Whitney Cummings Live 2027 in Abu Dhabi

Whitney Cummings Live 2027 in Abu Dhabi marks the American comedian’s UAE debut, with a stand-up show at Etihad Arena on Yas Island as part of Abu Dhabi Comedy Season. Presented by Live Nation Middle East, it is an early Sunday evening show: doors open at 5pm and Whitney takes the stage at 6pm.

The Abu Dhabi date is part of her Big Baby stand-up tour, which runs through 2027, and the listing promises her stand-up delivered with “unapologetic wit and sharp observations”.

Who is Whitney Cummings?

Variety has called Whitney Cummings “one of the sharpest minds in comedy”, and the same magazine named her one of its 10 Comics to Watch back in 2007. Born in Washington, D.C., she graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, worked on MTV’s Punk’d and started doing stand-up in 2004.

Her big breakthrough came in 2011, when two network shows she created premiered in the same season: 2 Broke Girls on CBS, which she co-created and which ran for six seasons, and Whitney on NBC, which she created and starred in. She later served as a head writer and executive producer on the Roseanne revival for ABC, and made her directing debut with the 2017 comedy film The Female Brain.

She has also written a book of personal stories, I’m Fine…And Other Lies, and since 2019 has hosted the podcast Good For You. When she is not touring, she lives in California with her son, her fiancé and a collection of pets.

Her stand-up so far

Whitney has six stand-up specials to her name, and they chart how her comedy has grown:

• Money Shot (2010), Comedy Central
• I Love You (2014), Comedy Central
• I’m Your Girlfriend (2016), HBO
• Can I Touch It? (2019), Netflix
• Jokes (2022)
• Mouthy (2023)

She lists George Carlin, Paul Reiser, Dave Attell, Lenny Bruce and Bill Hicks as influences, and has said Carlin taught her to “question everything”. She has also spoken about moving away from the self-deprecating style women in comedy were once expected to use, and about not needing cruelty to get a laugh.

Since she has never performed in the UAE before, the Big Baby material will be new to almost everyone in the room.

A no-phones show

Devices stay locked away during this performance, which is worth knowing before you arrive:

• Phones, smartwatches, smart glasses, earbuds, cameras and smart accessories are not allowed in the performance space.
• After your ticket is scanned, set your phone to silent. At security, devices are sealed in individual JAYB pouches that you keep with you.
• You can unlock and use your device only in the designated JAYB Phone Use Areas, and it must be resealed before you leave them.
• Photography and video are banned at all times, and anyone seen using a device during the show will be escorted out.

Who it suits

The show suits fans of 2 Broke Girls, listeners of Good For You and anyone who enjoys frank American stand-up from a comedian who also writes for television. The age policy is strict: guests must be 16 or over, under-16s are not admitted, and anyone aged 16 to 20 must be with an adult aged 21 or over. Staff may ask for photo ID and the credit card used to buy the tickets.

The 6pm Sunday start is unusually early for an arena comedy show, which makes it easier for anyone driving back to Dubai the same night or working on Monday morning.

Etihad Arena and Abu Dhabi Comedy Season

Etihad Arena on Yas Island is one of the main stages for Abu Dhabi Comedy Season, which brings big international stand-up names to the city. A few arena rules apply:

• Bags larger than 30 x 30 x 15 cm are not allowed, and there is no cloakroom or bag storage.
• Re-entry is not permitted once you leave.
• Guests with disabilities or access needs should buy accessible seating in advance.
• Keep your e-ticket on you, as staff may ask to see it during the evening.

Ticket rules worth knowing

Tickets for this show are for personal use and are non-refundable, non-transferable and non-exchangeable. Tickets resold above face value may be confiscated, and the arena may cancel tickets bought through unauthorised resellers, with Viagogo and Dubizzle named on the listing. If the show is cancelled or postponed, refunds follow the organiser’s terms. Disorderly behaviour or ignoring security instructions can lead to refusal of entry or removal from the arena.

Getting there

By car from central Abu Dhabi, take Sheikh Zayed Road and follow the signs to Yas Island and Etihad Arena. Taxi drivers generally know the venue, and the nearest bus stop is Al Matar Al Qadeem, about 800 metres away.

For more stand-up in the capital and beyond, see our comedy shows guide, browse things to do in Abu Dhabi, or check what else is on in January.