• Singer Sunmi. All photos: Hyperound
    Singer Sunmi. All photos: Hyperound
  • Boy group Enhypen
    Boy group Enhypen
  • Girl group Cherry Bullet
    Girl group Cherry Bullet
  • Rapper Peakboy
    Rapper Peakboy
  • Hip-hop trio Epik High
    Hip-hop trio Epik High
  • Japanese girl group XG
    Japanese girl group XG
  • Singer DRP Ian
    Singer DRP Ian

Culture

Music & On-stage

Hyperound K-Fest 2023: Enhypen, Sunmi, Epik High and others to perform in Abu Dhabi

After making its debut last year, the event will return once again to Etihad Arena

Thoraya Abdullahi
Thoraya Abdullahi

July 08, 2023

  • English
  • Arabic

Hyperound K-Fest, a celebration of K-pop, will return to Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on November 11.

Following the success of last year's event, the festival is returning with a line-up that includes Enhypen, Sunmi – who performed during Expo 2020 Dubai – Epik High, DPR Ian, XG, Cherry Bullet and Peakboy.

Ahead of last year's inaugural K-Festival, Hyperound, the company behind it, explained why they wanted to bring the event to Abu Dhabi.

“Not only do we know there are a number of fans waiting for K-pop concerts in the Middle East, having seen fans cheering and enjoying previous K-pop concerts, but also the number of fans in the region keeps increasing drastically,” it told The National.

“Fan interests, passion and love for K-pop inspired us to establish Hyperound to hold this festival. It will be highly appreciated if fans keep giving us their huge support.”

Registration for early bird pre-sale tickets is available now. The pre-sale will begin on Friday, with general sales starting on July 16. Ticket prices start at Dh210 for bronze and go up to Dh987 for VIP.

Sunmi performed at Expo 2020 Dubai in celebration of Korea Day at Expo in January last year. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Sunmi performed at Expo 2020 Dubai in celebration of Korea Day at Expo in January last year. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Last year's inaugural event had artists Woogie, Peakboy, Sik-K, Jay B, P1Harmony, Paul Kim, Zico, Loco and The Rose make their way to Abu Dhabi for their Middle East debut at Etihad Arena.

Kim previously told The National he was caught off guard by his fans who recognised him while he visited a mall, but that he was very appreciative of the interactions as well.

“I saw many fans at Yas Mall and I was surprised many came to me to say 'hi'. It was really surprising because I was wearing my face mask and looked really casual,” he said.

“It was a new experience for me because I wasn’t expecting anyone to recognise me here but I am grateful and hopefully I get more chances to perform in front of you.”

More information is available at hyperound.ae

Hyperound K-Fest 2022 in Abu Dhabi

  • K-pop star Jay B performs at K-Fest Abu Dhabi during his first visit to the UAE. Pawan Singh / The National
    K-pop star Jay B performs at K-Fest Abu Dhabi during his first visit to the UAE. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Fans at Etihad Arena. Pawan Singh / The National
    Fans at Etihad Arena. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Peakboy took to the stage with his hit 'Gyopo Hairstyle'. Pawan Singh / The National
    Peakboy took to the stage with his hit 'Gyopo Hairstyle'. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Fans held up Jay B's banner. Pawan Singh / The National
    Fans held up Jay B's banner. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Peakboy and Paul Kim serenaded the crowd with their latest collaboration, 'How to Love'. Pawan Singh / The National
    Peakboy and Paul Kim serenaded the crowd with their latest collaboration, 'How to Love'. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Thousands of fans from around the region attended. Pawan Singh / The National
    Thousands of fans from around the region attended. Pawan Singh / The National
  • K-pop boy band P1Harmony brought their energy and enthusiasm to the concert. Pawan Singh / The National
    K-pop boy band P1Harmony brought their energy and enthusiasm to the concert. Pawan Singh / The National
  • The Rose, a South Korean pop rock band, sang hits such as 'Sorry' during the concert. Pawan Singh / The National
    The Rose, a South Korean pop rock band, sang hits such as 'Sorry' during the concert. Pawan Singh / The National
  • More than two years after his scheduled performance in the UAE was cancelled owing to the pandemic, Jay B finally made his UAE debut. Pawan Singh / The National
    More than two years after his scheduled performance in the UAE was cancelled owing to the pandemic, Jay B finally made his UAE debut. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Fans showed their support with customised banners for The Rose. Pawan Singh / The National
    Fans showed their support with customised banners for The Rose. Pawan Singh / The National
  • The Rose on stage. Pawan Singh / The National
    The Rose on stage. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Other artists who performed included Zico, Loco, Woogie, Sik-K and Dvwn, all of whom were playing in the Middle East for the first time. Pawan Singh / The National
    Other artists who performed included Zico, Loco, Woogie, Sik-K and Dvwn, all of whom were playing in the Middle East for the first time. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Jay B spoke to The National about his new album 'Be Yourself'. Nilanjana Gupta / The National
    Jay B spoke to The National about his new album 'Be Yourself'. Nilanjana Gupta / The National

The specs: 2019 Mini Cooper

Price, base: Dh141,740 (three-door) / Dh165,900 (five-door)
Engine: 1.5-litre four-cylinder (Cooper) / 2.0-litre four-cylinder (Cooper S)
Power: 136hp @ 4,500rpm (Cooper) / 192hp @ 5,000rpm (Cooper S)
Torque: 220Nm @ 1,480rpm (Cooper) / 280Nm @ 1,350rpm (Cooper S)
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 4.8L to 5.4L / 100km

Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

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Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution

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Expo details

Expo 2020 Dubai will be the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia

The world fair will run for six months from October 20, 2020 to April 10, 2021.

It is expected to attract 25 million visits

Some 70 per cent visitors are projected to come from outside the UAE, the largest proportion of international visitors in the 167-year history of World Expos.

More than 30,000 volunteers are required for Expo 2020

The site covers a total of 4.38 sqkm, including a 2 sqkm gated area

It is located adjacent to Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai South

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Her favourite film is Pacific Rim, directed by Guillermo del Toro

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