• Fans of record-breaking K-pop group BTS queued up at the opening of the official BTS Pop-Up: Space of BTS shop in BurJuman mall in Dubai. All photos: Antonie Robertson / The National
    Fans of record-breaking K-pop group BTS queued up at the opening of the official BTS Pop-Up: Space of BTS shop in BurJuman mall in Dubai. All photos: Antonie Robertson / The National
  • The shop, dedicated to all things BTS, is brought to the UAE by Hybe, the septet's record label.
    The shop, dedicated to all things BTS, is brought to the UAE by Hybe, the septet's record label.
  • Inside, fans will be able to buy official merchandise inspired by BTS songs over the years.
    Inside, fans will be able to buy official merchandise inspired by BTS songs over the years.
  • There are also products from TinyTan, animated characters inspired by BTS members.
    There are also products from TinyTan, animated characters inspired by BTS members.
  • Figurines from the TineTan collection.
    Figurines from the TineTan collection.
  • Shop assistants, dressed in purple, the official colour of BTS, help customers.
    Shop assistants, dressed in purple, the official colour of BTS, help customers.
  • The pop-up shop will remain open until December 8.
    The pop-up shop will remain open until December 8.
  • Inside the shop, fans have their pick of everything BTS, from branded T-shirts to hoodies, bags and sweat pants.
    Inside the shop, fans have their pick of everything BTS, from branded T-shirts to hoodies, bags and sweat pants.
  • TinyTan characters at the shop.
    TinyTan characters at the shop.
  • BTS accessories at the shop.
    BTS accessories at the shop.
  • BTS Pop-Up: Space of BTS is located on Level 1 of BurJuman Mall in Dubai.
    BTS Pop-Up: Space of BTS is located on Level 1 of BurJuman Mall in Dubai.
  • A shop assistant at the pop-up.
    A shop assistant at the pop-up.
  • BTS Pop-Up: Space of BTS has been a huge success in other parts of the world, spawning long queues of fans who proudly call themselves the Army. The Dubai shop is the first time the pop-up has come to the Middle East.
    BTS Pop-Up: Space of BTS has been a huge success in other parts of the world, spawning long queues of fans who proudly call themselves the Army. The Dubai shop is the first time the pop-up has come to the Middle East.

Culture

Music

Fans queue for BTS pop-up shop in Dubai

It will sell merchandise inspired by the K-pop group's songs

David Tusing

September 09, 2022

  • English
  • Arabic

After travelling the world, a pop-up shop dedicated to all things BTS has landed in Dubai's BurJuman mall. Featuring merchandise inspired by the record-breaking K-pop group's songs from over the years, as well as fan experiences, BTS Pop-Up: Space of BTS offers fans the chance to get their hands on exclusive official goods for a limited time.

Scroll through the gallery above for more pictures from the BTS Pop-Up: Space of BTS shop in Dubai

Fans queued up outside the shop on Level 1 of BurJuman on Friday. Inside, they had their pick of everything BTS, from branded T-shirts to hoodies and sweat pants, as well as figurines from TinyTan — the animated characters inspired by the band's seven members. Assistants, dressed in purple, the group's official colour, were on hand to assist them.

Only 40 people were allowed into the shop at once, and fans were not allowed to bring in food or drinks.

Brought to the UAE by Hybe, BTS's record label, BTS Pop-Up: Space of BTS has been a huge success in other parts of the world, spawning long queues of fans who proudly call themselves Army. The Dubai shop is the first time the pop-up has come to the Middle East, and will remain open until December 8.

Shop assistants, dressed in BTS's official colour purple, assist customers at the pop-up. Antonie Robertson / The National
Shop assistants, dressed in BTS's official colour purple, assist customers at the pop-up. Antonie Robertson / The National

BTS members Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V, and Jungkook are household names around the world, thanks to their massive groundbreaking success.

On Thursday, Disney+ treated fans of the group in the Mena by uploading concert film BTS Permission to Dance on Stage – LA on its platform.

Held at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, the concert marked the group's return to live performances in the US late last year. The film is stage-focused, meaning up-close shots of the band singing and dancing, and includes some of their biggest hits such as Boy with Luv, Dynamite, Butter and more.

In 2020, the band had to call off what would have been their biggest international tour — incorporating 39 shows ― as Covid-19 spread around the world. Instead, they played virtual concerts, including one in October 2020 that garnered more than 990,000 viewers from 191 countries and made about 50 billion South Korean won ($42.4 million) in ticket sales.

While whispers of a hiatus in June briefly caused widespread panic, as well as stocks of Hybe to plummet, the band have been busy releasing solo projects, as well as collaborations with other major stars.

They returned to the spotlight as a group in August, featuring in the song Bad Decisions by hit producer Benny Blanco, along with Snoop Dogg.

  • BTS performed a four-day residency in Las Vegas back in April with their Permission To Dance On Stage show. All Photos: BigHit Music
    BTS performed a four-day residency in Las Vegas back in April with their Permission To Dance On Stage show. All Photos: BigHit Music
  • The performances took place in the near-65,000-capacity Allegiant Stadium.
    The performances took place in the near-65,000-capacity Allegiant Stadium.
  • Tickets for all four concerts sold out before they went on sale to the general public.
    Tickets for all four concerts sold out before they went on sale to the general public.
  • The final show on April 16 was live-streamed online.
    The final show on April 16 was live-streamed online.
  • J-Hope during the BTS Permission To Dance On Stage show in Las Vegas.
    J-Hope during the BTS Permission To Dance On Stage show in Las Vegas.
  • Jimin during the concert in Las Vegas.
    Jimin during the concert in Las Vegas.
  • Jin during the show.
    Jin during the show.
  • Jungkook performing as part of the show.
    Jungkook performing as part of the show.
  • RM performing during the concert.
    RM performing during the concert.
  • Suga dancing during the concert.
    Suga dancing during the concert.
  • V performs during the concert.
    V performs during the concert.
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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.”

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting 

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3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

5. Zakat 

Updated: September 09, 2022, 11:09 AM
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