Author: Samar Khouri

South Korean entertainment company CJ ENM and MBC GROUP have signed a long-term strategic partnership to expand Korean entertainment content across the MENA region. Announced at MIPCOM CANNES 2026, the agreement builds on the companies’ existing relationship and extends their collaboration across streaming and linear television. TVING on SHAHID Under the agreement, MBC SHAHID will introduce a dedicated TVING hub featuring Korean content from CJ ENM, TVING and South Korean production studios. More than 13 new titles are scheduled for release during 2026, alongside more than 20 titles from CJ ENM’s existing content library, with the volume of available titles…

Dubai K-Fest kicked off its opening weekend at Festival Bay in Dubai Festival City Mall (DFC) with an evening that brought together Korean traditional dance, Taekwondo, classical music, and K-pop. The free-to-attend concert featured South Korean soloist KWON EUNBI and boy group ONEUS, with the IMAGINE show’s water, light, and visual effects providing a backdrop throughout. The live show opened with traditional Korean dance, setting the tone for the festival and introducing audiences to the cultural spirit of Korea. This was followed by SHOW TAEKWON, whose performance brought together traditional Korean martial arts and dance in a dynamic showcase. The…

Netflix’s limited series ‘The Scandal’ has entered the streaming platform’s top 10 in Qatar, marking its first appearance on the chart in the Middle East during its debut week of September 14–20, 2026. Qatar debut The eight-episode series was also among Netflix’s global non-English TV hits for the week, ranking at No. 7 worldwide with 1.9 million views. It also recorded 14.5 million hours of viewing. ‘The Scandal’ appeared in Netflix’s top 10 in 10 countries, including Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan and Vietnam, and reached No. 1 in South Korea. Global reach Qatar was the…

Dubai is bringing Korean culture to the city with its first-ever K-Fest, featuring live performances, Korean film screenings, K-beauty, K-food and more, from September 25 to October 4. Opening concert Under the theme ‘Discover Korea in Dubai’, the 10-day festival will kick off on September 25 at Festival Bay in Dubai Festival City Mall (DFC) with a free concert featuring solo artist KWON EUNBI, former member of K-pop group IZ*ONE, and the South Korean boy band ONEUS. For ONEUS, the Dubai performance follows the release of their 12th mini album, ‘FIRST LIGHT.’ The evening will begin at 7:30 pm with…

LISA has released a new single, “SaWaDiKa,” along with an accompanying music video filmed in Bangkok, Thailand. The song is the lead single from her upcoming PRESS PLAY EP, which is scheduled for release in October. New single Produced by Thom Bridges and Ojivolta, “SaWaDiKa” draws on LISA’s Thai background and incorporates a hip-hop-focused sound. The title refers to a Thai greeting meaning “hello.” The music video was filmed in LISA’s native Bangkok and directed by Bang Jae Yeob. It features the singer and rapper performing choreography at several locations around the city, with the video also incorporating a series…

Girls’ Generation-HRS, the newest unit of Girls’ Generation, has officially made its debut with the digital single ‘Skibidi,’ introducing a playful yet genre-blending sound highlighted by distinctive Arabian-inspired string samples. Debut single project The single features two tracks, the title track “Skibidi” and B-side “Lowkey In Love.” “Skibidi” moves between house and hip-hop, combining dynamic production with Arabian-inspired strings as its members embrace lyrics about forging their own path with confidence and individuality. Meanwhile, “Lowkey In Love” offers a brighter retro-inspired sound, driven by upbeat brass, a groovy rhythm and a catchy melody that gives the track an easygoing, feel-good…

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The FIFA World Cup 2026 soundtrack was dominated by global pop, African music and established football anthems—but K-pop also carved out a notable place in the listening habits of MENA audiences during the tournament. Spotify and Anghami data from the June 11–July 19 tournament period show that K-pop’s presence was strongest through Jung Kook, BTS and LISA, with Korean artists appearing across both general streaming charts and FIFA/World Cup-focused playlists. Jung Kook Leads K-Pop’s Presence in MENA One of the clearest signs of K-pop’s reach came from Jung Kook and Latto’s “Seven.” The track ranked No. 4 among the most-streamed…

‘KPop Demon Hunters’ star Arden Cho is heading to Abu Dhabi this September for the Middle East Film & Comic Con (MEFCC) 2026. Abu Dhabi debut Cho, who voices Rumi in Netflix’s global animated hit, is among three newly announced guests for this year’s convention, alongside ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ and ‘Mission: Impossible’ star Pom Klementieff and ‘One Piece’ actor Jacob Romero. Her appearance at MEFCC, taking place from September 11 to 13, comes after a breakout year that has introduced her to an even wider international audience. The actor and singer lends her voice to Rumi, one of the…

K-POP FEVER will take place at Etihad Arena, Yas Island, on September 26, bringing a live program of K-pop, entertainment, and dance to Abu Dhabi. The show features a cast of 12 singers and dancers performing songs associated with artists and productions including Netflix’s hit series ‘K-pop Demon Hunters,’ as well as artists such as BTS, BLACKPINK and KATSEYE. “Produced by People Entertainment Group, the show combines live vocals, dance performances, and visual effects to recreate the excitement of a K-pop concert,” according to the press release. “From fan-favourite songs to recent viral hits, K-POP FEVER is designed to bring…