Today's Edition
BATOOL GHAITH (ABU DHABI)
For Emirati cosplayer Fatma Coser, what began quietly as a hobby at home has grown into a creative expression that now places her in front of thousands of fans at Middle East Film & Comic Con (MEFCC) in Abu Dhabi.
The 29-year-old is the only Emirati cosplayer who participated at this year’s event, which concluded on Sunday.
“I am proud of what I am doing because this is an art and I am very passionate about it,” Fatma Alhammadi told Aletihad on Sunday on the sidelines of the MEFCC.
Coser is attending MEFCC dressed as Kento Nanami from Jujutsu Kaisen, a character she chose partly because the costume allowed her to remain modest while also giving her room to experiment with styling and makeup.
As a makeup enthusiast, she said she is drawn to characters with distinctive visual features and that she originally started cosplay through her interest in anime and makeup.
Her first attempt was in 2021, when she started recreating characters at home and filming TikTok videos.
By 2022, she had started attending smaller community events before moving on to larger gatherings including Comic Con.
This year marks her fourth appearance at MEFCC.
The event itself has become one of the region’s largest pop culture platforms, bringing together anime, gaming, comics, cosplay, film and television at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi from September 11 to 13.
For local creatives such as Coser, the platform means greater visibility.
“Being recognised by fans is still new to me but it is exciting, I enjoy meeting people, taking photos and answering questions from people who have questions about cosplay,” Coser explained.
“I am excited to meet fans and to guide them if someone needs help,” she added.
Coser said she deliberately looks for characters whose clothing can be adapted or worn in a way that is in keeping with modesty.
She admitted that some people may still view cosplay as unusual, but that has not changed how she sees the craft.
Coser noted that the size and visibility of the community around her have changed noticeably over the years.
In the past, fan culture in the UAE was more strongly associated only with franchises such as Marvel and DC, she said, but anime now receives far more attention, with a much broader fan base and community around it.
That shift is also visible at MEFCC itself. This year’s event includes a dedicated Cosplay Central zone, where participants can meet professional cosplayers, connect with the wider community and take part in the annual competition.
For Coser, that sense of community matters as much as the costumes and events. “I am very happy to be here at MEFCC and to see people of all ages, even kids, be able to express their love for anime and different characters,” she added.
Her advice to other young creatives is to stay committed to what they care about, even when others do not immediately understand it.
“I like people who are passionate about what they are doing and keep their spirits up, do not allow anybody let you down,” she said.
