Those cheap hot dogs sold just inside IKEA stores? In the UAE, they've been supersized.
IKEA's in-store bistros and restaurants have long been a stroke of commercial genius. Loss-leading hot dogs and meatballs lure millions through the door and keep them fueled through marathon furniture runs. Introduced on 30 January 2026, the retailer's new hot dog stretches to nearly 50 centimeters, dwarfing the standard version and priced at a modest AED 19 (around USD 5).
For context, the iconic blue FRAKTA bag is just 5 cm bigger. IKEA leaned into the inherent comedy of scale — something so ridiculous it demands to be photographed, shared and discussed. The visual absurdity is the point: images of shoppers clutching what looks like a pool noodle on a bun spread rapidly across social media, turning a food court novelty into a viral moment. And unlike many social-first stunts, this one delivers tangible value: it's a real product, at a real price, available at real stores.
TREND BITE
In a media landscape fractured by algorithms and niche feeds, breaking through requires either surgical precision or sheer spectacle. IKEA chose spectacle. The half-meter hot dog taps into what we've dubbed ABSURDDITIES: the growing recognition that maximalist, deliberately over-the-top moves are among the most reliable ways to create shared cultural moments. When nearly a third of social media users log on specifically to find out what everyone's talking about, brands that manufacture unmissable absurdity earn attention that traditional advertising struggles to buy.