A UAE concert by US singer Christina Aguilera and an Abu Dhabi music festival featuring Shakira have been cancelled amid escalating Middle East tensions.
Organisers cancelled the Offlimits music festival, which had scheduled Shakira as its headline performer in November.
The festival website confirmed the cancellation and promised ticket refunds, but did not provide a specific reason.
Meanwhile, Ticketmaster reported that Aguilera’s September 25 concert had also been cancelled without announcing a replacement date.
Regional tensions disrupt UAE events
Both events were initially scheduled for April before organisers postponed them amid the deteriorating regional security situation.
The cancellations followed renewed Iranian attacks on Emirati shipping in recent weeks.
The United Arab Emirates also announced Tuesday that it would suspend trade and financial dealings with Iran.
The decision came after Abu Dhabi reported an Iranian missile attack targeting its ships.
Tourism and entertainment face pressure
The UAE has traditionally maintained a reputation as one of the region’s safest destinations for tourism and international entertainment.
However, repeated Iranian strikes have disrupted cultural activities and affected tourism across Gulf countries.
Although the intensity of attacks on the UAE has recently declined, their economic and security effects continue to be felt.
Consequently, major entertainment events face growing uncertainty as organisers assess regional security risks.
The Offlimits organisers said they hoped to bring the festival community together again in 2027.
However, neither the festival organisers nor Aguilera’s representatives announced new dates for the cancelled events.
