Saaniya Abbas - Hellarious at Gilded Balloon – Bothie

In a landmark moment for the UAE comedy scene, Saaniya Abbas is set to become the first local comic to officially debut a solo show at the Edinburgh Fringe this August.

With a truly unique story to tell, Saaniya traces her evolution from a sheltered upbringing in a New Delhi Muslim family (via a Catholic convent boarding school) to carving out her own controversial path. Diving into the cultural taboos of divorce, the absurdity of internet fame and her deliciously irreverent take on the concept of hell itself, this is a bold celebration of resilience, defiance and self-discovery, told in Saaniya’s unfiltered, independent voice.

Her first venture into the comedy world came after her divorce led her to find an outlet and, after only a short time performing, she has become an original pioneer of the Dubai comedy scene.

Having already accumulated over half a million social media followers and an ever-growing international presence, she has played at iconic international venues including New York’s The Comedy Cellar and The Stand, opened for the likes of Frankie Boyle, Jason Manford and Emmanuel Sonubi, and has delivered her signature mix of sharp storytelling and devilish charm to sold-out rooms across India, New York and the UK.

Now, as she heads to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Saaniya’s inclusion in this year’s lineup marks a major milestone – not just personally, but for Dubai’s emerging creative scene.

A genuinely original hour from a rare inside perspective, we are reminded that life isn’t about always landing on your feet - it’s about laughing when you don’t.

“My mother always said I’d go to hell,” she says, “so I figured I might as well write a show about it.”