Ateez on their new album, global success and possibility of a UAE tour stop


Evelyn Lau
  • English
  • Arabic

Ateez have joined a very exclusive club. The eight-member band are now one of only three K-pop artists – alongside BTS and Stray Kids – to have multiple albums topping the US Billboard 200 charts.

Their latest achievement comes thanks to their 11th EP, Golden Hour: Part 2, and its catchy lead track Ice On My Teeth. The music video for the song has been viewed more than 36 million times on YouTube since its release on November 15.

The group's name is an acronym for “A TEEnager Z,” symbolising their connection to youth and their aim to represent everything about teenagers, from A to Z. And it looks like they are succeeding.

Beyond their impressive accolade, Ateez are not content to simply follow in the footsteps of their peers. They’re forging their own path by seeking opportunities to perform around the world and expanding their global reach.

This year they became the first K-pop boy group to perform at Coachella in the US and the first K-pop artists to headline the Mawazine Festival in Morocco. They are also the first South Korean act to have three different releases in the top 10 of the UK Official Albums Chart within a single year.

Formed in 2018 by KQ Entertainment, Ateez consisted of Yunho, Seonghwa, San, Yeosang, Hongjoong, Wooyoung, Jongho and Mingi. Back then, performing on global stages like Coachella or the Mawazine Festival might have seemed like an ambitious goal. Today, those goals have become a reality.

“Festivals like Coachella or the Mawazine Festival are what I think can be considered dream stages for all artists,” Mingi tells The National. “So, really, it was such an honour. Also, being able to watch and experience the performances of the artists we respect and whose music we’ve always enjoyed was truly a happy and memorable experience for us.”

After being together for more than six years, the band hopes to create more memorable experiences. They recognise that much of their success is also thanks to their fan base. They are also known as Atiny. The moniker is a combination of “Ateez” and “destiny,” which is meant to represent the strong bond between the group and their fans.

“I think we've grown a lot as artists,” says Yunho. “The area where I feel we've grown the most is the love we have for our Atiny. I feel like that love keeps growing more and more.”

“There have been so many surprising and unexpected moments, and the fact that so many of our Atiny continue to love and support us is something that always amazes me. Because of that, I think our love for them just keeps growing stronger.”

Finding success in the K-pop world can be challenging, as not all groups manage to maintain their popularity in such a competitive industry. One of the hurdles ahead is military conscription, which is mandatory for all South Korean male citizens and must be fulfilled in the next few years.

Ateez became the first K-pop boy group to perform at Coachella earlier this year. Getty Images
Ateez became the first K-pop boy group to perform at Coachella earlier this year. Getty Images

However, even with the uncertainty this brings, Ateez remain optimistic. They’re committed to their music and their fans, focusing on making the most of their time together now while looking forward to what lies ahead.

“I hope the eight of us can stay healthy and happy as we continue our activities together for many more years to come,” says Jongho. “I also hope that as a group, we can keep growing steadily without rushing, while continuing to show our progress and growth. I want us to become artists who can share even better music and more amazing performances with everyone.”

Looking ahead, could a worldwide tour be on the horizon? Last year, Ateez brought their electrifying energy to Saudi Arabia for The Fellowship: Break The Wall concert at the Jeddah Superdome, marking their third appearance in the kingdom.

The group's performances in the Middle East have drawn praise for their ability to connect with fans across cultures. So, with a new album out, could this mean a tour with a long-awaited stop in the UAE is on the cards? While Ateez would not confirm any plans, they remain grateful to their fans in the region.

“First of all, thank you so much for supporting Ateez from far away,” says Wooyoung. “Our concert plans are currently a secret. But we really want to perform there.”

