Cosplay comes to the first PopCon Middle East, which will take place in Dubai in November. All photos: PopCon Middle East
Cosplay comes to the first PopCon Middle East, which will take place in Dubai in November. All photos: PopCon Middle East
Cosplay competitions will take place.
Cosplay competitions will take place.
Fans will get to meet and greet some of their favourite celebrities.
Fans will get to meet and greet some of their favourite celebrities.
Professional cosplayers will attend.
Professional cosplayers will attend.
The event will run from November 10 to 13.
The event will run from November 10 to 13.
Workshops, film screenings, competitions and meet-and-greets are part of the schedule.
Workshops, film screenings, competitions and meet-and-greets are part of the schedule.
More details are yet to be announced.
More details are yet to be announced.
It's a celebration of pop culture, anime, cosplay, movies, TV and more.
It's a celebration of pop culture, anime, cosplay, movies, TV and more.
It's happening in Dubai for the first time.
It's happening in Dubai for the first time.

Arts & Culture

A guide to the first PopCon Middle East in Dubai, featuring cosplay, gaming and films

Workshops, competitions and celebrity meet-and-greets will take place

Katy Gillett
Katy Gillett

September 19, 2022

  • English
  • Arabic

The first PopCon Middle East will take place from November 10 to 13.

The event is a showcase of all the best movies, TV, comics, graphic novels, anime, cosplay and more.

“I have been a fan of comic books since I was a child and have been entrenched in the community from an early age," said Amer Rashed Al Farooq, deputy chief executive of Speedy Comics, one of the organisers.

"This is a dream come true for a true geek like me. I want this convention to have everything and more my geek heart desires.”

Here's everything you need to know about it.

When will it be held?

PopCon will be running as part of Dubai Esports Festival, from November 9 to 29. It will span one weekend, from November 10 to 13.

Where will it take place?

The event will take place at the Dubai Exhibition Centre in Expo City Dubai, in partnership with Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment, Speedy Comics and Alanza Trading.

What will happen?

As part of the event, there will be exclusive workshops, movie screenings and cosplay competitions, to name a few. Limited-edition merchandise will also be on sale in a section called Artist Alley.

Fans will come face to face with some of their favourite celebrities and get the opportunity to meet like-minded pop culture fans.

Competitions will include People's Choice Cosplay, a Dungeons & Dragons game and Pokemon/Yu-Gi-Oh! Card tournament.

Further details will be revealed closer to the time.

What are the different zones?

There will be the Playground, a gaming area designed for people to play their favourite consoles, PC games and more. Group challenges will also take place here.

Read more

When anime and superheroes collide: inside the UAE's thriving cosplay costume culture

Parents can leave their little ones at the Children's Island, where there's a play area and activities.

The Dojo is where workshops focusing on film production, voice and theatre acting will take place.

There will also be a cinema, gallery area and marketplace.

The Tavern is the place to grab a bite to eat or drink.

What stars will attend?

The biggest names confirmed so far include A Nightmare on Elm Street actress Katie Cassidy, who also played demon Ruby in the fantasy horror series Supernatural.

Osric Chau, who played Kevin Tran in Supernatural, will also be there, as well as voice actor Ray Porter, who took on the role of Darkseid in Zack Snyder's Justice League.

Renowned international artists who will be attending are African-Native American Afua Richardson, whose work includes covers for five issues of Marvel's World of Wakanda, and Marvel and DC comics artist Mostafa Moussa.

More talent will be announced soon.

Scroll through the gallery below to see the cosplay competition at the Middle East Film & Comic Con 2022

A woman in cosplay poses with Batman at the Middle East Film & Comic Con 2022 in Abu Dhabi. All photos by Antonie Robertson / The National, unless specified otherwise
A woman in cosplay poses with Batman at the Middle East Film & Comic Con 2022 in Abu Dhabi. All photos by Antonie Robertson / The National, unless specified otherwise
The judging panel of the cosplay competition.
The judging panel of the cosplay competition.
A woman in cosplay performs on stage.
A woman in cosplay performs on stage.
A cosplayer with a horse head mask.
A cosplayer with a horse head mask.
The audience turned out in full force to watch the cosplay competition.
The audience turned out in full force to watch the cosplay competition.
A cosplayer as the Marvel superhero Iron Man.
A cosplayer as the Marvel superhero Iron Man.
Symbiote x Chainsaw Man.
Symbiote x Chainsaw Man.
A young girl participates in the cosplay competition.
A young girl participates in the cosplay competition.
The event took place at the MEFCC Mainstage, which is outdoors.
The event took place at the MEFCC Mainstage, which is outdoors.
A girl cosplays as DC superhero Wonder Woman.
A girl cosplays as DC superhero Wonder Woman.
The judging panel featured regional and international cosplayers.
The judging panel featured regional and international cosplayers.
Even though not everyone entered the competition, there was still plenty of cosplay on display on day two of the Middle East Film & Comic Con.
Even though not everyone entered the competition, there was still plenty of cosplay on display on day two of the Middle East Film & Comic Con.
A cosplayer in a menacing outfit.
A cosplayer in a menacing outfit.
The children who competed in the Kids Cosplay competition were all winners and received swag bags.
The children who competed in the Kids Cosplay competition were all winners and received swag bags.
Sylar Serag, as Bazelgeuse Armor from 'Monster Hunter', won first place in the Best Craftsmanship category. Photo: Middle East Film and Comic Con
Sylar Serag, as Bazelgeuse Armor from 'Monster Hunter', won first place in the Best Craftsmanship category. Photo: Middle East Film and Comic Con
Ashwani Kapoor as Samurai Vegito Blue from 'Dragon Ball Z' took second place in Best Craftsmanship. Photo: Middle East Film and Comic Con
Ashwani Kapoor as Samurai Vegito Blue from 'Dragon Ball Z' took second place in Best Craftsmanship. Photo: Middle East Film and Comic Con
Mohamed Farahat as Banbaro from 'Monster Hunter World' took third place in Best Craftsmanship. Photo: Middle East Film and Comic Con
Mohamed Farahat as Banbaro from 'Monster Hunter World' took third place in Best Craftsmanship. Photo: Middle East Film and Comic Con
Sabie Cipriani as Nico Yazawa from 'Long Live! School Idol Project' was first in Best Performance on Stage. Photo: Middle East Film and Comic Con
Sabie Cipriani as Nico Yazawa from 'Long Live! School Idol Project' was first in Best Performance on Stage. Photo: Middle East Film and Comic Con
Mohammed Hasan, who goes by the cosplay name Themed Injection, won third place for Best Performance on Stage as Heath Ledger’s The Joker. Photo: Middle East Film and Comic Con
Mohammed Hasan, who goes by the cosplay name Themed Injection, won third place for Best Performance on Stage as Heath Ledger’s The Joker. Photo: Middle East Film and Comic Con
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