UAE Businesses Harness Pop Culture Trends

Pop Culture in Coffee and Coats – UAE's Trend Utilization

Increasingly, small businesses in the United Arab Emirates recognize that internet trends and pop cultural references can not only capture fleeting attention but also build genuine long-term customer loyalty. Whether inspired by plush toy beverages or Disney character backpacks, trend-savvy entrepreneurs continuously come up with new creative solutions to stand out in the competition.

Matcha and Labubu: The Green Recipe for Success

A popular café in Sharjah, MEET Café, recently introduced a Labubu-style matcha drink and observed an immediate surge in sales by 20–30 percent. Labubu, a particularly popular plush figure, has cultivated a massive fan base in the UAE, making the introduction of a drink named after it a brilliant move.

The café didn't stop there: it also introduced a loyalty card system, offering a free Labubu toy after completing the stamp collection. This concept taps into impulse buying and experiences, while providing a quality product and unique atmosphere.

Stitch, the Unexpected Bestseller

A local artist, who creates clothing and accessories with hand-drawn designs, initially did not plan to create Disney character products. However, upon a customer's request, she crafted the first Stitch-inspired sweater, and an influx of orders followed after an Instagram post.

The trend extended to school products as well: even less sought-after backpacks sold out after featuring Stitch's character. Although demand was immense, due to the time-consuming nature of handcrafted graphics, the artist refrained from engaging with every trend – for instance, she let go of producing Labubu-inspired wallets to avoid overburdening herself.

When Marketing Enter the Drama

Pop culture appears not just in products but in social media content too. For example, a Lebanese restaurant responded to a famous online personality's breakup in a TikTok post, clearly taking a side in the story. While it became the most popular video on the platform for the restaurant, the actual business impact isn't clear – however, the attention to the brand and social media presence alone holds considerable value.

What Can We Learn from This?

UAE's small businesses set an excellent example of how to utilize the rapidly changing world of pop culture not only as a marketing tool but also as a brand-building strategy. Quickly reacting to a trend can increase sales and bring in new customer segments, yet the real key to success lies in quality products, a unique experience, and establishing long-term customer relationships.

(Source of the article is based on UAE café announcements.)