What 250 UAE survey responses reveal
Labubu, the wide-eyed, mischievous art toy, has leapt from niche collectible to viral sensation across social media. But in the UAE, is it just another internet fad or something with staying power?
At UserQ, we asked 250 people across the UAE what they really think. Some have already bought Labubu, others know it but haven’t. Together, they paint a picture of how design, hype, and culture collide.
Public sentiment: Fun, weird, or overhyped?
- Many respondents described Labubu as fun, unique, or artistic.
- Others were blunt: ugly, overrated, or “just a viral thing.”
- The rest landed in the middle.
When asked how they’d explain Labubu to a friend, the tone shifted. Most leaned positively, describing it as nostalgic, collectible, or simply fun to own.
What this tell us: People may be divided in private, but when explaining Labubu to others they tend to emphasize the positives.
Buying behavior: Buyers, dabblers, and non-buyers
Labubu’s presence in the UAE is more than just online chatter, people are opening their wallets, but in different ways.
- 32% (81 people) have bought a Labubu.
- 24% (61 people) haven’t but are considering it.
- 43% (108 people) don’t plan to buy.
This shows a split between early adopters, curious onlookers, and those firmly uninterested.
How many they own
Among buyers, most keep it casual:
1–3 figures: The majority fall here, pointing to impulse or “dabbling.”
4 or more figures: Only 10 people, representing a tiny group of heavy collectors.
Labubu in the UAE is dominated by light ownership rather than deep fandom.
Willingness to Spend
When asked how much they’d pay for a single figure:
No spend at all: 79
Under AED 50: 40
AED 51–80: 27
AED 81–120: 10
Over AED 120: 13
What this shows: Most cap their interest below AED 80. Only a small group, about 9 percent, are willing to pay more.
What might convince non-buyers
For those who haven’t purchased, motivation is less about price and more about relevance:
- Making Labubu feel meaningful
- Seeing it across social media
- Recognizing it as a collectible
- Viewing it as part of fashion/trend culture
In other words, non-buyers want stronger cues that Labubu is more than hype, they need cultural and emotional reasons to join in.
Who are the respondents?
The people we spoke to are not random. They already know Labubu and are a good-fit audience for insights.
- Education: 167 bachelor’s, 61 master’s, 22 post-graduate.
- Digital life: 148 users spend more than 6 hours online daily.
- Devices: 189 prefer smartphones.
- Top daily apps: Shopping, social media, messaging, food delivery, entertainment.
- Employment: Mostly professionals (162 private employees, 39 freelancers, 29 public sector).
- Households: Majority in 2–4 person homes, with incomes ranging from AED 2,500 to well over AED 15,000 per month.
What this shows: Labubu’s UAE audience is educated, tech-savvy, mobile-first, and financially diverse – a consumer group that mirrors how digital trends spread.
Identity check: Collectible or viral toy?
When asked to rank how they see Labubu, five themes stood out:
- Collectible toy
- Fashion or trend item
- Just a viral moment
- Overhyped
- Something meaningful to me
What this shows: Labubu sits between collectible and trend. A minority attach deeper personal meaning.
Who’s driving the buzz?
- Men: More enthusiastic and more likely to describe it positively.
- Women: Positive but more reserved.
- 18–24 year olds: Strongest advocates.
- 25–34: Positive but balanced with skepticism.
- 35–44: Slightly positive.
- 45–59: Neutral and disengaged.
What this shows: Younger audiences are driving the excitement, while older groups mostly dismiss it.
Event potential
When asked if they would attend a Labubu-themed event, respondents were split but leaned toward participation:
- 30% said Yes
- 39% said Maybe
- 31% said No
That means nearly 70 percent of people are open to attending.
What does this tell us?
- Curiosity is high. Even those who haven’t bought Labubu are interested in seeing it in a community setting.
- Events are a conversion tool. Pop-ups, fan meetups, or workshops could shift “maybes” into buyers by making the experience feel more meaningful.
- Format matters. Younger audiences (18–24) are most enthusiastic, so interactive or playful event formats would resonate better than purely commercial ones.
- Community over commerce. For non-buyers, Labubu needs a stronger sense of meaning. Events provide a chance to build that through storytelling, creative experiences, and peer buzz.
What this shows: Labubu’s UAE potential doesn’t stop at online virality. With the right experiential activations, curiosity can be converted into community and loyalty.
Cultural reach in the UAE
The survey reflected the UAE’s cultural mix. Top nationalities represented were:
- Indian (29.6%)
- Pakistani (19.6%)
- Filipino (9.6%)
- Egyptian (5.6%)
- Nigerian (4.4%)
- Syrian (3.2%)
- Jordanian (2.8%)
- Kenyan (2.0%)
- Bangladeshi (2.0%)
- Ethiopian (1.6%)
What this shows: Labubu resonates strongly with South Asian communities, an important audience for brand engagement in the UAE.
What this means for brands and creators
Labubu’s story in the UAE offers clear lessons for anyone building products or experiences:
Buzz isn’t enough. Social media creates awareness, but most buyers stop at one or two figures. Loyalty needs more than hype.
Community matters. Nearly 70% are open to events, a chance to turn casual interest into shared identity.
Meaning drives purchase. Non-buyers want Labubu to feel more relevant. Stories and cultural resonance make products worth owning.
Demographics show direction. Younger adults and South Asian communities are leading adoption, guiding where to focus efforts.
Not everyone will buy. With 43% uninterested, the goal is not mass appeal but nurturing the audiences already leaning in.
Final thoughts
Labubu is not just hype, and it’s not just a collectible. It is both, shaped by demographics, culture, and community.
For brands, the lesson is clear: products rarely live in one category.
They live in the way people talk about them, share them, and attach meaning.
At UserQ, we believe every product, whether a viral toy or a digital platform, should be understood through the voices of real users. Because trends come and go, but listening to users is what turns curiosity into community.
If you are looking to discover in-depth product or consumer-related insights, you can create customized surveys using UserQ’s intuitive survey testing tool. Pick from six question types, including Likert Scale, Rating scale, Free text, Single choice, etc, depending on your need. Read our detailed guide to learn how to create a survey in minutes.
What about you? Have you spotted Labubu in the UAE? Do you think it’s just hype, or the start of a collectible legacy?
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