Dubai will have a cultural winter this winter as the city hosts the premiere of the first home-grown musical Once upon a Time in Dubai. It is co-produced with the Universal Music Group, and will be held on December 20, 2025, at The Agenda, Dubai Media City, a historic milestone in performing arts in the UAE.
Although the UAE is no exception, as Broadway and West End classics like Wicked and Grease are heading in the direction of the region, it will be the first homegrown musical produced in Dubai, a musical that is inspired by and about the place. The production will have an international tour beginning in 2027 after it debuts in the UAE.
What is Once Upon a Time in Dubai About?
The musical traces the path taken by Will who is a young artist that relocates to London and goes to Dubai to meet his partner, Sophia and to fulfill his passion of creating a musical. However, upon arriving, he finds Sophia is not the same, and he has to address the issues of love, ambition, and creativity in the city full of opportunity and culture.
The essence of the production is the story of the lively spirit of Dubai with an emotional backdrop of hopes and persistence.
The Creative Powerhouse Behind the Musical
- Director: Johan Nus, who has worked on the Arabs Got Talent and The Masked Singer.
- Executive Producer: Gilles Papain that has done Celine in Las Vegas, World of Colors in Disney, and Christian Louboutin show in the Crazy Horse in Paris.
- Composer: Nazim Khaled, one of the best European composers and his international music hits have been watched by more than 4 billion people.
The music is expected to be a mix of ballads, upbeat songs, and cross-cultural music such as Belong, Crying in the Desert, Think Big, and Stranger in the World.
A Star-Studded Cast
The ensemble is a mix of local and foreign talent:
- Enzo (The Voice)
- Shay, the Aladdin in the Netherlands Disney version.
- Amanda (X Factor Dubai)
- Joe is a British singer, a participant of the voice UK, and a student of Sir Tom Jones.
Show Details & Ticket Information
Location: The Agenda, Dubai media city, Abdullah Omran Taryam street.
Date: December 20, 2025 (show starts at 7.30 PM)
Time: 2 hours with a interval of 20 minutes.
Age Policy: Open to all ages
Ticket Prices:
- Gold: AED 450
- Platinum: AED 600
- VIP: AED 750
- Royal: AED 1,000
- People of Determination: AED 260
Booking: The tickets can be purchased at onceuponatimeindubai.com.
Contact: +971 4 580 9159
Final Word
Once Upon a Time in Dubai is not a simple musical, it is a cultural landmark of the UAE that compiles the global art with the local vibe of Dubai. You will not want to miss the moment in history when you have a chance to be a witness in December 2025.
