BTS fans around the world rejoiced when the K-pop group released their new compilation album Proof on Friday.
The triple-album consists of 48 songs and features a mix of old favourites, solo tracks and unreleased demos.
However, there are three new songs: Yet to Come (The Most Beautiful Moment), For Youth and Run BTS.
The anthology album has been praised by fans, but what do Army (the unmistakable moniker for BTS fans) in the UAE think of it?
Scroll through the gallery above to see BTS through the years
Majda Rafii, 38, who lives in Dubai, first became interested in BTS during the start of the pandemic.
“I listened to their song Life Goes On which sparked my interest in their music,” she says. “From then on, I became a fan and learned more about their music, track debuts and shows.”
She says she really enjoys the new album because it encompasses a lot of what BTS has worked for. “They captured their different eras, nine years of hard work in one chapter, that ends beautifully and a new one to begin altogether,” she says.
Another fan who discovered the band around the same time is Khadija Kadry. She says her favourite song from the album is For Youth, describing it as a "very special song dedicated to Army" and one she can't wait to see them perform live one day.
Like Rafii, she's also believes that album is a special tribute to fans.
"The album is very emotional and definitely made for Army, the lyrics the selected songs the messages behind each track the fans could only understand and relate to," she says.
Meanwhile, Alaa Hussein, 27, also a Dubai resident, has been listening to BTS since 2015. She agrees that Proof is a celebration of everything that's been accomplished thus far in their careers.
“Today when I listened to the new song Yet to Come, with its strong and meaningful lyrics, I can say that it's a celebration of their history and all their years together, it's how they are proud of their body of work of nearly 10 years, which is their greatest legacy because BTS are indeed bulletproof,” she says.
Reem Al Mujaini, who became a fan last year, remembers how she saw a video of member RM tearing up at a concert and telling fans to "please use BTS to love yourself". Since then, she has become hooked on the band.
Her favourite track from the new album is Yet to Come (The Most Beautiful Moment), which has a similiar theme to Life Goes On. Both tracks offer optimism for the future.
She says that the songs have also given her hope again on a personal level.
"I loved the idea of collecting their songs and history of their achievements during their 20s. A new chapter is about to start with them," she says. "I believe I'm not the only Army who was worried when the idea was released, we were afraid that it was a goodbye from them."
Scroll through the gallery to see BTS meeting US President Joe Biden at the White House.
What can victims do?
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Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
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Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Hotel Data Cloud profile
Date started: June 2016
Founders: Gregor Amon and Kevin Czok
Based: Dubai
Sector: Travel Tech
Size: 10 employees
Funding: $350,000 (Dh1.3 million)
Investors: five angel investors (undisclosed except for Amar Shubar)
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TV: World Cup Qualifier 2018 matches will be aired on on OSN Sports HD Cricket channel
Tips on buying property during a pandemic
Islay Robinson, group chief executive of mortgage broker Enness Global, offers his advice on buying property in today's market.
While many have been quick to call a market collapse, this simply isn’t what we’re seeing on the ground. Many pockets of the global property market, including London and the UAE, continue to be compelling locations to invest in real estate.
While an air of uncertainty remains, the outlook is far better than anyone could have predicted. However, it is still important to consider the wider threat posed by Covid-19 when buying bricks and mortar.
Anything with outside space, gardens and private entrances is a must and these property features will see your investment keep its value should the pandemic drag on. In contrast, flats and particularly high-rise developments are falling in popularity and investors should avoid them at all costs.
Attractive investment property can be hard to find amid strong demand and heightened buyer activity. When you do find one, be prepared to move hard and fast to secure it. If you have your finances in order, this shouldn’t be an issue.
Lenders continue to lend and rates remain at an all-time low, so utilise this. There is no point in tying up cash when you can keep this liquidity to maximise other opportunities.
Keep your head and, as always when investing, take the long-term view. External factors such as coronavirus or Brexit will present challenges in the short-term, but the long-term outlook remains strong.
Finally, keep an eye on your currency. Whenever currency fluctuations favour foreign buyers, you can bet that demand will increase, as they act to secure what is essentially a discounted property.
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Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
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Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
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Profile
Company: Justmop.com
Date started: December 2015
Founders: Kerem Kuyucu and Cagatay Ozcan
Sector: Technology and home services
Based: Jumeirah Lake Towers, Dubai
Size: 55 employees and 100,000 cleaning requests a month
Funding: The company’s investors include Collective Spark, Faith Capital Holding, Oak Capital, VentureFriends, and 500 Startups.
