BTS fans in the UAE react to K-pop group's latest anthology album 'Proof'

'The album is very emotional,' says fan and Dubai resident Khadija Kadry

BTS through the years: the K-pop band at the Korean Culture Convention (K-Con), held at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena on August 10, 2014. AFP

Members of BTS arrive on the red carpet for K-Con 2014. AFP

BTS on the red carpet for the Asia Artist Awards in Seoul on November 16, 2016. AFP

Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V and JungKook of BTS at Music Choice in New York City on March 22, 2017. Getty

BTS perform Fake Love at the Billboard Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on May 20, 2018. AP

BTS accept the Top Social Artist award at the Billboard Music Awards on May 20, 2018. Reuters

BTS attend the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly on September 24, 2018. AP

BTS perform during a Korean cultural event in Paris as part of the South Korean president's official visit to France on October 14, 2018. AFP

BTS on the red carpet at the Mnet Asian Music Awards in Hong Kong on December 14, 2018. AP

BTS at the Seoul Music Awards on January 15, 2019. Getty

BTS present the award for Best R&B Album during the 61st Grammy Awards on February 10, 2019, in Los Angeles. AFP

BTS perform on Saturday Night Live on April 11, 2019. Getty

BTS before rehearsals for KBS 2TV's Music Bank in Yeouido, Seoul, on April 19, 2019. Getty

BTS perform at concert to promote 18th Fina World Championships at a stadium in Gwangju, South Korea on April 28, 2019. EPA

BTS and Halsey performing Boy With Luv at the Billboard Music Awards on May 1, 2019. Reuters

BTS attend Youth Day at the Presidential Blue House in Seoul on September 19, 2020. Reuters

BTS present a purple gift box to President Moon Jae-in during the inaugural Youth Day event in Seoul on September 19, 2020. EPA

BTS on the red carpet during the annual Mama Awards at Nagoya Dome in Nagoya, Japan, on December 4, 2019. Reuters

BTS at the 34st annual Golden Disk Awards ceremony in Seoul on January 4, 2020. EPA

BTS arrive at the 62nd annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on January 26, 2020. AP

BTS visit the Today Show at Rockefeller Plaza in New York City on February 21, 2020. AFP

BTS give an address as part of the YouTube Originals Dear Class of 2020 speeches. YouTube Originals

BTS performing as part of the YouTube Originals Dear Class of 2020 speeches. YouTube Originals

BTS perform 'Dynamite' during the MTV Video Music Awards on August 30, 2020. Reuters

BTS accept the award for Best Pop Video for 'On' during the MTV Video Music Awards on August 30, 2020. AP

BTS arrives to security check-in at the United Nations headquarters during the 76th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York on September 20, 2021. AFP

V, Suga, Jin, Jungkook, RM, Jimin and J-Hope of BTS arrive at the 2021 American Music Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, California on November 21, 2021. Reuters

BTS accepts the award for artist of the year at the American Music Awards in 2021 at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. AP

Jin, Suga, V, Jungkook, RM, Jimin, and J-Hope of BTS hold their award for the Favourite Pop Song, Favourite Duo or Group and Artist of the Year awards during the 2021 American Music Awards. Reuters

BTS pose on red carpet of iHeartRadio Jingle Ball concert in California on December 3, 2021. Reuters

BTS perform at Jamsil Olympic Park in southern Seoul, South Korea on March 10, 2022. EPA

BTS pose on red carpet of 64th Annual Grammy Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on April 3, 2022. Reuters

BTS perform Butter during 64th Annual Grammy Awards show in Las Vegas, Nevada on April 3, 2022. Reuters

BTS Permission to Dance concert in Las Vegas on April 10, 2022. Photo: Big Hit Music

Members of BTS join Karine Jean-Pierre, White House press secretary, centre, during a news conference at the White House in Washington DC on May 31, 2022. Photo: Oliver Contreras / Sipa / Bloomberg

BTS fans around the world rejoiced when the K-pop group released their new compilation album Proof on Friday.

The triple-album consists of 48 songs and features a mix of old favourites, solo tracks and unreleased demos.

However, there are three new songs: Yet to Come (The Most Beautiful Moment), For Youth and Run BTS.

The anthology album has been praised by fans, but what do Army (the unmistakable moniker for BTS fans) in the UAE think of it?

Scroll through the gallery above to see BTS through the years

Majda Rafii, 38, who lives in Dubai, first became interested in BTS during the start of the pandemic.

“I listened to their song Life Goes On which sparked my interest in their music,” she says. “From then on, I became a fan and learned more about their music, track debuts and shows.”

She says she really enjoys the new album because it encompasses a lot of what BTS has worked for. “They captured their different eras, nine years of hard work in one chapter, that ends beautifully and a new one to begin altogether,” she says.

Another fan who discovered the band around the same time is Khadija Kadry. She says her favourite song from the album is For Youth, describing it as a "very special song dedicated to Army" and one she can't wait to see them perform live one day.

Like Rafii, she's also believes that album is a special tribute to fans.

"The album is very emotional and definitely made for Army, the lyrics the selected songs the messages behind each track the fans could only understand and relate to," she says.

Meanwhile, Alaa Hussein, 27, also a Dubai resident, has been listening to BTS since 2015. She agrees that Proof is a celebration of everything that's been accomplished thus far in their careers.

“Today when I listened to the new song Yet to Come, with its strong and meaningful lyrics, I can say that it's a celebration of their history and all their years together, it's how they are proud of their body of work of nearly 10 years, which is their greatest legacy because BTS are indeed bulletproof,” she says.

Reem Al Mujaini, who became a fan last year, remembers how she saw a video of member RM tearing up at a concert and telling fans to "please use BTS to love yourself". Since then, she has become hooked on the band.

Her favourite track from the new album is Yet to Come (The Most Beautiful Moment), which has a similiar theme to Life Goes On. Both tracks offer optimism for the future.

She says that the songs have also given her hope again on a personal level.

"I loved the idea of collecting their songs and history of their achievements during their 20s. A new chapter is about to start with them," she says. "I believe I'm not the only Army who was worried when the idea was released, we were afraid that it was a goodbye from them."

Scroll through the gallery to see BTS meeting US President Joe Biden at the White House.