As Middle East Film & Comic Con (MEFCC) prepares to return to Abu Dhabi, the UAE’s cosplay community is demonstrating how dressing as fictional characters has grown into a serious creative pursuit — one that combines design, performance, craftsmanship and community.
MEFCC 2026 will take place from September 11 to 13 at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi. The event features dedicated cosplay programming, a cosplay competition, artist spaces, gaming, workshops and other pop-culture attractions.
For UAE cosplayers, however, the appeal goes beyond the convention floor.
Costumes can take weeks or months to develop. Props may be built from inexpensive materials, while experienced creators increasingly incorporate electronics, mechanical components, detailed sewing and stage performance into their work.
A scene built around creativity
Zubair Abdul Rahman, an Emirati cosplayer known for his Myrkul costume from Baldur’s Gate 3, represents the more elaborate end of the hobby.
His costume involved a substantial amount of hands-on construction. The staff alone took around two months to build, incorporating a frame, plastic skeletons and a smoke effect.
That kind of work reflects a wider change in the UAE cosplay scene. Cosplayers are no longer simply putting together outfits; many are learning fabrication, prop-making, design and performance skills in the process.
Wilbert Arthur, who has followed the local scene closely, describes the growth as increasingly visible at major pop-culture events.
Competitions now bring together newcomers alongside experienced creators, with costumes ranging from relatively simple interpretations to highly detailed builds incorporating electronics and mechanical elements.
Judging can involve craftsmanship, accuracy, creativity, difficulty, finishing and stage performance. But technical complexity is not everything. A creator also needs to communicate the character and explain the work behind the costume.
For performers, that transformation is part of the attraction: the aim is to make an audience briefly see the character rather than simply the person wearing the costume.
When cosplay becomes a family activity
For Kat Ausan, cosplay has also become a way to create memories with her daughter, Yuna Kairi Ausan.
Kat’s relationship with MEFCC goes back to the convention’s first edition in Dubai in 2012. Her early cosplay was largely “closet cosplay” — creating character looks from clothes and items she already had.
Her involvement became more serious around 2018 as the Filipino cosplay community in the UAE grew.
Today, she has another reason to look for characters: finding ones that work for both a mother and daughter.
The pair have performed together at MEFCC, including in the Kids Category. Kat says the experience of sharing the stage with her daughter became a particularly memorable family moment.
Creating the costumes is not always straightforward.
Cosplay can be expensive, so Kat looks for ways to control costs while still producing costumes that work visually. Her professional background as a graphic designer also gives her skills that can be applied to different elements of the process.
Her daughter contributes where she can, particularly on creative and prop-related tasks, although Kat handles most of the construction because of her age.
The result is a form of fandom that extends beyond the convention itself: planning, making and performing become shared family activities.
Cosplay as self-expression
Bibi Zumot approaches cosplay from another direction — as a form of personal expression.
His costumes have included characters from a wide range of franchises, with couple and duo cosplay becoming a recurring part of his creative work.
The appeal is not necessarily about reproducing the most technically demanding costume. For Zumot, choosing a character can also be about nostalgia, personality and the opportunity to interpret a favourite fictional figure in a new way.
That openness is one reason the UAE cosplay community continues to attract newcomers.
People can enter through anime, comics, gaming, films or television and gradually develop skills in costume construction, makeup, prop-making or performance.
More than a competition
MEFCC’s official cosplay programming reflects that broader role. The convention describes Cosplay Central as a dedicated space for costume-based experiences and its annual cosplay competition, while its wider programme includes creative workshops aimed at cosplayers and other fandom communities.
The event is also designed as a family-friendly pop-culture experience. Abu Dhabi’s official tourism platform notes that the convention welcomes visitors of different ages and that cosplay is optional for attendees.
For creators, that means the convention can function as more than a stage.
It is a place to meet other makers, exchange ideas, photograph costumes, discover new techniques and encourage people who may be considering their first attempt.
That community element matters in a hobby where the finished costume is only one part of the experience.
MEFCC 2026: what UAE fans should know
MEFCC 2026 takes place at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi from September 11 to 13.
The official event schedule includes celebrity appearances, artist spaces, gaming, anime programming and cosplay activities. Standard one-day tickets are listed at AED 160 for Friday, AED 190 for Saturday and AED 160 for Sunday, while a three-day pass is AED 390. Children aged six and under can enter free, while children aged seven to 11 can purchase tickets at the venue for AED 50.
The official FAQ lists opening hours of 3pm to 11pm on Friday and noon to 11pm on Saturday and Sunday.
For cosplayers, the event’s terms also require costumes and props to comply with UAE laws, cultural expectations and the event’s code of conduct.
As the UAE’s pop-culture calendar expands, cosplay is increasingly becoming part of that ecosystem — not just as entertainment, but as a creative discipline where fans can design, build, perform and connect.
For some, it is a competition. For others, it is a family project or a way to revisit characters that shaped their childhood.
For the growing community around it, it can be all three.
What is MEFCC 2026?
Middle East Film & Comic Con 2026 is a major pop-culture event covering comics, films, television, anime, gaming and cosplay. It takes place at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi from September 11–13, 2026.
Where is MEFCC 2026 being held?
MEFCC 2026 is being held at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi.
When is MEFCC 2026?
The event runs from Friday, September 11, through Sunday, September 13, 2026.
Is cosplay compulsory at Comic Con Abu Dhabi?
No. Visitors do not have to wear costumes to attend. Those who cosplay must follow UAE laws, local cultural expectations and the event’s code of conduct.
Is MEFCC suitable for families?
Yes. The event includes family-oriented entertainment and welcomes visitors of different ages. Children aged six and under can enter free, while children aged seven to 11 can buy tickets at the venue for AED 50.
What do cosplay judges look for?
Cosplay judging can consider factors including craftsmanship, accuracy, creativity, difficulty, finishing, detail and stage performance. The supplied reporting also notes that explaining the construction process can be important during judging.
Can beginners participate in cosplay?
Yes. The UAE cosplay community includes newcomers as well as experienced competitors. MEFCC also promotes cosplay workshops and activities designed to support people interested in the craft.
What is the main attraction of cosplay for UAE creators?
For different creators, cosplay can provide opportunities for artistic expression, costume-making, performance, community participation and family bonding.
