Tourexpi
Qatar Duty Free Opens the Middle East’s First POP MART Store at Hamad International Airport
Qatar Duty Free (QDF) has opened the Middle East’s
first POP MART store at Hamad International Airport (HIA), marking a new
milestone in the region’s travel retail landscape. The launch featured a
dynamic travel-themed fashion show, blending art, fashion, and pop culture, and
was attended by international influencers and friends of the brand.
A playful world of collectibles
Located in HIA’s North Node near Gate C18, the
100-square-metre boutique brings POP MART’s vibrant universe of designer
collectibles to travellers across the Middle East. The store offers a curated
selection of travel exclusives, headlined by the “Twinkle Twinkle Wonderful
Journey Series”, a new collection designed especially for global travellers.
Items include card holders, travel pillows, storage bags, and crossbody bags,
celebrating the theme of “pop culture companionship on the go.”
Travellers can also enjoy a Qatar-exclusive gift — a limited-edition
blanket featuring traditional Qatari motifs and POP MART characters, available
with qualifying purchases.
Redefining airport retail
“This first-in-the-region concept reflects our drive
to redefine airport and regional retail,” said Thabet Musleh, Qatar Airways
Group Chief Retail & Hospitality Officer. “POP MART brings creativity and
joy to our retail mix and perfectly aligns with our vision to surprise
travellers with exclusive, experience-centric concepts.”
Justin Moon, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating
Officer of POP MART International Group, added: “By blending Qatar’s rich
culture with our playful characters, we’re creating more than a store — we’re
building a new global benchmark for how pop culture connects with local
communities.”
A new standard for travel retail
Open 24/7, the store fuses modern architecture with
Middle Eastern design influences, reflecting both POP MART’s artistic flair and
Qatar Duty Free’s commitment to innovation. The partnership marks POP MART’s debut
in the Middle East and reinforces QDF’s role in shaping next-generation travel
experiences, turning every journey through Hamad International Airport into a
moment of discovery and delight.
Image
Credit: © Qatar Airways
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