Crunchyroll is heading to Middle East Film & Comic Con for the first time, giving UAE anime fans a dedicated presence from one of the industry’s biggest streaming platforms when MEFCC 2026 opens in Abu Dhabi next month.
The company will make its UAE event debut at ADNEC Center from September 11 to 13, taking over booth N11 and sponsoring MEFCC’s Otaku District. Its presence will combine merchandise, giveaways and interactive attractions built around some of anime’s most recognisable franchises.
JUJUTSU KAISEN fans will be able to try a Reaction Wall, a reflex-based game that challenges visitors to hit illuminated targets and compete for higher scores. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba gets a more camera-friendly attraction, with a large Tanjiro Kamado inflatable serving as a dedicated photo opportunity.
Crunchyroll will also sell officially licensed anime merchandise spanning apparel, accessories and collectibles. Visitors can pick up promotional items including Crunchyroll sticker sheets, Solo Leveling posters and JUJUTSU KAISEN cards, although availability will presumably depend on supplies across the three-day event.
The booth itself is fairly conventional convention fare, but Crunchyroll choosing MEFCC for its first UAE fan activation is more significant than the individual attractions. Anime has developed a substantial audience across the Middle East, and international entertainment companies have increasingly been treating the region as a market requiring localisation rather than simply distributing the same global offering.
Crunchyroll says its streaming catalogue now includes more than 1,300 anime titles with Arabic subtitles, alongside an expanding selection of Arabic dubs and seasonal simulcasts. Subscribers also receive access to Crunchyroll Game Vault, which currently contains more than 80 games. UAE subscriptions start at AED 21.99.
That localisation push is particularly important for anime streaming, where language support and access to new episodes close to their Japanese broadcasts can have a significant impact on whether viewers choose legitimate services over unofficial alternatives. A physical presence at a major regional fan convention gives Crunchyroll another way to turn that digital audience into a more visible community.
MEFCC has long provided a meeting point for gaming, comics, film, cosplay and anime fandom in the UAE, making it a logical venue for Crunchyroll to test a larger consumer-facing presence. The company sits within Sony’s broader entertainment ecosystem as a joint venture between Sony Pictures Entertainment and Aniplex, giving it access to a sizeable pipeline of Japanese entertainment alongside its streaming operation.
For visitors, the immediate attraction will be the chance to shop, play and grab some anime freebies. For Crunchyroll, however, MEFCC 2026 looks more like a statement that the Middle East is becoming important enough to warrant direct, local engagement with its anime audience.
