Author: Samar Khouri

BIGC, an entertainment-tech company, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with immersive content specialist Bauer Lab to expand K-pop business initiatives across the Middle East. The agreement, formalized on February 10 at BIGC’s headquarters in Seoul’s Gangnam district, signals more than a traditional concert partnership. Instead, the two companies are positioning the collaboration as the foundation of a Middle East–focused K-pop digital performance ecosystem, one that integrates live concerts, immersive exhibitions, and artist intellectual property into scalable digital assets. Dubai as a launchpad As part of the partnership, BIGC and Bauer Lab plan to co-host a large-scale K-pop festival…

OSN has expanded its regional entertainment portfolio through a new partnership with iQIYI International, launching what it describes as the Middle East’s first dedicated linear television channel focused exclusively on Asian content. Announced from Dubai on February 23, the new OSNtv iQIYI channel marks the first collaboration of its kind between the two companies. The co-branded channel will sit within OSN’s own-operated channel lineup and aims to tap into the growing appetite for Asian dramas, romance, fantasy, anime and action series across the MENA region. The linear pay-TV channel will be available via satellite and IP on OSN set-top boxes…

Netflix’s Korean dating franchise ‘Single’s Inferno’ continued to showcase the popularity of non-English unscripted content across MENA. MENA viewing momentum First week: After its January 20 premiere, the fifth season opened strong on the streaming platform’s top 10 non-English TV chart for the week of January 19–25, debuting at No. 2 with 4.6 million views, right after ‘Can This Love Be Translated?’ It was the most popular in Singapore and Hong Kong, and ranked in the top 10 across 32 countries. Within the region, the series charted in Morocco, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. Second…

SM Entertainment reported its strongest fourth-quarter performance in history, posting consolidated revenue of KRW 319 billion for Q4 2025, up 16.6% year-on-year. Operating profit jumped 62.2% to KRW 54.6 billion, while net income turned positive at KRW 27.4 billion, compared to a loss in the same period last year. Operating margin expanded to 17.1%, a 4.8 percentage point improvement from Q4 2024. On a standalone basis, the company’s revenue rose 12.1% to KRW 202.2 billion, with operating profit increasing 10.2% to KRW 39.5 billion. Net income more than doubled, rising 106.5% to KRW 29.3 billion, supported by improved core business…

The Krazy Super Concert is set to make its Middle Eastern debut in Dubai on February 17, with a high‑profile lineup of artists performing at the Dubai Media City Amphitheatre. Confirmed performers The one‑night event will be headlined by G‑DRAGON, the world-renowned South Korean artist and member of the veteran K‑pop group BIGBANG. Krazy Super Concert will also feature Korean-American rapper Jay Park, Korean singer and variety-show star Kim Jongkook, Lovelyz girl group member and soloist Yein, and GFriend member and soloist Yerin. Chinese singer‑songwriter KUN will appear as a special guest at the concert. It will be their first…

Hyperound K-Fest, the UAE’s flagship Korean music festival, will return to Abu Dhabi on April 18 at Etihad Arena, marking the latest edition of one of the UAE’s recurring K-pop festivals. Multi-artist lineup ENHYPEN, who performed at the festival’s 2023 edition, will return to headline. Organisers have confirmed that Ten, Fifty Fifty, Dabin.Kr and ARTMS will take part in the 2026 edition. The bill combines established global acts with newer names, reflecting the breadth of the current K-pop landscape — from chart-driven group performances to solo stages. Since launching in the UAE, Hyperound K-Fest has become part of a broader…

CHUNG HA and ONEW of SHINee are set to perform at Dubai Festival City Mall’s (DFC) Festival Bay on January 3. Performance details The K-pop show is part of the e& DSF Nights series, a nightly showcase of music and culture woven into Dubai’s landmark winter celebration at Festival Bay, running until January 11. Now in its second edition, the annual event features family-friendly shows, free live concerts, and fireworks as part of the Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF). ONEW has previously performed in Dubai as part of SMTOWN LIVE WORLD TOUR VI, appearing alongside his SHINee bandmates and fellow SM…

Thai actors Peraya Malisorn (Faye) and Metawin Opas-iamkajorn (Win Metawin) brought undeniable star power to the Red Sea International Film Festival in Saudi Arabia, drawing crowds as they made their red-carpet appearance. Arriving to enthusiastic crowds, both actors, known for their rising influence across Asia’s entertainment landscape, showcased the blend of style, poise, and effortless charisma that has earned them devoted followings across the region. Faye and Win’s appearance adds to the growing visibility of Thai actors at major Middle Eastern cultural events, reflecting a broader shift in regional audiences’ appetite for Thai cinema, series, and stars.

Al Khayyat Investments (AKI), through its consumer division, AKI Consumer, has entered a strategic partnership with South Korea’s CJ Group to expand K-food’s footprint across the Middle East. The agreement, formalised during the State Visit of the President of the Republic of Korea to the UAE, underscores a growing economic alignment between the two nations. K-food expansion The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was exchanged in Abu Dhabi by Zaid S. Al Khayyat, Managing Director of AKI, and Sukjoon Lee, Vice Chairman of CJ Group. The ceremony was attended by Kim Jung Kwan, South Korea’s Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy,…

SHINee’s MINHO was in Dubai with fellow bandmate KEY and entertainer Park Myung-soo to film a special episode of the YouTube series ‘Halmyungsoo.’ Dubai activities MINHO confirmed his trip by sharing multiple Instagram Stories, including meals and beach time at Kite Beach, gym sessions, and snapshots of Sheikh Zayed Road and the Burj Khalifa. The trio’s trip coincided with the 2025 Dubai Fitness Challenge, which took place on November 23 along Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai’s main thoroughfare. MINHO was spotted at the annual sports event, with footage circulating across social media. During their stay, KEY, MINHO, and Park reportedly explored…