What's On at This Year's Dubai Comedy Festival?

The third edition of the Dubai Comedy Festival is taking place from May 12th to May 21st. The incredible line-up of headliners includes Sooshi Mango, Stuart Taylor, Jimmy Carr, and duo Joanne McNally and Vogue Williams from the podcast 'My Therapist Ghosted Me'. 

The Dubai Comedy Festival will take place across multiple hotspots across the city, including Dubai Opera, The Theatre Mall of the Emirates, Coca-Cola Arena, and more. 

The festival hosts comedians from around the world for what is always one of the most popular events in Dubai's cultural calendar. It aims to unite everyone with one language – laughter.

Here are the details of the shows announced by Dubai Comedy Festival 2023 so far:

Sooshi Mango 
Friday, May 12th at Coca-Cola Arena

Sooshi Mango is an Australian comedy troupe founded in 2015 and made up of Joe Salanitri, Carlo Salanitri, and their best friend, Andrew Manfre. Their viral online videos amassing hundreds of millions of views. The much-loved comedy troupe are about to bring their wildly successful 'OFF THE BOAT TOUR' to Dubai. 

Stuart Taylor
Saturday, May 13th at Mövenpick JBR

With a career in the entertainment industry that spans over 25 years, Stuart Taylor is a multi-award winning who performed across the globe and starred on big and small screens. Even though he holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Stellenbosch University, his love for the creative arts led him to pursue a full-time career in entertainment. 

Zakir Khan
Sunday, May 14th at Dubai Opera 

Zakir Khan, the popular Indian comedian, is all set to tickle the funny bones of Dubai audiences with his latest 150-minute Hindi language show on May 14th at the iconic Dubai Opera. Known for his anecdotal style of comedy along with his punchline "Sakht Launda", Khan has amassed over 7 million subscribers on YouTube, clearly showing his immense popularity on the Indian comedy circuit. Guaranteed to be a hilarious and entertaining experience for all those in attendance.

Dara Ó Briain – English language show  
Monday, May 15th at Dubai Opera  

One of Ireland's funniest funny-men, Dara Ó Briain, known for his quick wit and razor-sharp observations, is bringing his unique brand of comedy to the Dubai Opera on May 15th. Beginning With a career spanning over two decades, Ó Briain has become a household name in the entertainment industry, with numerous sold-out shows across the globe. In 2003, Ó Briain also became a regular host of the BBC's satirical news quiz show "Mock the Week," which quickly became one of the most popular comedy shows on British television.  

His ability to blend topical humour with his own personal experiences, his intelligence, and his warming personality, have all made him a fan-favourite, and his live performances have been described as a masterclass in observational comedy. 

Atsuko Okatsuka, Beth Stelling and Rachel Fienstein
Monday, May 15th at Dubai Opera  

Celebrating three female perspectives in comedy, this night will feature Atsuko Okatsuka, who was named one of Variety’s 'Top 10 Comics to Watch' last year. Joining her on the night will be writer and comedian Beth Stelling, who was seen in the Netflix series The Standups, along with Rachel Feinstein, known for her lively humour.

Jimmy Carr 
Tuesday, May 16th at Dubai Opera   

Jimmy Carr, one of the UK's most renowned comedians, is preparing to descend on the Dubai Opera on May 16th, bringing with him his trademark acerbic wit and humor. Known for his quick-fire one-liners and hilarious observations on modern life, Jimmy Carr has become a household name in the comedy world. With numerous sold-out shows across the globe, he has cemented his place as one of the most popular comedians on the circuit today. Whether you're a fan of his stand-up comedy, his work on television including on shows like "8 Out Of 10 Cats" and "The Big Fat Quiz of the Year", or his impeccable comedic timing, this show promises to be an unforgettable experience.  

My Therapist Ghosted Me 
Wednesday, May 17th at Dubai Opera  

Get ready to laugh until it hurts as the hilarious comedy duo, My Therapist Ghosted Me, takes the stage at the Dubai Opera on May 17th! The dynamic comedy duo, comprising of Joanne McNally and Vogue Williams, is bringing their unique blend of humour and storytelling to Dubai. With a style that is both relatable and irreverent, their show promises to be a night of non-stop laughs. 

Rafi Bastos
Wednesday, May 17th at The Theatre Mall of the Emirates

Rafi Bastos is a Brazilian comedian, actor, journalist and television personality. He is now taking his US tour to Dubai with a fresh perspective - in UNFAMILIAR TERRITORY. He is a former host of "CQC", a popular TV show in Brazil.

Stephen Frost's Improv All Stars
Wednesday, May 17th at The Theatre Mall of the Emirates

Stephen Frost's Improv All Stars features cast members from the original "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" where Stephen Frost, Steve Steen, Andy Smart, and Ian Coppinger arrive without a script or idea of what will happen, through improvization.

Jim Jefferies
Wednesday, May 17th at Dubai Opera

Jim Jefferies is an Australian comedian, actor, and writer who holds dual Australian and American citizenship. He is is one of the most popular and respected comedians of his generation. He created and starred in the American FX sitcom Legit and the Comedy Central late-night show The Jim Jefferies Show.

Stand-Up Belmasry
Thursday, May 18th at The Theatre Mall of the Emirates

The biggest names from Egypt's buzzing comedy scene are making their way down to the Dubai Comedy Festival this year. Get ready to laugh out loud with popular star Mohamed Salem, actor Pola Samuel, jokester Mahmoud Konafa, returning favourite Walid Khairy, podcaster Noha Kato and veteran artist Omar ElHassan Kintaki.

Amit Tandon
Friday, May 19th at The Theatre Mall of the Emirates

Masala Sandwich is an interwoven set of stories and observations picking on different aspects of everyday life. It is a mix of story-telling and observational humor where Amit Tandon talks about his shortcomings as a person and his challenges as a parent of two teenagers.

Bil 3Arabi Vol. 2
Saturday, May 20th at The Theatre Mall of the Emirates

From the name of it, this show is in different Arabic dialects: Palestinian, Emirati, Egyptian, Jordanian, and Syrian, with 6 Arab comedians working the hardest to make you laugh. 

John Achkar
Sunday, May 21st at The Theatre Mall of the Emirates

John Achkar's special 'Wein 3ayesh?' reveals his move to UAE through his very unique lens. Interweaving marriage dating, culture, and the buroughs of Dubai into his material. 

For tickets and more information click here.