Mina Liccione, one of the most prominent comedians in the UAE, has been a driving force in the region’s comedy scene. Along with her husband, Emirati comedian Ali Al Sayed, she founded Dubomedy in 2008, a platform and school that has nurtured and developed the local comedy community.
Liccione, who has a background as a Broadway entertainer, has performed extensively across the Middle East and on international stages, including the prestigious Edinburgh Festival Fringe. The Fringe, widely recognized as one of the most significant platforms for performers, has hosted Liccione for two separate stints.
This year, three Dubai-based comedians are making their debut at the Fringe in Edinburgh, Scotland, which runs until August 26. The trio, comprising Sunil Mashari, Sadiq Saboowala, and Sahar Ali, are performing joint shows across multiple days, marking a milestone for the UAE’s comedy scene.
Sunil Mashari, a British-Indian marketing and communications professional who ventured into stand-up just a year ago, attributes the burgeoning comedy scene in the UAE for launching his career and giving him the opportunity to perform at the Fringe.
Although Liccione is not performing at the Fringe this year, she emphasizes the importance of the presence of Dubai comedians at such an event. “With riots, racial unrest and xenophobia on the rise right now in the UK, it is important to have positive stories coming from the Middle East that break negative stereotypes,” she tells The National.
“Comedy is a very powerful tool. Since the days of tribal clowning and the court jester, truth in jest and raising morale was always important to society.”
Describing the Fringe, Liccione says, “The Edinburgh Fringe is like Disney World for performing artists. Everywhere you look there is art – street performers, bagpipes, stand-up, theatrical circus, theatre plays and comedy. The first time I went as a visitor, I stayed for three days and attended 16 shows.”
In 2023, Liccione and Al Sayed performed a full run of their double-header show titled Dubai Fling: Ali and Mina. The show explored their unique cross-cultural, interfaith relationship as both husband and wife and a comedy duo living in the Middle East. “It was great to be able to perform with Ali every day,” she recalls. “Stand-up is more of a solo art, so getting to each perform a set and then do a double act together at the end of every show was a joy.”
Reflecting on their performance at the Fringe, Liccione shared how the experience allowed them to interact with their audience and evolve their routine.
“Each show we added to it and took questions from the audience. By the end of the month, we had a whole new show.”
In 2022, amid the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, Liccione’s show Growing Up Ringside was streamed on the festival’s website. “It’s like Netflix, but for the Fringe,” she explains. The show, which debuted at the Dubai Comedy Festival in 2021, delved into her upbringing in a traditional Italian-American household before her move to the UAE. “Even though I didn’t physically go that year, my performance that was filmed live in Dubai at the Theatre of Digital Arts was able to be part of the festival, and people from around the world watched it from anywhere throughout the month,” she says.
Liccione credits the Fringe for helping her refine her comedic skills and broadening her audience. “Getting to perform your show every day for an entire month on top of being invited to do guest spots at many other shows was wonderful,” she says.
While her experiences at the Fringe have varied, Liccione emphasizes the importance of preparation and clarity of purpose. “You must know your why before going,” she advises. “Have clear objectives for yourself; otherwise, it’s very overwhelming.”
Mina Liccione believes the Fringe offers a valuable platform for comedians from the Middle East, especially those based in the UAE. “Putting on a show at Edinburgh requires a lot of hard work, and writing for an international audience will only make performing artists better,” she says. “We also need more voices, authentic points of view, and to share different narratives from the Middle East.”