Labubu’s adorn a Louis Vuitton Monogram mini top-handle bag at Copenhagen Fashion Week in August, 2025. (Photo by Edward Berthelot/Getty Images)
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Qatar Duty Free (QDF), a Qatar Airways division, will open the first-ever Pop Mart store in the Middle East in October at Hamad International Airport where demand for the Chinese company’s big-eyed, toothy—and a little bit scary—Labubu line of collectible figures is expected to be fierce.
Pop Mart—founded by billionaire Wang Ning, whose wealth surpassed Alibaba cofounder Jack Ma in August on the back of the Labubu craze—specializes in a range of designer collectibles, but most eyes will be one IP, part of Pop Mart’s ‘The Monsters’ series.
Preparations for the new store at Hamad International—Qatar Airways’ hub—are underway at the airport. Justin Moon, promoted to senior vice president and co-chief operating officer of Pop Mart in April having been (and still) president of the international business for almost seven years, said in a statement: “We hope this store at Hamad Airport grows with our local fan community and brings joy to all, be it regional shoppers grabbing a treat or global travelers taking a souvenir home.”
Even without stores in the Middle East, Labubu demand has exploded in the region. A recent Valentino pop-up in Dubai gave away limited-edition Labubus to VIPs while Lisa from South Korea’s Blackpink girl group and Rihanna clipping Labubus to their designer bags has helped fuel interest from shoppers ranging from fashionistas and ‘kidults’ (adult collectors), to pop-culture enthusiasts.
Qatar Duty Free is preparing for the first Pop Mart store in the Middle East in October.
Qatar Duty Free
Careem, the Middle East’s super app, originally launched as a ride-hailing platform and acquired by Uber in 2020, launched Labubu deliveries in Dubai and Abu Dhabi costing roughly $85 for a blind box where buyers don’t know the exact design they will receive until they open the package. The entire run sold out within hours, according to culture magazine Rave.
Labubu still has clout
While some say that the Labubu craze is going off the boil in some regions, in part due to counterfeit products, it is only just starting in others. QDF will reap the rewards of being a first mover in the Middle East, especially as it is promising some exclusive merchandise and new launches.
Thabet Musleh, Qatar Airways group chief retail and hospitality officer, commented: “Pop Mart has become a cultural phenomenon, and we’re thrilled to land its first store in the region. At Qatar Duty Free, we are committed to offering travelers something fresh and surprising at every turn, and this store will do exactly that. It adds a whole new dimension to the retail experience at the airport.”
Labubu drives eye-watering growth
Hong Kong-listed Pop Mart’s most recent results for the six months ended June 2025 showed top-line growth of more than 200% reaching around $1.95 billion while profits soared by an even more astonishing 400%. Across the various artist IPs within the company, The Monsters, Molly, and Skullpanda generated approximate revenues of $685 million, $190 million, and $171 million respectively during the reporting period.
The Monsters’ growth was largely due to Labubu emerging as one of the world’s most sought-after IPs in the first half of 2025. Helping sales, in what is The Monsters 10th anniversary year, was the launch of the third generation of the Labubu Vinyl Plush ‘Big into Energy’ series, which captivated fans worldwide.
The Americas in particular saw explosive growth of more than 1000% taking its regional share from 4% in H1 2024 to over 16%. As a result, China’s share shrank from 77% to 60% despite good growth of 135%.
Europe and other regions including the Middle East are yet to make much of an impact with a share of global sales at 1.3% in H1 2024, more than doubling to 3.5% in H1 2025, as growth increased by 730%. This represents an opportunity for Labubu sales and augurs well for the Pop Mart store opening in October at Qatar’s Hamad Airport while also underscoring QDF’s leading role in setting new benchmarks in global travel retail.
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