Korean culture is on the rise globally, from K-pop and K-dramas to Korean cuisine and skincare. In the UAE, the Hallyu wave is also gaining traction, with a growing community embracing all things Korean.
Leading this global trend is BTS, the group largely credited with bringing K-pop to the mainstream. With record-breaking albums, sold-out tours, and a dedicated fanbase known as ARMY, BTS is one of the world’s most influential boy bands.
This month, as the final five members return from military service, fans worldwide are eagerly anticipating, planning, and preparing both emotionally and financially for future events. The possibility of a concert tour is on every fan’s mind.
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Concert Anticipation
Fans globally have been anxiously waiting for the band’s military discharge, speculating about potential tour locations.
BTS member j-hope often shares live updates on Weverse, an app for fans and artists. During these livestreams, fans have requested the UAE as a stop for BTS’s possible world tour, if not for his solo tour.
A TikTok clip from one of his lives shows him reading a fan’s comment and giving a thumbs up. Watch the clip below:
Will BTS Perform in the UAE?
Speculation is rife in the UAE, with many hoping BTS will return, especially since their 2016 KCON performance in Abu Dhabi was one of their first international stops.
Yu Ri Park, Deputy Consul General of the Republic of Korea in Dubai, told Khaleej Times that there is a “possibility that BTS will perform in the UAE in the future.” She noted that the UAE is rapidly becoming a regional hub for Hallyu and is well-equipped with world-class logistics and infrastructure to host such events.
Post-Military Music
Influencer Shaziya Ashraf, known as ‘thatanimemom’ on social media, feels “tickets would sell out in seconds” if BTS announced a UAE tour stop.
Fans are ready for a flood of content this month as BTS’s return aligns with their debut anniversary (BTS FESTA), making it even more special.
“I would probably cry happy tears,” she said, recalling her introduction to the band through a K-drama featuring BTS member V. “Their music helped me through tough times, and that’s why I’ll be an ARMY for life.”
She believes that after nearly two years in the military, each member will have evolved and hopes they showcase their growth individually.
Shaziya Ashraf. Supplied photo.
Meanwhile, Dubai-based content creator Deema Abu Naser, known as ‘deemalovesdrama,’ misses their original style and hopes for a new album reminiscent of their older songs.
“I love each member’s unique style and their solo comebacks, but I crave a taste of BTS’s old music that I fell in love with,” she says. “Also, I hope for more global concerts — I’ll travel wherever, unless they perform here.”
Deema Abu Naser (right) with BTS’ RM at the same bookshop. Supplied photos.
Inside UAE’s ARMY Community
One of the UAE’s largest fan clubs, Bangtan UAE, is led by Yan Hinolan, a longtime BTS fan from the Philippines. Founded in 2015, the group had “at least a thousand” UAE-based fans before the pandemic. Now, its Facebook page has over 58,000 followers, and Instagram has more than 10,000.
Yan Hinolan. Supplied photo
In May, the group organized a block screening of j-hope’s solo concert, livestreamed by Vox Cinemas.
Before the screening, Yan hosted games, distributed freebies, and brought the crowd together with humor and warmth. The atmosphere was electric with camaraderie — fans hugged, laughed, and exchanged small gifts prepared for fellow ARMY members.
KT Photo: Meher Dhanjal
Amar Dass, an Indian expat and one of the few men in attendance, discovered BTS after Jungkook’s Fifa World Cup performance in Qatar. He says he “found family in BTS ARMY.”
Deema recalls how the local fandom has grown. “The UAE ARMY community is huge now compared to when I was in high school.”
“In 2016, we had KCON Abu Dhabi where BTS performed, and the ARMY community here was significant even then — but nothing like it is now.”
About the community’s spirit, she adds, “I want outsiders to see us as passionate, positive, connected fans who love to have a great time. I’ve worked for years to build such an incredible community, and I’m proud to have the biggest online community for Asian entertainment fans.”
Another fan, Athina Doutis, a Greek expat who’s lived in the UAE most of her life, echoed that sentiment. “ARMY really feels like family, even though I’ve known them for a very short time,” she said.
Athina Doutis. Supplied photo.
Even though the band is “selling out enormous arenas even as solo artists,” she still hopes BTS will return to perform in the UAE.
She isn’t the only fan with such optimism, 15-year-old Mehreen Arfaz “hopes that their comeback means that they would have a concert in the UAE”. The teen says she’ll have all their songs memorized if the band does make it here.
Doutis says she would book her ticket with “zero hesitation” if a concert was announced here. “I don’t care about the cost, date, or location; there would be no barriers or obstacles.”
Another fan who is a brand marketing executive in Dubai, Amrithashree Kumrouth, said, a concert in the UAE would “mean everything” to her. “My prayers would be answered,” she said.
With the last of BTS’s military enlistments wrapping up, fans in the UAE — like ARMY everywhere — are holding their breath. Whether it’s through new music, global tours, or even a long-awaited concert in the UAE, one thing is certain: BTS’s next chapter is about to begin, and ARMY will be there for every beat of it.
