Nawal and Abdulla Almestrih Live 2026 in Sharjah

Nawal and Abdulla Almestrih Live 2026 in Sharjah is an Eid Al Etihad concert at Khorfakkan Amphitheatre on Saturday 28 November, pairing Nawal, billed as the Guitar of the Arabs, with Emirati singer Abdulla Almestrih. Doors open at 7:30pm and the show starts at 9pm, with the evening running until around 11:30pm under the open sky on Sharjah’s east coast.

The organisers frame it as a national celebration, with songs of joy, pride and nostalgia in the days before the UAE’s 2 December national day, and the listing marks it as selling fast.

Who is Nawal?

Nawal, born Nawal Thaher Habib Al-Zaid in 1966 and long known as Nawal El Kuwaitia, is one of the defining voices of Khaliji music. She studied at the Music Institute in Kuwait and released her first album in 1984, and she has been recording for four decades since. She was also one of the first Khaliji artists to film her music videos in Lebanon, helping to bring Gulf song to a wider Arab audience.

Her catalogue runs from her self-titled albums of the 1980s through Wainek 7abeeby (1995) and Tadri (1996) to recent releases such as El Haneen (2020), Al Ard (2023) and Ana W Ozoof (2024). Among her best-known songs are “Kan Widdi Niltiki”, the 1994 duet with Abdullah Rashad that marked her return after a five-year break, “Ahawel” with Fadl Shaker, “Othorini” with Abdallah Al Rowaished, and “Allah Haseebak” and “Taab Qalbi”. The concert listing places her song “Qeda Omry” beside her name. In 2022 she was Spotify’s EQUAL Arabia ambassador.

Abdulla Almestrih

Abdulla Almestrih is the Emirati voice on the bill, and the listing pairs him with his song “Naseeb”. For a concert built around Eid Al Etihad, sharing the stage between a Gulf icon and a local Emirati singer is the point of the night: two voices of Khaliji song celebrating the same occasion together. The organisers have not published a running order, so expect both artists across the evening rather than a single headline set.

A celebration for Eid Al Etihad

Eid Al Etihad is the name now used for the UAE’s National Day on 2 December, marking the union of the emirates in 1971. Concerts in the run-up to it tend to lean into national pride and familiar, much-loved songs, and this one is described in exactly those terms: some nights are made to celebrate, others to remember. Expect a warm, sing-along atmosphere, with a crowd that knows many of the words.

Khor Fakkan itself is part of the emirate of Sharjah but sits on the Gulf of Oman, separated from Sharjah city by the Hajar mountains. Holding a national-day concert here brings the celebration to the east coast, rather than asking east coast residents to drive west for it.

The venue: Khorfakkan Amphitheatre

Khorfakkan Amphitheatre opened on 14 December 2020, inaugurated by Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah. It is a semicircular, Roman-style theatre with tiered seating for around 3,600 people and a stone facade of 234 arches and 295 columns, set at the foot of Al Sayed mountain and facing the beach. A 45-metre waterfall sits beside it, linked by lifts and a walkway, and the seating is cooled. Its first music concert, on 31 December 2020, starred Hussain Al Jassmi and Angham. Its opening week also included a screening of the historical film Khorfakkan, watched by around 2,000 spectators from across the UAE.

The address is Rugaylat Road in Al Mudaifi, right by Al Metalaa Park. From central Khor Fakkan, take Al Corniche Street and, at the roundabout, take the first exit onto Corniche Street/Rughaylat Road (E99/S104), heading towards Daba Al Hisn. Taxis and ride-hailing apps also serve the area. Coming from Dubai or Sharjah city means a drive across the Hajar mountains, so allow for it when you plan your evening.

Seating, children and access

• Children over 3 need their own seat and ticket, and all children must be with a parent. Children are not permitted in the Pearl seating area.
• Ear defenders are recommended for young children, as the organisers advise parents to bring them for the live sound.
• Mobility-aid seating is available in Platinum Row A only. POD card holders and official carers book through Platinumlist on WhatsApp (+971 50 140 8768) or website chat.
• Tickets are final and non-refundable, so check your seating area before booking.

Who it suits

This concert suits long-time Nawal fans, lovers of Khaliji and Gulf music, Emirati families marking Eid Al Etihad together, and anyone in the east coast towns looking for a big national-day night out. It is also a good excuse for a weekend in Khor Fakkan, with the beach and corniche close to the venue. Find more ideas in our concerts guide, browse things to do in Sharjah, and see what is on in November.