Swedish singer and songwriter Zara Larsson says she will no longer perform at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix after fans urged her to reconsider the appearance over concerns about the UAE’s involvement in the ongoing war in Sudan.
The pop star revealed her decision in the comments of an Instagram post after a fan wrote, “Please read about what UAE is doing to Sudan then cancel your Abu Dhabi show.”
Larsson responded simply, “I will not be going to Abu Dhabi,” alongside a heart emoji. The comments were later deleted. Larsson had been scheduled to perform alongside Scottish singer-songwriter and musician Lewis Capaldi on 3 December 2026 as part of the Yasalam After-Race Concerts at Etihad Live on Yas Island.
Larsson later elaborated on the decision, explaining that her choice wasn’t based solely on politics.
“I wanna perform and spread joy and music for people in every country, because no single person is their government,” she wrote. “I’ve met so many wonderful people from every corner of the world and I know this to be true in my heart.”
She continued, “Maybe it came off as a impulsive response to a comment, but I have spent some time thinking about everything and decided that to not do the show aligns with me the most right now, for many different personal reasons beyond politics.”
Larsson’s announcement hasn’t yet been reflected across the event’s official ticketing pages. As of Saturday, Ticketmaster still listed her alongside Capaldi for the 3 December concert, while the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix’s Yasalam page also continued to advertise her as one of the weekend’s performers.
The broader concert line-up includes Imagine Dragons, The Chainsmokers and The Script, with performances scheduled throughout Grand Prix weekend.
Larsson also indicated that a more formal explanation could be coming. After her comments began circulating, she floated deleting them and releasing “a better statement soon.”
Larsson’s greatest hits feature an incredible line-up of global pop chart-toppers and massive streaming successes spanning over a decade such as “Lush Life”, “Symphony”, “Never Forget You”, “Ain’t My Fault”, “Ruin My Life” and “Can’t Tame Her”.
The ongoing war in Sudan began in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), led by de facto ruler Abdel Fattah Al Burhan Abdelrahman Al Burhan, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), led by de facto deputy ruler Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo Musa (Hemedti). The war has displaced an estimated 12 to 15 million people and resulted in more than 150,000 deaths, making it the world’s largest displacement crisis and one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
The UAE has been facing mounting international scrutiny and accusations from Sudan’s government of providing clandestine military, financial, and logistical support to the RSF in the ongoing Sudanese civil war. Investigations by human rights organisations, the United Nations (UN), and media outlets indicate that the UAE has funnelled advanced weaponry, drones, armoured vehicles, and supplies to the RSF, often routed through neighbouring transit hubs like eastern Libya. In addition to having a massive interest in Sudan’s gold, which is one of Africa’s leading gold producers, with production reaching approximately 70 to 74.6 tonnes in recent years, analysts attribute the UAE’s alleged backing of the RSF to a desire to counter Islamist influence within the formal Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and project regional strategic influence.
The Emirati government strongly denies any military involvement or arming of the RSF. It maintains that its official policy favours an immediate ceasefire, a civilian-led political transition, and has publicly pointed to its delivery of hundreds of millions of dollars in humanitarian aid.
Source: Complex
