Abu Dhabi is set to welcome a major cultural first: a free K-pop workshop open to youth, adults, and children. Spanning three days in August, the K-Pop Academy X DIMA Dream School will offer hands-on training in performance, vocals, and video creation, delivered directly by Korean industry professionals, including professors and student artists from one of South Korea’s top media institutes.

A First for the UAE: K-Pop academy comes to Abu Dhabi

The Korean Cultural Centre (KCC) is bringing the UAE’s first-ever official K-pop training workshop to Abu Dhabi. Scheduled from August 20 to 22, the event will be hosted at Dee Studio, which will temporarily transform into a full-fledged K-pop academy. The initiative is part of KCC’s ongoing efforts to expand Korean cultural engagement in the region.Registration link This milestone event is being organised in collaboration with the Dong-Ah Institute of Media and Arts (DIMA), a prestigious media training school in South Korea. DIMA is known for having trained several successful K-pop stars, including Sung Hanbin (ZEROBASEONE), Hoshi (SEVENTEEN), and Kwon Eunbi. The workshop also marks DIMA’s first official visit to Abu Dhabi, making it a rare opportunity for local fans and aspiring performers to experience the training methods behind Korea’s global pop culture phenomenon.

The “K-Pop Academy X DIMA Dream School” is completely free to attend and has been designed with accessibility and engagement in mind. Each of the three days is focused on a specific age group, youth, adults, and children, allowing for tailored sessions that encourage participants to learn and express themselves within a relatable peer environment. Here is the full schedule breakdown:

Wednesday, August 20 – Youth Sessions

This session adds a creative twist by including behind-the-scenes insights into K-pop video content, not just performance. Kids will engage in learning how choreography, vocals, and production come together to shape the visual identity of K-pop.Registration link

Real K-Pop training, straight from the source

Unlike casual dance classes or fan gatherings, this workshop mirrors the structure of actual K-pop training camps. Sessions will be led by professors and student artists from DIMA, who are actively involved in South Korea’s entertainment education scene. Participants won’t just mimic dance routines, they’ll receive structured instruction in choreography, vocal performance, and even media production, echoing the experiences of real K-pop trainees. Among the featured music selections are tracks from major artists such as BTS, BLACKPINK, and NewJeans, as well as original songs from the Netflix animated film K-Pop Demon Hunters, including:

For those interested, registration is essential, and with limited slots, early sign-ups are encouraged. The event promises to be a rare chance for fans in the Middle East to step into the shoes of a K-pop idol.