Mohamed Helmy Plus One 2026 in Abu Dhabi

Mohamed Helmy brings Plus One, his brand new stand-up special, to Abu Dhabi on Tuesday 24 November 2026, with its first ever UAE performance at Etihad Arena on Yas Island. The show is performed in Arabic and is part of the Abu Dhabi Comedy Festival, which Helmy is joining for the third year running.

Regulars who have caught him at the festival before know the energy. This time the material is entirely new, so even long-time fans will be hearing every story for the first time.

Mohamed Helmy: From Alexandria to Arena Stages

Helmy is an Egyptian stand-up comedian, writer, actor and event producer who started performing in Alexandria in 2016. Two years later he founded HelmyMan Events to produce comedy nights, and in 2019 he launched The Roast League, a roast-battle format that helped build his name with younger audiences.

His first full special, Mama’s Boy, took him across the region and then to Europe on a 2023 tour, and was followed by Papa’s Boy. Globally Local came next: a show about identity, diaspora and the chaos of living between cultures, which he took on a North American tour in 2024 and later brought back to the Gulf, including a Dubai date at Meyana Theatre in April 2026. Across all of them he has stayed with Arabic-language stand-up, building a following among Arab audiences at home and abroad.

What Plus One Is About

Plus One is an hour-long special built from everyday life. Helmy turns his attention to relationships, the people around us and the strange situations that come with them, mixing quick one-liners with longer stories and some very candid observations. The title hints at the theme: the partner, the friend or the relative who comes along and changes the shape of every plan.

The Abu Dhabi date sits in the middle of a regional run for the new special, which also played one night in Doha in October and is listed for Saudi Arabia, with shows in Dammam and Jeddah. For UAE audiences, Etihad Arena is the first chance to hear the new hour.

Expect roughly 60 minutes, with punchlines that land quickly and stories that take their time. Because the focus is on life and relationships, couples and groups of friends will probably find themselves swapping knowing looks more than once. The set is delivered in Arabic, so fluent speakers will catch every nuance, and anyone with a decent grasp of the language should still be able to follow the stories.

A Phone-Free Night at Etihad Arena

Screens stay off for this show. At security, phones and smartwatches are sealed in Yondr pouches that can only be unlocked in the designated Phone Use Areas, and anyone using a device during the performance will be asked to leave. It keeps the room focused on the stage and stops new material leaking online before the special has finished touring.

Doors open an hour before the start time printed on your ticket, which gives time to clear security and pouch your phone. Download your e-ticket in advance and carry photo ID plus the card you paid with, as you may be asked for them at the gate. Payment inside the arena is contactless only, so set up a card or phone wallet before your phone goes into its pouch.

Bags larger than 30 x 30 x 15 cm are refused and there is nowhere to store them. Professional cameras and flags are not allowed, and strollers must be left at the stroller parks provided. There is no re-entry once you leave, tickets cannot be refunded, transferred or swapped, and accessible seating has to be booked in advance.

Mohamed Helmy in Abu Dhabi: Who Should Go

Plus One is made for Arabic-speaking comedy fans, from those who have followed Helmy since The Roast League to people seeing him live for the first time. The relationship theme makes it a natural pick for couples, and it works just as well for groups of friends who want something to laugh about on the drive home.

Guests must be 12 or older, and anyone under 16 needs to come with an adult aged 21 or above, so families with older children can make it a night out together.

Etihad Arena is on Yas Drive on Yas Island. From central Abu Dhabi, drive out along Sheikh Zayed Road and follow the signs for the arena. Bus users can get off at Al Matar Al Qadeem, about 800 metres from the venue, and taxi drivers know it well.

If you are planning more nights out on Yas Island, Tarkan plays Etihad Arena the same week. For more ideas, see our comedy shows guide, the full list of things to do in Abu Dhabi and our things to do in November page.

Mark 24 November in the calendar, book your seats for Plus One at Etihad Arena and get ready to hand over your phone for an hour of new comedy from Mohamed Helmy.