Plus One - New Special by Mohamed Helmy

Plus One is a stand-up comedy show by Mohamed Helmy, staged in Abu Dhabi at Etihad Arena. It is his newest special, and this run marks its first outing in the UAE. The night is part of the Abu Dhabi Comedy Festival, where Helmy is appearing for the third year in a row, so he is already a familiar face to the festival crowd.

The show runs for about an hour of stand-up built on observation. Helmy turns to relationships, the routines of daily life and the small chaos that surrounds both, aiming for jokes that catch you off guard and keep the room laughing. It is a solo comedy performance rather than a variety bill, so the whole evening rests on his own material and delivery.

Etihad Arena is one of the main indoor venues in Abu Dhabi, set on Yas Island. The island is the city's entertainment district, home to the Yas Marina Circuit, Ferrari World and Yas Mall, along with a good choice of hotels and restaurants close by. The arena regularly hosts large concerts, sports events and comedy tours, and its seated bowl layout suits a night of stand-up. For anyone living in Dubai, Yas Island is a drive of roughly an hour to an hour and a half by car, which makes it an easy evening out of town.

Plus One suits fans of observational and relationship-based comedy, and anyone who has seen Mohamed Helmy at previous festival editions and wants to catch his new material. Like most stand-up nights, it is a seated show, best enjoyed with friends or a partner. If you are travelling from Dubai, it makes sense to plan the drive and parking ahead, since Yas Island gets busy on big event evenings.

Helmy has built a loyal following at the Abu Dhabi Comedy Festival, and this special is presented as a step up from his earlier appearances there.