Pop stars Shakira and Christina Aguilera have had their upcoming concerts in Abu Dhabi cancelled due to the ongoing war in the Middle East.
The announcements mean neither artist will perform their rescheduled live dates in the United Arab Emirates, following earlier disruptions to regional air transport and security.
Shakira, the Grammy-winning Colombian singer known globally for hits such as Hips Don't Lie, was set to headline the Offlimits festival in the Gulf nation. American pop vocalist Christina Aguilera, also a multi-Grammy winner, was scheduled to perform a separate headlining show in the UAE capital.
Offlimits festival and ticket refunds
Organisers of the Offlimits festival in Abu Dhabi announced the cancellation of the event on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, through an official press release. Shakira had been scheduled to perform at the festival on November 21, 2026.
Festival organisers promised full refunds to spectators who had purchased tickets for the show. In their statement, organisers wrote that they hope to reorganise the Offlimits festival in 2027, though they did not specify the exact reason for cancelling the 2026 edition.
The Offlimits festival is one of several major music events hosted in Abu Dhabi, which has developed into a central entertainment destination in the Gulf region alongside cities like Dubai.
Christina Aguilera concert cancellation
The separate concert featuring Christina Aguilera, which had been set for September 25, 2026, has also been called off. Ticketmaster, the global ticketing platform handling sales for the event, announced the cancellation without setting a new date for the performance, according to media reports in the United Arab Emirates.
Ticketmaster operates as a primary sales platform for major international concert tours, theatrical productions, and sporting events worldwide.
Security concerns and past delays
Both entertainment events had already experienced prior postponements because of the conflict's impact on regional security conditions and commercial air travel. The Offlimits festival had originally been scheduled to take place in Abu Dhabi on April 4, 2026, while Christina Aguilera's concert was initially slated for April 24, 2026.
Regional missile and drone attacks
The United Arab Emirates has remained the primary target of Tehran's retaliatory strikes since the start of a joint United States and Israeli military attack against Iran in late February 2026.
Authorities in the Gulf country confirmed that the UAE has been targeted by more than 3,000 missiles and drones since the offensive began. While the vast majority of incoming projectiles were successfully intercepted, some strikes did hit local infrastructure.
Although the frequency of aerial attacks has slowed significantly in recent months, defence officials confirmed that threats persist. The UAE Ministry of Defence announced on Wednesday that Iran launched two ballistic missiles targeting maritime navigation, both of which ultimately fell into the sea.
The United Arab Emirates, located on the Arabian Peninsula, serves as a crucial hub for international aviation and commerce. Escalating regional hostilities have routinely forced airline route adjustments and heightened security protocols across the Middle East.
