Michael Jackson Is (Almost) Coming to Abu Dhabi: "This Is Michael" Hits Yas Island in August

The King of Pop’s biggest hits are coming to Yas Island this August.

Moonwalk this one straight into your calendar. “This Is Michael”, the globally touring Michael Jackson tribute show, is landing at Etihad Arena on Yas Island — and it’s shaping up to be one of the most fun nights out of the UAE summer.

No, it’s not the man himself — but by every account, it’s the closest thing a live audience can get in 2026. Here’s what’s coming, when, and how to turn it into a proper weekend.

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What to expect on the night

A two-hour spectacle of MJ’s greatest hits, choreography and costume changes.

This is a full concert-scale production: a two-hour show running through more than 20 of Michael Jackson’s biggest songs — think Billie Jean, Beat It, Thriller, Smooth Criminal and Man in the Mirror — with live vocals, the famous choreography, costume changes and big-stage staging.

It’s headlined by acclaimed tribute performer Lenny Jay, backed by an international cast of dancers, singers and musicians who recreate MJ’s most iconic live moments beat for beat.

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A show with serious mileage

The production has already sold over half a million tickets worldwide.

This isn’t a one-off experiment. “This Is Michael” has already toured extensively across Europe and Latin America and sold more than 500,000 tickets globally — so the UAE date arrives with a genuinely road-tested show.

Some nights you go to remember an artist. This is one of those — a whole arena singing Thriller together under one roof.

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Dates, venue & tickets

One night only on Yas Island — and tickets moved early.

Mark it down: Saturday 22 August 2026, at Etihad Arena, Yas Island in Abu Dhabi.

General ticket sales opened on 21 May 2026 (with a Mastercard presale from 19 May), via the official ticketing platforms. Prices and availability vary by tier and move quickly for shows like this — book through the official Etihad Arena channels and avoid resellers. Details accurate as of May 2026.

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Make a Yas Island long weekend of it

Here’s the clever bit: 22 August is a Saturday, and the Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday holiday is expected on Monday 24 August — so the show lands right at the start of a likely three-day weekend. (I mapped out every UAE public holiday and long weekend in 2026 if you want to plan around it.)

Yas Island is built for exactly this: pair the show with Ferrari World, Yas Waterworld or Warner Bros. World, book a nearby hotel, and you’ve got a full mini-break under two hours from Dubai.

Set a ticket reminder, grab your sequinned glove, and I’ll see you on Yas Island. — Angel

Event details per announcements reported by Time Out Abu Dhabi, Khaleej Times and Gulf News (May 2026); dates and ticketing are subject to change — confirm with the official venue. Images are CC-licensed and representative of a live concert, not photographs of this production.

Cover photo: A live concert at Etihad Park, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi — Showsdaynite (CC BY 4.0) via Wikimedia Commons. Last updated: 25 May 2026 — refreshed with a new, on-subject UAE cover image.