Abu Dhabi has quietly become one of the region’s best cities for live music – Arabic legends, global headliners and intimate jam nights, often within the same week. This page is the evergreen home for what’s playing in the capital: who’s on, where, what tickets cost and how to book. We refresh it as new shows are announced, so bookmark it.
Concerts in Abu Dhabi Right Now
The late-May lineup is heavy on Arabic music royalty – two big nights at Space42 Arena – plus a late-night Afro-house set on Yas Bay:
| Artist | Date | Venue | Tickets from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kadim Al Sahir | Thu 28 May 2026 | Space42 Arena | AED 295 |
| George Wassouf & Ziad El Bourji | Sat 30 May 2026 | Space42 Arena | AED 150 |
| Francis Mercier (DJ set) | Fri 29 May 2026 | White Abu Dhabi, Yas Bay | AED 150 |
| Saadiyat Sounds (jam session) | Recurring | Berklee Abu Dhabi | Free |
Vibe Check
This stretch is a love letter to Arabic music – the kind of shows where the whole arena sings every word and nobody checks their phone. Kadim Al Sahir is the bucket-list one; George Wassouf brings the old-school Tarab crowd. Want something later and louder? The Francis Mercier set is the club counterpoint. And if you want low-key over grand, the free Berklee jam nights are the city’s best-kept music secret.
Kadim Al Sahir – Thursday 28 May
The “Caesar of Arabic Song” brings four decades of poetry-set-to-music to Space42 Arena. Doors open 7:30pm, show starts 9pm. Tickets start around AED 295 and the good categories move fast for an act this big – book early. See our Kadim Al Sahir event listing for details, with tickets via Platinumlist and the Space42 Arena channels.
George Wassouf & Ziad El Bourji – Saturday 30 May
A double bill of star power landing right in the Eid weekend – Syrian Tarab icon George Wassouf alongside contemporary hitmaker Ziad El Bourji. Space42 Arena again, doors 7:30pm, show 9pm. Tickets start around AED 150, the most affordable of the headline shows. See the George Wassouf and Ziad El Bourji event listing or book via Platinumlist.
Francis Mercier – Friday 29 May
For something later and louder, Haitian-American DJ and producer Francis Mercier brings his Afro-house sound to White Abu Dhabi, the Yas Bay rooftop club, on the Friday of the Eid weekend. The set runs from around 10pm. Tickets start around AED 150. This is the club-night counterpoint to the arena concerts – go after dinner, stay late.
Saadiyat Sounds at Berklee Abu Dhabi
For something free and intimate, Berklee Abu Dhabi runs its Saadiyat Sounds series – live music nights followed by an open jam session that anyone can join. The lineup rotates between Berklee students, faculty and guest artists, and it is one of the most relaxed, genuinely musical evenings in the city. Entry is free; see the Saadiyat Sounds event listing for the next date.
Abu Dhabi’s Main Concert Venues
- Space42 Arena – Al Raha Street, Al Raha Beach, Abu Dhabi. A 2,500 sqm indoor arena with a 15-metre ceiling and parking for 1,000 cars, the current home of the big Arabic concerts. Tel +971 2 552 8055, info@space42arena.com
- White Abu Dhabi – Yas Bay Waterfront, Yas Island. A rooftop club known for international DJ sets and late nights. Tel +971 50 639 8934
- Berklee Abu Dhabi – Saadiyat Island (Berklee campus). Host of the free Saadiyat Sounds jam nights and student showcases. Tel +97126575920, Details via berkleeabudhabi.ae
WOW Expert Tip: For the big Arabic shows, doors open at 7:30pm but the headliner rarely starts before 9pm and often runs late – eat first and do not stress the door time. Space42 Arena has 1,000 parking spaces, but they fill near showtime; arrive by 8pm to park easily and beat the Al Raha Beach exit crawl afterwards.
How to Book Concert Tickets in Abu Dhabi
Most Abu Dhabi concerts sell through Platinumlist, with some also on Ticketmaster UAE and the venue’s own site. Prices scale by category – general admission or upper tiers are the AED 150 to 300 entry point, while front sections and VIP tables run much higher. For in-demand acts, the cheaper categories sell out first, so if budget matters, book early rather than waiting for the week of the show.
The late-May 2026 lineup includes Kadim Al Sahir on 28 May and George Wassouf with Ziad El Bourji on 30 May, both at Space42 Arena, a Francis Mercier club set at White Abu Dhabi on 29 May, plus the free Saadiyat Sounds jam nights at Berklee Abu Dhabi. We refresh this page as new shows are announced.
Space42 Arena is on Al Raha Street in the Al Raha Beach area of Abu Dhabi. It is a 2,500 square metre indoor venue with parking for around 1,000 cars. Contact +971 2 552 8055 or info@space42arena.com.
For the current shows, tickets start around AED 150 for George Wassouf and Ziad El Bourji and around AED 295 for Kadim Al Sahir. Front sections and VIP tables cost more. Prices vary by act and category.
Most Abu Dhabi concerts sell through Platinumlist, with some also on Ticketmaster UAE and the venue’s own website. The cheaper categories sell out first for popular acts, so book early.
Space42 Arena at Al Raha Beach hosts most of the current Arabic concerts, White Abu Dhabi on Yas Bay runs international DJ club nights, and Berklee Abu Dhabi on Saadiyat Island runs the free Saadiyat Sounds jam nights. Larger international tours often play Etihad Arena on Yas Bay and stadium venues.
