Inside the Labubu Craze: How This Toothy Toy Took Over the UAE's Cool Crowd

It’s got sharp teeth, wild hair, and a half-creepy, half-cute grin. It doesn’t speak, it doesn’t move, and it fits in your hand. Still, Labubu — a mischievous figurine from Chinese toy empire Pop Mart — has become the accessory of the moment. From TikTok to boutique shelves, Dubai is deep in a Labubu fever. If it hasn’t hit you yet, it will.

You’ve probably spotted one already — clipped onto a Prada bag at Dubai Mall or casually flexed in an unboxing haul on your feed. Maybe you’ve stood in line at The Little Things, or cracked open a blind box just to chase that elusive rare. No matter how it found you, one thing’s certain: Labubu is everywhere, and this craze isn’t slowing down.

What Exactly Is Labubu?

Think of a forest sprite that walked straight out of a surreal dream — with big, curious eyes, untamed hair, and tiny fanged teeth. Designed by Hong Kong artist Kasing Lung as part of The Monsters series, Labubu is the anti-cute toy: odd, expressive, and proudly imperfect. It doesn’t aim to be pretty — it aims to be unforgettable.

Released by Pop Mart, the company fueling Asia’s blind-box boom, Labubu stands out in a sea of polished collectibles. It’s not symmetrical or sweet. It’s strange, raw, and entirely its own thing. And in a digital world obsessed with aesthetics, that’s precisely why people are obsessed.