Abu Dhabi Scraps 2025 Music Festival; Shakira, Jonas Brothers Lineup Cancelled
Abu Dhabi festival postponement leaves gap in regional music calendar through 2026.
Abu Dhabi’s Offlimits Music Festival has been cancelled for 2025, organisers confirmed Tuesday, scrapping a lineup that included Shakira, the Jonas Brothers, Ne-Yo and Biffy Clyro. The announcement eliminates what would have been the event’s second edition at Etihad Park on Yas Island, following a rescheduled date of November 21 after the original April 4 slot was moved.
The cancellation affects thousands of ticket holders across multiple acts. Organisers committed to full refunds, stating on the festival website: “All tickets will be automatically refunded through the original ticketing platform they were purchased from. Ticket holders will receive further refund information directly from their original ticketing platform, with our team supporting the process where needed.” The statement closed with a forward look: “We look forward to bringing the Offlimits community together again in 2027.”
Offlimits debuted at the same Yas Island venue the previous April. That inaugural edition drew headliner Ed Sheeran alongside OneRepublic, Faithless, Kaiser Chiefs and Artbat, establishing the festival as a notable fixture on the Gulf region’s music calendar before this year’s postponement and subsequent cancellation.
For Shakira, the Abu Dhabi cancellation removes what would have been her first UAE performance since 2011, when she appeared at what was then du Arena. The Offlimits slot was part of her Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour across the Middle East. Her remaining regional dates are still confirmed: Stadium 974 in Doha on November 18, and the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt on November 28, with tickets available for both. Her Ayla in Aqaba, Jordan concert, originally set for March 28, was also postponed, though no replacement date has been announced.
No announcement has been made about whether a standalone UAE concert will replace the cancelled festival appearance.
Meanwhile, the broader question for Abu Dhabi’s music calendar is what the gap left by Offlimits means heading into 2026. The festival had positioned itself as a significant regional event in just one edition. Whether the 2027 return organisers hinted at materialises, and in what form, remains to be seen. Ticket holders are advised to monitor their original ticketing platforms for refund updates.
Q&A
What commitment did Offlimits organisers make regarding ticket refunds?
Organisers committed to full refunds through the original ticketing platform, with the festival team supporting the process where needed. Ticket holders will receive refund information directly from their original ticketing platform.
When was the 2025 Offlimits festival originally scheduled and when was it rescheduled to?
The festival was originally scheduled for April 4 but was moved to November 21, 2025, before being cancelled entirely.
What impact does the cancellation have on Shakira's performance schedule?
The cancellation removes what would have been Shakira's first UAE performance since 2011. Her other Middle East tour dates remain confirmed: Stadium 974 in Doha on November 18 and the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt on November 28.
When did Offlimits hold its inaugural edition and what was its significance?
The inaugural edition took place in April 2024 at Etihad Park on Yas Island, featuring Ed Sheeran, OneRepublic, Faithless, Kaiser Chiefs and Artbat. It established the festival as a notable fixture on the Gulf region's music calendar.