Jungkook's new single moves away from his signature K-Pop to Khaleeji pop.
Performed on Sunday as part of the Qatar World Cup opening ceremony, Dreamers is an uplifting track made for stadiums and is firmly rooted in the region.
Featuring Fahad Al Kubaisi, one of Qatar's most successful singers, the track has all the lyrical themes synonymous with sporting anthems.
There are references to "passion", "respect" and making dreams come true.
While it may all seem a little formulaic, it is the euphoric chorus, the Khaleeji percussion and chanted Arabic refrain that make the song an earworm and tailor-made for television montages throughout the tournament.
Although both artists do a solid job, the real goal scorer here is producer Red One.
As the tournament's executive director of entertainment, the Grammy Award-winning Moroccan-Swede and Dubai resident has been responsible for three other official tracks released so far.
Similar to previous efforts Light the Sky (featuring Emirati singer Balqees) and Hayya Hayya (Better Together) with Nigerian Afro-pop star Davido, he infuses Dreamers with the right amount of eastern and western influences to make it universal.
This means the lyrics and chorus are easy to follow and the refrain catchy enough to be sung by a global crowd in stadiums.
“This is really what a song like that should do,” he told The National in a previous interview.
"Sports or big events are all about emotions, and a theme song has to reflect that or help create those feelings.”
Dreamers is the latest official World Cup single to be released.
Let's take a closer look — and listen — at the others.
Tukoh Taka' featuring Nicki Minaj, Maluma and Myriam Fares
Featuring Lebanese artist Myriam Fares alongside rapper Nicki Minaj and Colombian singer Maluma, the sunny track is awash with cross-cultural influences with lyrics sung in English, Spanish and Arabic.
The lyrics form a call for unity and to celebrate our differences.
'Light the Sky' featuring Nora Fatehi, Balqees, Rahma Riad, Manal and RedOne
Featuring Emirati singer Balqees, Iraqi singer Rahma Riad and Morocco's Nora Fatehi, Light the Sky is all about creating a party vibe and comes with the kind of walloping and easy-to-chant chorus fit for stadiums packed with international fans.
‘Arhbo’ featuring Ozuna & Gims
Released in August, this is another deft mix of cultures with Puerto Rican reggaeton star Ozuna teaming up with French hip-hop artist Gims for this club-ready track.
Sung in Spanish, French and English while featuring an arresting Arabic vocal loop in the chorus, this banger is about building bridges and putting differences aside.
‘Hayya Hayya’ (Better Together) featuring Davido, Trinidad Cardona and Aisha
Released in April, the first World Cup anthem is a lovely fusion of styles and cultures.
Qatari singer Aisha teams up with Nigerian Afro-pop star Davido and US singer Trinidad Cardona for this breezy ode to unity.
More than the rousing chorus, Hayya Hayya (Better Together) has the kind of earworm melody that will stick in our heads — for better or worse — during the tournament.
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
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.”
ITU Abu Dhabi World Triathlon
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
