Every upcoming concert we list in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and across the UAE, from Arabic and Bollywood stars to pop, rock, orchestral and tribute nights. The biggest shows usually play arenas such as Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai and Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, while Dubai Opera hosts many classical and theatre-style concerts.
Concert dates and times are confirmed by the organisers, so always check the listing before you travel, and book early for headline acts.
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Picked from our live listings and updated automatically. Events drop off this list as soon as they finish.
Concerts in Dubai and across the UAE follow the weather: the season builds from October, peaks through the cool winter months and winds down as the heat returns in late spring. In a single week you might find a stadium-sized pop tour, an Arabic music legend, a Bollywood star, a full symphony orchestra and an intimate acoustic set in a converted warehouse. This page gathers every concert we know about across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and the northern emirates, with links to official ticket sellers. Below, we share what we have learned about choosing the right show, the right seat and the easiest way home.
The busiest stretch is usually October to April, when evening temperatures drop into the comfortable twenties and outdoor stages come back to life. Big international tours often route through the Gulf in this window, and the calendar is typically at its fullest around the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weekend, the festive period and New Year. From May the outdoor programme thins out, and through July and August most live music moves indoors, into air-conditioned arenas, hotel ballrooms and theatres. Summer still has good nights, just fewer of them. During Ramadan, which moves earlier each year with the lunar calendar, the live music scene is much quieter and many venues pause concerts entirely, so if you are planning a trip around a gig it is worth checking the dates of the holy month first. Our monthly guides, such as things to do in December, show how the season is shaping up.
Knowing the room makes a big difference to the night you have.
Some concerts come back year after year, which makes them easier to plan around. In Abu Dhabi, the after-race concerts on Grand Prix weekend at Yas Island usually bring several big names over consecutive nights, and access is typically tied to race tickets. The Abu Dhabi Festival runs a season of performances whose timing has shifted between editions, and it programmes classical, jazz and world music at venues such as Emirates Palace and the Cultural Foundation. In Dubai, the festive season and New Year’s Eve bring a wave of special shows, and many hotels add live music to their celebrations; our listings gather those as they are announced. Smaller series, like the long-running concert evenings at The Fridge, run on a regular schedule through the season and tend to sell out quietly.
Start with the kind of night you want. Standing tickets at an arena are the best value for energy and atmosphere, but you may be on your feet for several hours. Seated tiers give a clearer view of the full stage production and suit families or anyone who prefers to sit. At Dubai Opera, the stalls feel close and intimate, while the upper levels give a good overview at a gentler price. For festivals, check whether there is shade, seating and food on site, and how re-entry works. If you are going with children, always read the age policy on the official event page before you book: many concerts set a minimum age or require younger guests to be accompanied by an adult, and the rules differ from show to show.
Abu Dhabi has grown into a major concert city in its own right, with Etihad Arena on Yas Island and classical programmes at the Cultural Foundation and Emirates Palace; our guide to things to do in Abu Dhabi helps you turn a show into a weekend. Sharjah focuses more on Arabic music and cultural evenings, with its amphitheatres in Al Majaz and Khorfakkan offering memorable open-air settings; see things to do in Sharjah. Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah occasionally host beach and resort concerts in the cooler months, which can be a relaxed alternative to the big city shows.
A concert is often the centrepiece of a bigger evening. City Walk, Downtown Dubai and Yas Island all have plenty of restaurants within walking distance of the venue, so booking an early dinner saves rushing. If you want to keep going afterwards, our nightlife page has ideas, and if a gig is sold out, a stand-up night from our comedy shows in Dubai page or a musical from shows and theatre makes a great plan B. For a quick look at what else is happening, try things to do this weekend.
Organising a concert in the UAE? Submit an event and we will add it once we have checked the details with you.
We list 50 concerts in Dubai and the UAE in the next few weeks, including Jony Live 2026 in Dubai (4 Nov), Luca Minnelli Concert 2026 in Dubai (5 Nov), Amr Diab Live 2026 in Dubai (7 Nov). Tickets start from AED 60. Every listing links to the official ticket page.
Concert season in Dubai and the UAE usually runs from October to April, when evening temperatures fall to a comfortable 20 to 30°C and outdoor stages reopen. Big international tours often route through the Gulf in these months, with especially busy weeks around the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the festive period and New Year. From May to September, most live music moves indoors to arenas such as Coca-Cola Arena and Etihad Arena.
The biggest concert venue in Dubai is Coca-Cola Arena in City Walk, the city’s main indoor arena for headline tours, with standing and seated layouts. Dubai Opera in Downtown Dubai is smaller and more elegant, suited to classical, jazz and singer-songwriter shows. Large festivals and open-air concerts in the cooler months often use Expo City Dubai or Dubai World Trade Centre, while The Agenda in Dubai Media City hosts more intimate gigs.
Most big concerts in Abu Dhabi take place at Etihad Arena on Yas Island, the capital’s large indoor arena, or at Yas Island’s outdoor stages during Grand Prix weekend, when after-race concerts are usually included with race tickets. Classical and world music often appears at the Cultural Foundation and Emirates Palace, particularly during the Abu Dhabi Festival. See our Abu Dhabi guide to plan a weekend around a show.
Buy concert tickets through the organiser or the authorised ticketing partner linked on each listing, as resale tickets can be refused at the door. Prices vary widely by artist, venue and tier: standing and upper-level seats are usually the most affordable, while front seated sections and VIP packages cost the most. Headline arena shows can sell out within days, so book early, and use the Price filter on this page to compare options.
Children can attend many concerts in Dubai, but each show sets its own age policy, so always check the official event page before booking. Some concerts set a minimum age, others require under-16s or under-18s to be accompanied by an adult, and arena standing areas may have stricter limits than seated tiers. Family concerts, such as orchestral film-score nights and Christmas shows, are usually the easiest choice for younger children.
Most arena concerts in Dubai have no strict dress code, so smart-casual clothes and comfortable shoes you can stand in for hours are ideal. Dubai Opera and gala classical evenings suit something a little dressier. Indoor venues are kept cool, so bring a light layer. For open-air concerts in Sharjah, where modest dress is expected, cover your shoulders and knees, and check any venue-specific rules on the event page.
Concerts in Dubai are much rarer during Ramadan, and many venues pause live music for the holy month. Ramadan moves about 11 days earlier each year with the lunar calendar, so check its expected dates before planning a trip around a show. The calendar picks up again after Eid, when Arabic music stars and South Asian artists often perform holiday concerts at venues such as Coca-Cola Arena and Etihad Arena.
For Dubai Opera, the Red Line Metro station serving The Dubai Mall and Burj Khalifa is the nearest public transport, though it is a fair walk through Downtown. For Coca-Cola Arena in City Walk, taxis and ride-hailing apps are the simplest option. Queues build after big shows at both venues, so allow extra time, book a pick-up point a short walk away, or wait in a nearby café for the first rush to clear.
Sharjah hosts many Arabic music concerts, often at Al Majaz Amphitheatre on the Al Majaz Waterfront and at Khorfakkan Amphitheatre on the east coast, two handsome open-air venues used mainly in the cooler months. Sharjah’s venues follow the emirate’s conservative rules, including no alcohol and modest dress, which makes them popular with families. Our Sharjah guide has more ideas for an evening out there.
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