American comedian Tom Segura will open the 2025 Dubai Comedy Festival. Photo: Dubai Comedy Festival
American comedian Tom Segura will open the 2025 Dubai Comedy Festival. Photo: Dubai Comedy Festival

Dubai Comedy Festival returns with Tom Segura, Joanne McNally, Zakir Khan and more



The Dubai Comedy Festival is back, with Tom Segura, Joanne McNally, Morgan Jay and Zakir Khan among the acts confirmed for this year’s event.

The annual event will run for a fifth year from October 2 to 12. It will feature international and regional stand-up stars at various venues, including Dubai Opera and Coca-Cola Arena.

Segura, one of the biggest names in global stand-up, will open the festival on October 2 with his Come Together tour at Coca-Cola Arena. The American comedian, known for his Netflix specials Ball Hog and Disgraceful, previously performed at last year's festival.

British-Iranian comedian Omid Djalili will take the stage at Dubai Opera on October 5. Known for his film appearances and sharp observational humour, he returns with his new show Namaste. He will be joined on the same night by Akaash Singh, the US podcaster and comedian behind the popular Flagrant show.

Irish comedian Joanne McNally, who previously appeared at the festival in 2023 with Vogue Williams, returns for two solo shows on October 7. She brings new material to Dubai Opera, touching on topics ranging from dating to social media.

Making his Dubai debut is LA-based comedian and musician Morgan Jay, who performs on October 6 at Dubai Opera. Known for his blend of music and comedy, Jay will take to the stage with a set that promises plenty of audience interaction.

Indian comedian Zakir Khan closes the festival on October 12 at Coca-Cola Arena. After a sold-out 150-minute set last year, Khan returns with a new show in Hindi.

Also in the line-up is Lebanese comedian John Achkar, who performs on October 11. He made his mark with the Arabic-language comedy series Stand-Up Baladi and returns to Dubai Opera with new material.

The festival will feature shows in several languages, including English, Arabic and Hindi, as well as interactive experiences across the city.

Dubai Comedy Festival 2025 line-up

Tom Segura – October 2 at the Coca-Cola Arena; show starts at 8pm

Omid Djalili – October 5 at Dubai Opera; show starts at 6pm

Akaash Singh – October 5 at Dubai Opera; show starts at 9pm

Morgan Jay – October 6 at Dubai Opera; show starts at 9.30pm

Joanne McNally – October 7 at Dubai Opera; show starts at 6.30pm

John Achkar – October 11 at Dubai Opera; show starts at 9pm

Zakir Khan – October 12 at Coca-Cola Arena; show starts at 8pm

Tickets are available now

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – FINAL RECKONING

Director: Christopher McQuarrie

Starring: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg

Rating: 4/5

UK's plans to cut net migration

Under the UK government’s proposals, migrants will have to spend 10 years in the UK before being able to apply for citizenship.

Skilled worker visas will require a university degree, and there will be tighter restrictions on recruitment for jobs with skills shortages.

But what are described as "high-contributing" individuals such as doctors and nurses could be fast-tracked through the system.

Language requirements will be increased for all immigration routes to ensure a higher level of English.

Rules will also be laid out for adult dependants, meaning they will have to demonstrate a basic understanding of the language.

The plans also call for stricter tests for colleges and universities offering places to foreign students and a reduction in the time graduates can remain in the UK after their studies from two years to 18 months.

House-hunting

Top 10 locations for inquiries from US house hunters, according to Rightmove

  1. Edinburgh, Scotland 
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Race results:

1. Thani Al Qemzi (UAE) Team Abu Dhabi: 46.44 min

2. Peter Morin (FRA) CTIC F1 Shenzhen China Team: 0.91sec

3. Sami Selio (FIN) Mad-Croc Baba Racing Team: 31.43sec

Sanju

Produced: Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Rajkumar Hirani

Director: Rajkumar Hirani

Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Vicky Kaushal, Paresh Rawal, Anushka Sharma, Manish’s Koirala, Dia Mirza, Sonam Kapoor, Jim Sarbh, Boman Irani

Rating: 3.5 stars

How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

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Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

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Dust and sand storms compared

Sand storm

  • Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
  • Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
  • Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
  • Travel distance: Limited 
  • Source: Open desert areas with strong winds

Dust storm

  • Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
  • Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
  • Duration: Can linger for days
  • Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
  • Source: Can be carried from distant regions
AUSTRALIA SQUADS

ODI squad: Aaron Finch (captain), Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa

Twenty20 squad: Aaron Finch (captain), Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
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Aayan%E2%80%99s%20records
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Grand slam winners since July 2003

Who has won major titles since Wimbledon 2003 when Roger Federer won his first grand slam

Roger Federer 19 (8 Wimbledon, 5 Australian Open, 5 US Open, 1 French Open)

Rafael Nadal 16 (10 French Open, 3 US Open, 2 Wimbledon, 1 Australian Open)

Novak Djokovic 12 (6 Australian Open, 3 Wimbledon, 2 US Open, 1 French Open)

Andy Murray 3 (2 Wimbledon, 1 US Open)

Stan Wawrinka 3 (1 Australian Open, 1 French Open, 1 US Open)

Andy Roddick 1 (1 US Open) 

Gaston Gaudio 1 (1 French Open)

Marat Safin 1 (1 Australian Open)

Juan Martin del Potro 1 (1 US Open)

Marin Cilic 1 (1 US Open)

Sour%20Grapes
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Updated: May 01, 2025, 5:25 AM