Going grey? A stylist's advice

If you’re going to go grey, a great style, well-cared for hair (in a sleek, classy style, like a bob), and a young spirit and attitude go a long way, says Maria Dowling, founder of the Maria Dowling Salon in Dubai.
It’s easier to go grey from a lighter colour, so you may want to do that first. And this is the time to try a shorter style, she advises. Then a stylist can introduce highlights, start lightening up the roots, and let it fade out. Once it’s entirely grey, a purple shampoo will prevent yellowing.
“Get professional help – there’s no other way to go around it,” she says. “And don’t just let it grow out because that looks really bad. Put effort into it: properly condition, straighten, get regular trims, make sure it’s glossy.”

WWE TLC results

Asuka won the SmackDown Women's title in a TLC triple threat with Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair

Dean Ambrose won the Intercontinental title against Seth Rollins

Daniel Bryan retained the WWE World Heavyweight Championship against AJ Styles

Ronda Rousey retained the Raw Women's Championship against Nia Jax

Rey Mysterio beat Randy Orton in a chairs match

Finn Balor defeated Drew McIntyre

Natalya beat Ruby Riott in a tables match

Braun Strowman beat Baron Corbin in a TLC match

Sheamus and Cesaro retained the SmackDown Tag Titles against The Usos and New Day

R-Truth and Carmella won the Mixed Match Challenge by beating Jinder Mahal and Alicia Fox

Key figures in the life of the fort

Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.

Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.

Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.

Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.

Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.

Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.

Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.

Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.

Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae

Cryopreservation: A timeline
  1. Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
  2. Ovarian tissue surgically removed
  3. Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
  4. Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
  5. Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months
Sole survivors
  • Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
  • George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
  • Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
  • Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs

AT4 Ultimate, as tested

Engine: 6.2-litre V8

Power: 420hp

Torque: 623Nm

Transmission: 10-speed automatic

Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)

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Important questions to consider

1. Where on the plane does my pet travel?

There are different types of travel available for pets:

  • Manifest cargo
  • Excess luggage in the hold
  • Excess luggage in the cabin

Each option is safe. The feasibility of each option is based on the size and breed of your pet, the airline they are traveling on and country they are travelling to.

 

2. What is the difference between my pet traveling as manifest cargo or as excess luggage?

If traveling as manifest cargo, your pet is traveling in the front hold of the plane and can travel with or without you being on the same plane. The cost of your pets travel is based on volumetric weight, in other words, the size of their travel crate.

If traveling as excess luggage, your pet will be in the rear hold of the plane and must be traveling under the ticket of a human passenger. The cost of your pets travel is based on the actual (combined) weight of your pet in their crate.

 

3. What happens when my pet arrives in the country they are traveling to?

As soon as the flight arrives, your pet will be taken from the plane straight to the airport terminal.

If your pet is traveling as excess luggage, they will taken to the oversized luggage area in the arrival hall. Once you clear passport control, you will be able to collect them at the same time as your normal luggage. As you exit the airport via the ‘something to declare’ customs channel you will be asked to present your pets travel paperwork to the customs official and / or the vet on duty. 

If your pet is traveling as manifest cargo, they will be taken to the Animal Reception Centre. There, their documentation will be reviewed by the staff of the ARC to ensure all is in order. At the same time, relevant customs formalities will be completed by staff based at the arriving airport. 

 

4. How long does the travel paperwork and other travel preparations take?

This depends entirely on the location that your pet is traveling to. Your pet relocation compnay will provide you with an accurate timeline of how long the relevant preparations will take and at what point in the process the various steps must be taken.

In some cases they can get your pet ‘travel ready’ in a few days. In others it can be up to six months or more.

 

5. What vaccinations does my pet need to travel?

Regardless of where your pet is traveling, they will need certain vaccinations. The exact vaccinations they need are entirely dependent on the location they are traveling to. The one vaccination that is mandatory for every country your pet may travel to is a rabies vaccination.

Other vaccinations may also be necessary. These will be advised to you as relevant. In every situation, it is essential to keep your vaccinations current and to not miss a due date, even by one day. To do so could severely hinder your pets travel plans.

Source: Pawsome Pets UAE

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MATCH DETAILS

Liverpool 2

Wijnaldum (14), Oxlade-Chamberlain (52)

Genk 1

Samatta (40)

 

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Updated: December 10, 2024, 6:19 AM`