Counted beats, sharp choreography, and vocal drills —all the familiar rhythms of a Seoul training room, but this time in Abu Dhabi. From August 20-22, participants stepped into the world of K-pop, not as fans in the audience, but as trainees inside a workshop brought by Korea’s K-pop training institute, Dong-Ah Institute of Media and Arts (DIMA), in collaboration with the Korean Cultural Center in the United Arab Emirates (KCC).
The hands-on workshop, titled ‘Kpop Academy X DIMA Dream School,’ marks the first professional K-pop education program to be introduced in Abu Dhabi.
From Seoul to Abu Dhabi
Since its founding in 1997, DIMA has become Korea’s only university specializing in broadcasting and the arts. It offers practical experience through DIMA TV, the country’s only university-owned nationwide broadcasting station, and was also the first university to create a formal K-pop curriculum, blending vocal training, choreography, and camera skills to mirror the idol training process. Some major trainees include K-pop stars Sung Hanbin from ZEROBASEONE, Hoshi from SEVENTEEN, and Kwon Eunbi from IZ*ONE.
With its practice-oriented education model, DIMA decided to expand its reach abroad by approaching the KCC with the idea of bringing its ‘Dream School’ program to Abu Dhabi. “We identified Abu Dhabi, with its unique position as a crossroads between Asia and Europe and its rich blend of diverse cultures, as the ideal place to bring this vision to life. Partnering with the KCC in the UAE, which has long been dedicated to promoting Korean culture in the Middle East, was the most natural step forward,” says DIMA’s professors Yoo Hye-jin and Yu Mi-ran. The three-day program marked DIMA’s first official visit to Abu Dhabi. It has provided K-pop education programs in countries such as the US, Thailand, China, Taiwan, and Japan.
The pair brings years of expertise in K-pop, choreography, and vocal studies. Yoo is a professor at DIMA, a former member of the dance crew HolyBang, and the winner of Street Woman Fighter Season 1, with notable choreographic work for Jay Park and Chevrolet. Yu, an associate professor and director of PR & Admissions at DIMA, is a vocal expert who has worked as a choral director and composer, contributing to projects for KBS and SBS.
A Workshop Like No Other
‘Kpop Academy X DIMA Dream School’ is also part of KCC’s broader K-pop Academy initiative, which has been running since 2016, excluding the COVID-19 pandemic. However, this time around, the KCC also recognized the need for a fresh approach, the need for regular, structured K-pop education beyond short-term workshops. “Previously, our programs were limited to a single instructor teaching one or two choreographies. Participants often expressed their desire for longer-term programs, as well as the opportunity to learn vocals in addition to dance. Based on this feedback, the collaboration with DIMA serves as a pilot project, with the intention of developing a more sustained and comprehensive K-pop education model here in the UAE,” says Ewha Kim, Head of Media at KCC. It received over 200 applicants for its three-day workshop, proving K-culture’s growing popularity in the country.
The workshop, developed in collaboration with the KCC, provided age-specific training in dance, vocals, and video production, featuring original choreography by Professor Yoo and lessons on camera presence—hallmarks of authentic K-pop training. Song selection became its own kind of bridge. A pre-survey at the KCC guided the choices, landing on tracks like BTS’s ‘I Need You,’ BLACKPINK’s’ Jump,’ and NewJeans’s ‘Super Shy.’ Current chart-toppers and songs from Netflix’s K-Pop Demon Hunters soundtrack rounded out the mix. “Although the time was short, the program was designed so that participants of all ages could experience Korean culture more closely and truly feel the essence and appeal of K-pop training. We hope this experience will further inspire appreciation and love for Korean culture in Abu Dhabi,” the pair shares.
“K-pop is more than just music—it is a comprehensive cultural and artistic training system that encompasses dance, singing, beauty, and even character development.”
DIMA’s professors Yoo Hye-jin and Yu Mi-ran
Rather than replicating Korea’s training system, the workshop was adapted to Abu Dhabi’s multicultural setting, where, DIMA says, K-pop is embraced as a way for youth to explore identity and connection. “K-pop is more than just music—it is a comprehensive cultural and artistic training system that encompasses dance, singing, beauty, and even character development,” the professors explain. “Through this, students are not merely learning to perform; they are also building solidarity and bonds as they prepare and share the stage with peers from diverse backgrounds.” This philosophy underpins a program designed to give participants not only technical skills in performance but also a deeper appreciation for cultural diversity and collective achievement.
A Seed for the Future
Perhaps the most significant takeaway is that this was never meant to be a one-off. DIMA envisions the workshop as the beginning of a longer partnership “to take the lead in cultural exchange,” with plans to work closely with various UAE institutions and educational organizations. Next year, it will also launch diverse programs to mark the KCC’s 10th anniversary, featuring an upgraded curriculum. “Our goal is not a one-time event, but to build sustainable exchanges and expanded opportunities that allow K-culture to take root in the Middle East while fostering deeper mutual understanding and growth between cultures,” they add.
The timing couldn’t be sharper. K-culture is becoming an integral part of the region’s cultural fabric. Saudi Arabia has already welcomed Korean entertainment company CJ ENM’s first Middle East subsidiary, signaling that the industry sees the region as more than just a “consumer market” but as a core part of the K-culture ecosystem, according to the professors. Against this backdrop, Abu Dhabi felt like the right launchpad.
“Abu Dhabi is the cultural, artistic, and intellectual center of the UAE, and we believe it is essential to first demonstrate and establish the value of our educational model here,” Yoo and Yu explain. “Once that foundation is secured, it will naturally generate both the momentum and the trust needed to expand into the wider MENA region. Our experience in Abu Dhabi will provide us with valuable insights, and based on that, we can also consider institutionalizing similar workshops or expanding them regionally in the future.”
Beyond Performance, Toward Connection
The workshop is proof that K-pop education can travel — that the same model that built idols in Seoul can inspire young people in Abu Dhabi without losing its essence or disregarding local nuance.
And for the region, it was something bigger still: the glimpse of a new cultural bridge. One where K-pop is not just imported as entertainment, but nurtured, studied, and reimagined in a place that has always thrived at the intersection of worlds.
“Moving forward, we aim to provide more structured, high-quality cultural programs that meet the expectations of local audiences, while also promoting a sound and wholesome K-pop culture that people here can embrace as something familiar and welcoming.”
Ewha Kim, Head of Media at KCC
With its strong national investment in the arts and creative industries, the UAE is emerging as the Middle East’s hub for K-pop and K-culture. Abu Dhabi’s expanding cultural infrastructure and talent development initiatives provide a solid foundation for growth. DIMA aims to contribute by empowering local talent, fostering partnerships, and shaping the region’s cultural and creative future.
“Moving forward, we aim to provide more structured, high-quality cultural programs that meet the expectations of local audiences, while also promoting a sound and wholesome K-pop culture that people here can embrace as something familiar and welcoming,” KCC’s Ewha adds.