'K-City' Will Become a Hub for South Korean Food & Culture in the UAE

The UAE and the Republic of Korea have announced plans to establish “K-City”, a dedicated hub within the Emirates for Korean food, culture and business activities. The initiative was revealed after a meeting between the UAE and South Korean presidents and is intended to position the UAE as the Middle East’s centre for contact with Korean culture. K-City will bring together Korean culinary experiences, cultural programming and business exchange under one roof. The UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the objective is to elevate visitor and resident engagement with Korean food—already popular across Dubai and the Emirates—with “active people-to-people exchanges” between the two nations. K-culture (Hallyu) has had growing resonance in the UAE, especially among younger audiences: K-pop events sell out, K-dramas draw large followings, and Korean restaurants, pop-ups and beauty brands have become established. With K-City, the two countries aim to build on that foundation and offer a centralised cultural and commercial venue.