DUBAI,— Organizers of two festivals in Abu Dhabi have called off concerts by Colombian singer Shakira and American singer Christina Aguilera, citing the ongoing war in the Middle East.

The United Arab Emirates has been the main focus of Iranian strikes since the United States and Israel launched an offensive against Iran in late February.

The UAE says more than 3,000 missiles and drones have targeted the country, with some hitting infrastructure, though most were shot down before impact.

Attacks have slowed in recent months, but the country’s Defense Ministry said Tuesday that Iran fired two ballistic missiles aimed at “maritime navigation.” Both missiles landed in the sea without causing damage.

The Offlimits festival, where Shakira had been set to perform on November 21, announced its cancellation Tuesday. Organizers said in a statement that ticket holders would receive refunds.

They said they hope to bring the festival back in 2027 but did not explain why the 2026 event was scrapped.

Shakira had already pushed back the same concert once before, in March, when it was originally planned for November.

Ticketmaster, which handled ticket sales for Aguilera’s September 25 show, confirmed its cancellation as well, according to media outlets in the UAE.

No new date was given.

Both performances had already been delayed once due to security concerns and disruptions to air travel caused by the conflict.

The Offlimits festival was first scheduled for April 4, and Aguilera’s concert had originally been planned for April 24.

The wave of Iranian strikes on the Gulf region has undercut the sense of stability that wealthy oil-producing nations in the area have spent years building.

As a result, governments in the region are now working to restore tourism and cultural events, industries that remain central to their economies.

(With files from AFP)

Copyright © 2026 Dubai Diplomacy. All rights reserved.

Your support matters! Consider buying us a coffee — every bit helps keep independent news alive.

Related posts:

Shakira concert in UAE, Qatar postponed amid ongoing conflict Could UAE Face Dirty Bomb Risk If Iran Falls? UAE-backed Colombian mercenaries aided Sudan’s RSF: CIG report – BBC Is a Gulf NATO Really Possible? UAE trained Colombians linked to Sudan war crimes: HRW Gulf states press Trump to continue war until Iran is fully weakened Iran threatens Gulf states with strikes if US launches new attacks Iran warns UAE to clear airports and seaports amid rising tensions