a laugh riot HQ, featuring comedians from all over the world. From chuckle-worthy observations to witty one-liners sharper than a chef's knife, these comedians are here to deliver world-class stand-up all through the month…

You can get your tickets now from Dubai Opera or Platinumlist, with a direct link to each show from Dubai Comedy Festival’s official website.

Gad Elmaleh | ‘Lui-Même’

Morocco/Canada

April 12th - April 13th, 9:30 PM 

One of the world’s most renowned French-speaking comedians, Gad Elmaleh returns with his new one-man show ‘Lui-Même’. Gad Elmaleh is a Moroccan-Canadian stand-up comedian and actor known for his witty observations and hilarious anecdotes.  

Al Murray 

United Kingdom 

April 15th, 7:00 PM 

Prepare to be "pub-ject" to the side-splitting humour of Al Murray, the English master of the "know-all know-nothing blowhard" persona. This award-winning comedian, actor, writer and musician was voted by The Observer as one of the top 50 funniest acts in British comedy in 2003, and ranked 16th on Channel 4’s 100 Greatest Stand-Ups in 2007. 

Anubhav Singh Bassi | ‘Kisi Ko Batana Mat’

India 

April 20th, 8:00 PM 

Fresh off his YouTube stardom with over 200 million views worldwide, the acclaimed Indian comedian brings his new show ‘Kisi Ko Batana Mat’ (translation: Don't Tell Anyone!) to Dubai. Relatable jokes, witty observations, and maybe even a few embarrassing childhood stories (we all have those, right?) are definitely on the agenda. The actor and YouTuber kick started his career after a legendary open mic performance back in 2017.

Frank Skinner | ‘30 Years of Dirt’

United Kingdom

April 15th, 9:30 PM 

Frank Skinner promises a night of observational humour that will have you reminiscing about the good old days (and maybe cringing at a few of them too). The English presenter, actor and writer has had a career full of comedy experience and cleverness for 30 plus years. Christopher Graham Collins MBE, known professionally as Frank Skinner, has received worldwide acclaim, proven by his presence as a  Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2023 New Year Honours.  

Chris Distefano 

United States of America 

April 16th, 9:30 PM

Chris Distefano has been spreading laughs for 15 years, and he's not slowing down anytime soon! From Netflix to The Late Show, Chris has earned his place as one of the funniest faces in stand-up, and he's ready to bring his A-game to Dubai, after selling out shows in Radio City Music Hall and Madison Square Garden. He’s also presented his comedic skills on MTV through his reality shows ‘Guy Code’ and ‘Girl Code’.  

Amer Zahr | ‘The Truth’

Palestine/United States of America 

April 17th, 9:30 PM

This Palestinian-American comedian uses humour to tackle thought-provoking topics, offering a unique perspective on the world. Amer Zahr is also a speaker, academic, and writer with over a decade of comedic experience, promising to bring an evening of laughter mixed with social commentary, all delivered with his signature wit. He also founded his own annual comedy festival in 2013, the 1001 Laughs Dearborn Comedy Festival, and wrote a book called ‘Being a Palestinian Makes Me Smile’.

Spencer & Vogue 

Ireland/United Kingdom

April 19th, 7:00 PM

Spencer Matthews and Vogue Williams are two media personalities set to turn their hit, top-of-the-charts podcast ‘Spencer and Vogue’ - which has reached more than 25 million downloads - into a live performance, minus the edits and redos. Slashing the filtration, their live performance will take a peek into their personal lives; bickering, sarcastic jabs and all.   

Mo Gilligan 

United Kingdom

April 19th, 9:30 PM 

Rounding out the line-up is the multi-talented British Mo Gilligan, known for his grime comedy, physical humour, and musical flair. After years and years of creating short comedy clips on social media, he has stumbled on international success, and since became a co-host of ‘The Big Narstie Show’ chat show.