US comedian Andrew Schulz delivers a stellar Dubai debut

US comedian Andrew Schulz brought the house down during his Dubai debut at the Coca-Cola Arena on Tuesday night, delivering a high-energy set that left the crowd roaring with laughter from start to finish. (AN Photo)
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Updated 08 October 2025
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US comedian Andrew Schulz delivers a stellar Dubai debut

  • The comedian is set to perform in Riyadh as a part of the comedy festival on Oct. 8

DUBAI: US comedian Andrew Schulz brought the house down during his Dubai debut at the Coca-Cola Arena on Tuesday night, delivering a high-energy set that left the crowd roaring with laughter from start to finish.

Following a successful show in Abu Dhabi in 2024, the comedian returned to the UAE accompanied by the co-hosts of his hit podcast Flagrant.

Opening for Schulz were Mark Gagnon, Akaash Singh, and Emirati comedian Abz Ali.

As part of the Dubai Comedy Festival, Schulz performed a classic American-style standup routine infused with his trademark self-deprecating humor.

And, to the audience’s delight, provided plenty of region-specific jokes about life in the UAE.

Unlike his Abu Dhabi show, this set leaned more toward sharp, quick-fire standup and crowd interaction rather than an overarching narrative, which had characterized his previous Life Tour performances.

From poking fun at Dubai’s traffic to riffing on the city’s obsession with Emaar buildings, Schulz showcased an impressive grasp of local culture and humor.

Throughout the night, his quick wit and spontaneous comebacks during audience interactions had the crowd in stitches.

To close the show, Schulz invited the rest of the lineup back on stage for a lighthearted Q&A segment, where they offered tongue-in-cheek advice.

With laughter, tears, and plenty of surprises, Schulz’s Dubai debut was a memorable addition to his growing list of UAE performances.

The comedian is set to perform in Riyadh as a part of the comedy festival on Oct. 8.


Amr Diab and Sherine top Spotify list of 2025 MENA artists

Updated 17 December 2025
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Amr Diab and Sherine top Spotify list of 2025 MENA artists

  • Egyptian stars and icon Fairuz continue to resonate in region
  • Artists shaping rap, mahraganat, hybrid sounds feature

DUBAI: Spotify has released its list of the Top Middle East and North Africa artists and songs globally, shaped by streams from listeners both inside and outside the region, offering a snapshot of how MENA music travelled in 2025.

Topping the global MENA artists list is Amr Diab, a mainstay of Arab pop. He also led Egypt’s Wrapped this year, while his catalogue — spanning both older hits and newer releases — continued to draw sustained global engagement.

The return of “Tamally Maak” to the global Top Tracks list underlines the lasting appeal of his music across generations.

Sherine is one of the year’s most emotionally resonant voices with four tracks in the global Top 10. Her classics “Kalam Eineh,” “El Watar El Hassas” and “3la Bali,” alongside her newer release “Btmanna Ansak,” reached listeners from Egypt to Germany and the UK.

Spotify data shows her catalogue maintaining a strong, personal connection with audiences throughout 2025.

Regional classics also featured prominently. Nancy Ajram’s early-2000s hit “Ya Tabtab Wa Dallaa” found renewed popularity in markets including Indonesia and Turkiye, while Khaled’s “C’est la vie” continued to cross borders, resonating with listeners from France to India.

Fairuz remained a fixture in daily listening habits, anchoring morning and coffee playlists across the Arab world and the diaspora.

Beyond pop, artists shaping rap, mahraganat and hybrid sounds maintained strong global visibility.

ElGrandeToto, Morocco’s Top Artist on Spotify from 2020 to 2025, continued to spotlight the evolution of Moroccan hip-hop, which in 2025 blended rai, chaabi and local rhythms with trap influences.

His collaboration with Spanish-Moroccan rapper Morad, “Ojos Sin Ver,” featured on the global MENA Top Tracks list, highlighting the genre’s cross-regional and European appeal.

Egyptian rapper Marwan Pablo also remained a prominent global presence, recognized for his introspective approach within the country’s hip-hop scene.

Mahraganat artists Essam Sasa and Eslam Kabonga appeared in the global rankings as well, underscoring the genre’s expanding reach beyond its local roots.

The global MENA Top Tracks list included “KALAMANTINA,” a collaboration between Saint Levant and Marwan Moussa that blends hip-hop and pop within a hybrid electro-shaabi sound.