The first K-pop event of the year in the UAE – K-pop Overdose – thrilled fans from the region and around the world with a diverse set of performances, showcasing much of what the scene has to offer.
Taking place on Sunday at Dubai’s Coca-Cola Arena and supported by Speed Entertainment, the concert's line-up featured Exo's Chanyeol, Chen and Xiumin, as well as fellow South Korean talent DJ Raiden and Emirati Dubai Bling cast member DJ Bliss, who opened the show.
While only three of the members of Exo, a popular boy band that made its debut in South Korea in 2012, were able to make it to the UAE, the thousands-strong audience were nonetheless captivated by the performance.
Delivering chart-topping songs with vocals echoed by a passionate fan base who knew every word, the members triggered questions of whether this could be the start of a new subunit within the group.
Chanyeol, in conversation with The National, reminisced about his warm memories of the UAE, recalling in 2018 when Exo’s song Power played at the Dubai Fountain in front of the Burj Khalifa.
Recalling his 2023 solo visit, he told The National: “My first time coming here alone, when I played my song Tomorrow, and the Dubai fans turned on their flashlights, it was really beautiful.
“The flashlights look like Dubai’s sky.”
Chanyeol is one of the group's most versatile members, with a successful acting career on top of his rapping and singing in Exo, its subgroup Exo-K and subunit Exo-SC, not to mention his solo work.
In Dubai, he leaned into his solo catalogue, performing singles Tomorrow and Rodeo Station – the latter originally sang with band member Sehun. He also performed a new track with DJ Raiden, tentatively titled 24, as well as their 2020 hit collaboration Yours.
DJ Raiden reflected on his career, saying his K-pop band The Boyz and collaboration with esports company T1 – for which he wrote The Last Man Standing for the League of Legends World Championship – remain fond memories.
Looking ahead to 2024, he expressed interest in collaborating with artists from the Mena region.
“As much as I would love collaborating with artists from SM, I want to work with artists from the hip-hop and RnB genres,” said Raiden.
Chen, meanwhile, continued to serenade the crowd as the night unfolded, delivering a stirring performance. Pulling from Exo's contributions to K-drama original soundtracks such as Descendants Of The Sun, he also included solo songs from his latest album Last Scene.
“I am deeply passionate about conveying messages of healing through my music, aiming for it to serve as a source of solace for listeners,” said Chen.
“Music holds a profound healing power for me, and I aspire for my audience to connect with my messages while immersing themselves in the experience of my music.
“Additionally, I am excited about exploring diverse genres, envisioning a future album that encompasses musical versatility.”
Exo member Xiumin, meanwhile, shared a heartfelt thank you to his fans – nicknamed ExoLs – from the region: “Happy New Year to our beloved Arab ExoLs, wishing you a healthful year full of happiness ahead. I hope you’ll keep loving and supporting not only me but all the members of Exo.”
“Our Arab fans can expect an upcoming album, and also dramas that I will be starring in. And, for our fans, I established a YouTube Channel that we hope you’ll love and keep an eye out for.”
Chanyeol also teased his next project: “I will come back with a new album along with my Exo members, I promise.”
Fans in the region react to K-pop Overdose
As the night came to an end in Dubai, the excitement was palpable among fans in attendance.
“We are thrilled to have the Exo members back in Dubai for a concert again. This was an event we were gearing up for for months and it’s amazing to finally see it happen,” said UAE Exo fan base manager Salha M, 23.
“We are expecting a lot of solo projects from the members this year including new albums, Chanyeol’s solo debut and solo concerts and fan meet and greets from Baekhyun, Chen, and Kyungsoo.
“There are some group projects such as an Exo-CBX comeback, the Exo anniversary fan meeting and many more to come hopefully. We are looking forward to their activities and hope to be a part of it again soon,” she said.
Sarah M, 28, an engineer from Ajman, who has been an ExoL since 2013, echoes the sentiment by saying: “I am really happy to see them do well as soloists.”
But not everyone was satisfied with only three of the band members making it to the UAE for the show.
