Dubai: Gazan pop star Mohammad Assaf has cancelled his performance at Emirates Palace on August 14 due to the crisis in his “beloved homeland”.
Assaf, a Palestinian refugee residing in Dubai, shot to fame as the 2013 winner of talent show Arab Idol. He took to Facebook on Tuesday night to announce he will no longer be playing his scheduled UAE date.
“Due to the current political crisis in Gaza, I deeply regret that I will be unable to perform at the Arab Stars Showcase at the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi on Thursday August 14,” the UNRWA ambassador wrote on his official Facebook page. “I look forward to performing for my fans in Abu Dhabi in the near future.”
In the Arabic version of his statement, he announced that he would be cancelling all of his current entertainment endeavours, and thanked his fans around the world for their continued support.
A statement released by Emirates Palace announced that the Arab Stars Showcase, including Assaf’s performance will be rescheduled to a later date. Other artists due to perform at the event included Ahmad Al Bayed, a Saudi Arabian illusionist best known for his combination of fear and story-telling in his illusions, and speed painter Mohammad Al Dairi. Both were on Arabs Got Talent.
At time of publishing, organisers told tabloid! that details of the rescheduling have yet to be confirmed.
For ticket refunds Ticketmaster at 80086823 or helpdesk@ticketmaster.ae.
