Dubai witnessed unprecedented fan fervor as BTS announced their monumental world tour, triggering a digital ticket scramble that left thousands of ARMY members empty-handed despite meticulous preparations. The seven-member K-pop phenomenon’s upcoming tour spanning 34 cities with 79 performances represents the largest such undertaking by any K-pop artist in history.
Ticket presales launched on January 22 at 3 PM UAE time through Weverse, the official artist-fan platform that previously crashed following the tour announcement. The process required advanced ARMY membership verification and identity confirmation, yet within seconds of queue opening, over 141,000 fans were competing for approximately 40,000 available seats at the venue.
Emirati fan Sara Albalooshi described the experience as ‘totally terrifying, but also ridiculously thrilling,’ comparing her multiple alarms to ‘a countdown to a rocket launch.’ She coordinated across countries with her sister, a doctor who rearranged shifts, and successfully secured tickets for Paris and Belgium performances after the US sale proved ‘brutal.’
Yan Hinolan, administrator of Bangtan UAE fan club, emphasized the necessity of sleep deprivation for ticket acquisition, stating ‘no sleep or no tickets.’ Her strategic preparation included advance coordination with her bank to ensure payment processing and resulted in securing Los Angeles tickets without facing dynamic pricing thanks to BigHit’s controls.
While many fans missed out despite hours-long digital waits, hopes remain high for Middle Eastern dates scheduled for 2027. Speculation runs particularly strong in the UAE, where BTS’s 2016 KCON performance in Abu Dhabi marked one of their earliest international appearances. The Korean Deputy Consul General in Dubai previously indicated potential future performances in the UAE, fueling anticipation among local fans who are already planning special fan projects and preparing for another ticket battle when regional dates are announced.