“I wish for all Exo members to come,” said Choi Minme, 24, a teacher from Dubai.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Company%20Profile
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LILO & STITCH
Starring: Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Maia Kealoha, Chris Sanders
Director: Dean Fleischer Camp
Rating: 4.5/5
The specs
Price, base / as tested Dh1,470,000 (est)
Engine 6.9-litre twin-turbo W12
Gearbox eight-speed automatic
Power 626bhp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 900Nm @ 1,350rpm
Fuel economy, combined 14.0L / 100km
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
TUESDAY'S ORDER OF PLAY
Centre Court
Starting at 2pm:
Elina Svitolina (UKR) [3] v Jennifer Brady (USA)
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) v Belinda Bencic (SUI [4]
Not before 7pm:
Sofia Kenin (USA) [5] v Elena Rybakina (KAZ)
Maria Sakkari (GRE) v Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) [7]
Court One
Starting at midday:
Karolina Muchova (CZE) v Katerina Siniakova (CZE)
Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) v Aliaksandra Sasnovich (BLR)
Veronika Kudermetova (RUS) v Dayana Yastermska (UKR)
Petra Martic (CRO) [8] v Su-Wei Hsieh (TPE)
Sorana Cirstea (ROU) v Anett Kontaveit (EST)
The%20specs
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Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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House-hunting
Top 10 locations for inquiries from US house hunters, according to Rightmove
- Edinburgh, Scotland
- Westminster, London
- Camden, London
- Glasgow, Scotland
- Islington, London
- Kensington and Chelsea, London
- Highlands, Scotland
- Argyll and Bute, Scotland
- Fife, Scotland
- Tower Hamlets, London
Three tips from La Perle's performers
1 The kind of water athletes drink is important. Gwilym Hooson, a 28-year-old British performer who is currently recovering from knee surgery, found that out when the company was still in Studio City, training for 12 hours a day. “The physio team was like: ‘Why is everyone getting cramps?’ And then they realised we had to add salt and sugar to the water,” he says.
2 A little chocolate is a good thing. “It’s emergency energy,” says Craig Paul Smith, La Perle’s head coach and former Cirque du Soleil performer, gesturing to an almost-empty open box of mini chocolate bars on his desk backstage.
3 Take chances, says Young, who has worked all over the world, including most recently at Dragone’s show in China. “Every time we go out of our comfort zone, we learn a lot about ourselves,” she says.
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
Company profile
Name: Dukkantek
Started: January 2021
Founders: Sanad Yaghi, Ali Al Sayegh and Shadi Joulani
Based: UAE
Number of employees: 140
Sector: B2B Vertical SaaS(software as a service)
Investment: $5.2 million
Funding stage: Seed round
Investors: Global Founders Capital, Colle Capital Partners, Wamda Capital, Plug and Play, Comma Capital, Nowais Capital, Annex Investments and AMK Investment Office
WORLD CUP FINAL
England v South Africa
Yokohama International Stadium, Tokyo
Saturday, kick-off 1pm (UAE)
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
What is a Ponzi scheme?
A fraudulent investment operation where the scammer provides fake reports and generates returns for old investors through money paid by new investors, rather than through ligitimate business activities.
THE 12 BREAKAWAY CLUBS
England
Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur
Italy
AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus
Spain
Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Real Madrid
Profile of Whizkey
Date founded: 04 November 2017
Founders: Abdulaziz AlBlooshi and Harsh Hirani
Based: Dubai, UAE
Number of employees: 10
Sector: AI, software
Cashflow: Dh2.5 Million
Funding stage: Series A
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
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Credit Score explained
What is a credit score?
In the UAE your credit score is a number generated by the Al Etihad Credit Bureau (AECB), which represents your credit worthiness – in other words, your risk of defaulting on any debt repayments. In this country, the number is between 300 and 900. A low score indicates a higher risk of default, while a high score indicates you are a lower risk.
Why is it important?
Financial institutions will use it to decide whether or not you are a credit risk. Those with better scores may also receive preferential interest rates or terms on products such as loans, credit cards and mortgages.
How is it calculated?
The AECB collects information on your payment behaviour from banks as well as utilitiy and telecoms providers.
How can I improve my score?
By paying your bills on time and not missing any repayments, particularly your loan, credit card and mortgage payments. It is also wise to limit the number of credit card and loan applications you make and to reduce your outstanding balances.
How do I know if my score is low or high?
By checking it. Visit one of AECB’s Customer Happiness Centres with an original and valid Emirates ID, passport copy and valid email address. Liv. customers can also access the score directly from the banking app.
How much does it cost?
A credit report costs Dh100 while a report with the score included costs Dh150. Those only wanting the credit score pay Dh60. VAT is payable on top.
