As part of the IPX and Experience 11 partnership, ZO&FRIENDS will make its regional debut through a special pop-up store at Yas Mall, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, UAE, in the first quarter of 2026. IPX, the powerhouse behind global Korean brands such as LINE FRIENDS, has established its first-ever Middle East partnership with Experience 11, a leader in cultural commerce collaborations.
Experience 11 is the anime and IP business of K11 by AC, a global cultural brand founded by renowned Hong Kong entrepreneur Adrian Cheng. With extensive art and exhibition expertise, the company’s core differentiation lies in its creative use of cultural content, co-creation of brand experience, and strong CRM capabilities targeting younger and more affluent demographics.
Meanwhile, IPX boasts a wide range of character intellectual properties (IPs) and collaborations with top artists such as BT21 (with BTS), ZO&FRIENDS (with G-DRAGON), zeroni (with ZEROBASEONE), minini, WADE, JOGUMAN, and DINOTAENG, among several others.
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The move also marks the regional debut for ZO&FRIENDS, an IP brand co-created by IPX and G-DRAGON, followed by other popular IPs in IPX’s extensive portfolio. As part of this partnership, ZO&FRIENDS will make its debut through a special pop-up store at Yas Mall, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi in the first quarter of 2026.
The official launch of the new character IP ZO&FRIENDS has quickly garnered fans and consumers’ attention as a global icon. It sets the stage for a new chapter of innovation — introducing immersive offerings designed to captivate fans in the Middle East.
Commenting on the partnership, Richard Cheung, Group CEO of K11 by AC, said, “We are thrilled to partner with IPX, which is debuting in the Middle East for the first time. This partnership underscores our commitment to introducing dynamic global Anime and Pop IPs to the region, fostering cultural commerce exchange, and creating unforgettable experiences for our audiences. The growing interest in Korean culture across the Middle East makes this the perfect moment to debut such an iconic character IP.”
The Middle East — particularly the UAE — has become a key market for Korean cultural exports, with the region’s well-publicised ‘youth bulge’ and growing Gen Z and Gen Alpha consumer base. A number of government-backed strategic initiatives are accelerating this market growth, especially the plan to create a “K-City” in the UAE destined to be the new hub promoting K-pop culture.
Experience 11 has been serving as a comprehensive IP retail platform, igniting fandom, bringing traffic and tangible merchandising benefits, and unlocking the IP’s cultural tourism potential.
This collaboration builds on a series of IP retail and entertainment ventures by K11 by AC in the Middle East, cementing its pioneer position in the region.
Experience 11 will now serve as the official distributor, contributing to innovative IP activations across key Middle East markets, where interests in K-pop and Korean culture have surged in recent years.
The main businesses of IPX include developing digital character IPs based on its creative capability, operation of its along with official on-offline stores through rapid digital transformation reflecting millennials and Generation Z trends worldwide, and partnership with leading global brands.
Recently, IPX is diversifying its IP portfolio targeting all age groups and advancing its digital IP business and retail business to strengthen its global expansion of IP business, both online and offline.
