Iranian-American comedian Maz Jobrani, 54, took the stage at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi for the opening night of his farewell tour, "Catch Me While You Can" — a show he described as his last in the UAE after 20 years of performing in the country.

The performance came months after Jobrani was diagnosed with cancer following emergency brain surgery in December 2025. He appeared on stage with his surgical scars visible, telling the audience he had chosen to confront his illness by "laughing at it, making fun of it," rather than letting it define the show.

To keep the night private, attendees were required to lock their phones away in pouches for the duration of the performance, making it entirely phone-free. Jobrani wove jokes about generational differences, Middle Eastern politics and his own health battle throughout the set.

Emirati-Omani comedian Abz Ali and fellow comic Tehran Ghasri opened the show before Jobrani took the stage. Audience members described the night as "emotional" and "bittersweet," with many saying they had not realised, before the lights came up, that this might be their final chance to see him perform live in the UAE.