After Shakira and Christina Aguilera cancellations, how UAE live events are adapting

On the opening day of the Middle East Event Show in Dubai, the cancellation of Abu Dhabi’s Offlimits Festival, originally scheduled for November 21, highlighted the risks faced by the live events sector in the region. The festival, headlined by Shakira, was cancelled alongside Christina Aguilera's September 25 concert at Etihad Arena, both announced by Ticketmaster without providing a reason or a replacement date.

Cosmin Ivan, CEO of UAE ticketing platform Platinumlist, which sold tickets for Offlimits, attributed the cancellation to logistical uncertainty, stating that the issue was primarily about transportation and tight deadlines for artists. Ivan also noted that promoters are having to adjust ticket prices due to a shift in audience behavior, with more than 80% of Platinumlist ticket buyers residing in the UAE.

Despite the challenges, Ivan observed growth in Arabic concerts, Indian-focused events, and sports categories, while sports competitions and family activities saw significant ticket price increases. However, the industry faces ongoing liquidity management issues, with James Payne, CEO and CFO of Electra production company, describing the pressure of maintaining budgets while retaining key personnel.

Shoba Hari, CEO of Eventlab, emphasized that resilience in the events industry lies in the ability to adapt quickly to changing circumstances, as economic strains and crises are inevitable rather than exceptional events.