Dubai: The Dubai-based comedy pioneers Dubomedy is celebrating a big birthday this month as it marks 15 years of laughter-making in the desert. And what a journey it has been!

Dubomedy was founded on April Fool's Day 2008 by veteran Broadway entertainer Mina Liccione and Dubai's award-winning comedian Ali Al Sayed. Their vision was to create a sustainable local comedy community by providing professional training courses and platforms for comedians to perform in Arabic and English.

Over the years, they have introduced thousands of people in the UAE and beyond to stand-up, sketch comedy and improv'.

“People take a Dubomedy course for different reasons,” says Mina.“For many, it's to overcome a fear of public speaking, others have been gifted one by their wife who wants them out of the house, and then there are those who see themselves as the next Dave Chappelle. But everyone says our comedy courses are better, and cheaper, than therapy!”

Students are encouraged to invite friends and family to attend the free graduation showcases and this is often their first experience of live comedy.

“We strive to make comedy accessible to everyone, regardless of their gender and cultural, religious and financial background, uniting people through laughter and breaking down stereotypes,” says Mina.“It is a beautiful moment to see someone laughing at a public show for the first time. They often cover their mouth and look around for assurance that it is okay to laugh.”

Many former Dubomedy students have gone on to build careers as professional comedians in the UAE and abroad.

“One of my goals in establishing Dubomedy was for us to reach the point where Dubai was able to export homegrown talent,” says Ali.“We are there now. We have former students making a living from comedy across the globe. One former student is teaching stand-up comedy in Arabic in Europe and another starring in a Netflix series. Dubomedy's courses have made a tangible impact on people's lives.”

Alumni have performed with top-tier international comedians such as Bassem Youssef, Mo Amer and Jason Manford, names that they could only have dreamed of sharing the stage with before they trained with Dubomedy.

“Looking back, we can't believe how quickly time has flown, sometimes it feels like we are only getting started,” Ali adds.“But then other times, you look at how far we've come and it seems like decades.”

Several comedians trained by Dubomedy will be performing at the Dubai Comedy Festival, which runs from May 12th to 21st.

Ali and Mina – often called the UAE's King and Queen of Comedy – have won a heap of awards over the past 15 years for their comedic endeavours and community initiatives. Their Clowns Who Care project saw them take comedy and performing arts workshops and shows to refugee camps in Jordan and to underprivileged communities in Uganda. Their Autism Smiles UAE club taught young people circus skills, musical and physical comedy routines, joke telling, laughter yoga, magic and other fun things. And during the pandemic, they helped to keep Dubai's spirits up with online workshops and shows.

Dubomedy also established the Middle East's first improv' troupe and the region's first all-female comedy ensemble Funny Girls MENA. And they have produced countless comedy festivals, tours and shows over the years.

As Ali and Mina contemplate the next 15 years, there is still much they want to achieve in the UAE. Exciting upcoming film projects and a permanent venue is at the top of the list.“We have got very close, but it wasn't the right time,” says Ali.“It will happen this year in both Dubai and Abu Dhabi. We're ready for proper comedy clubs.”

Dubomedy will be launching a new weekly comedy night and hosting a series of shows to mark their 15th anniversary following Ramadan. The next batch of comedy workshops with start on April 30th ending with a final showcase on June 4th.

Mina Liccione:

What do you get if you put together a trapeze artiste, a Broadway dancer, an award-winning comedian and MC, and a performing arts professor? Mina Liccione! Mina is the grand dame of comedy in the UAE. She brought her larger-than-life personality and incredible talents and experience gained as a professional performer and teacher in America to Dubai in 2007 with one aim – to get the Middle East laughing, and she has never looked back. Through co-founding Dubomedy with Ali Al Sayed in 2008, she has inspired thousands of people to take up comedy. She has also taken comedy to new audiences around the region with her all-female comedy troupe Funny Girls. As a comedian and MC, Mina captivates audiences with her boundless energy and infectious enthusiasm. A life-long performer, she has made numerous television and film appearances and can regularly be seen on Comedy Central Arabia. She was the first female comedian to record a comedy special in the Middle East. Follow her on Instagram at @MinaLiccione

Ali Al Sayed:

The trail-blazing comedian Ali Al Sayed is a leading name in the UAE's entertainment sector. His long list of television credits includes co-host of Comedy Central Presents on OSN, former host for MBC Action, and comedy correspondent for Abu Dhabi TV's 'The Beautiful Game'. As well as being the co-founder and co-director of Dubomedy, Ali is CEO of Viva Arts event management company and a comedy coach for Comedy Central Arabia. As a comedian, Ali has performed across the globe, participating in major festivals such as the Edinburgh Fringe and the Montreux Comedy Festival. Whether headlining at Caroline's on Broadway in New York, performing during a power outage in South Africa or hosting a show on the Palm Jumeirah, Ali establishes an easy rapport with audiences using his lightning-fast wit and affable manner. His crowd work shows are unforgettable, especially if you are on the receiving end of his jokes.

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