Home Integrator
ANIME AND POP CULTURE ICONS TO DRIVE UAE TOY MARKET GROWTH IN 2026
From teens to seasoned collectors, the momentum built in 2025 continues to drive demand for anime and pop-culture collectibles across the UAE and global markets, positioning the toy sector for strong growth in 2026. Once seen as a childhood hobby, collectibles have evolved into a cultural phenomenon driven by social trends.
“A growing appreciation for storytelling, personal engagement, and fear of missing out on emerging trends has fuelled the rapid expansion of the collectibles market in the UAE,” said Hassan Tamimi, CEO of The Little Things.

Articulated and poseable figures have gained strong traction among collectors. “In 2025, brands such as SH Figuarts, Hot Toys, and ZD Toys recorded strong sales in the UAE, reflecting surging demand for figures that allow customization, scene recreation, and creative play,” noted Tamimi.
Commenting on exclusivity, which continues to be a key driver in the market, he said, “Limited-edition figures, blind-box formats and character-led merchandise emerged as key growth drivers, showcasing how collectibles are viewed as a statement rather than just children’s toys. Moreover, these collectibles are also finding appeal as distinctive gift items.”
“The shift is also evident among Gen Z, with the rising demand for plush keychains and trinkets from brands such as Sanrio, Pokémon, and Monchhichi, portable and personal accessories that double as an expression of individuality through playful, nostalgic, and customizable designs,” added Tamimi.
Brands like Funko continue to drive demand, with fans pre-ordering releases, lining up in stores, and attending events to secure their favorites.
Notably, among the pop-culture collectibles, LABUBU stood out as the most popular in the UAE and globally in 2025. Created by Hong Kong-born, Netherlands-raised illustrator Kasing Lung, the character gained significant popularity among the collectors. POP MART, known for its wide range of collectible figures, has also seen strong growth and fan engagement in the region. Other intellectual properties like CRYBABY, SKULLPANDA, HIRONO, and DIMOO have emerged as fan favorites in recent months.
“Nostalgia plays a significant role in today’s collectible market,” Tamimi said, “Many fans who grew up collecting toys and watching pop-culture classics now have adult purchasing power to buy the items they once wished to own, creating a market where nostalgia meets aspiration.”
Looking ahead to 2026 toy market in the UAE, Tamimi shared toy companies are expected to push creative boundaries further matching the evolving expectations of fans. “Collectible brands will likely explore more interactive, customizable and limited-edition releases in 2026,” he added.
Commenting on the growing pop-culture collectibles community in the UAE, Tamimi added that the UAE hosts several pop-culture and toy festivals throughout the year including the annual Middle East Film & Comic Con (MEFCC), which continues to fuel fan engagement and growth. Another key event happening in February this year ‘Animenia’- five days of anime, live music, and Japanese pop culture attracting fans and collectors’ enthusiasts from across the region.
Home Integrator
PLANRADAR LAUNCHES “CONSTRUCTION SITE TEMPLATES PLAYBOOK” TO HELP GCC PROJECT TEAMS IMPROVE DAILY SITE EXECUTION CONTROL
PlanRadar, a digital platform for construction and real estate project management, has launched the Construction Site Templates Playbook, a new practical guide designed to help project teams strengthen day-to-day execution control through disciplined, repeatable site documentation.
As construction and real estate developments across the GCC increase in scale and complexity, site teams operate under continuous pressure: multiple trades working in parallel, frequent inspections, tight programmes, and strict compliance requirements. In this environment, performance issues often begin with simple breakdowns—unclear scope clarifications, delayed approvals, missed inspections, fragmented safety reporting, and incomplete records—then surface later during audits, handover, or dispute resolution when time and cost impacts are already locked in.
The Construction Site Templates Playbook addresses this challenge by positioning templates not as administrative paperwork, but as operational control points that help teams capture, verify, and act on information consistently across the project lifecycle. The playbook consolidates the most essential site templates into five execution pillars:
- Construction & Commercial Control (scope clarifications, inspections, approvals, change control)
- Health, Safety & Environment (HSE) (hazard identification, permits to work, incident reporting, compliance records)
- Quality & Inspections (structured verification, defects and non-conformance control, commissioning readiness)
- Progress & Coordination (daily reporting, look-ahead planning, constraint tracking, coordination actions)
- Materials & Logistics (material approvals, delivery inspections, traceable acceptance before installation)
The guide also introduces a practical “Execution Loop”, outlining the sequential stages of planning, executing, inspecting, correcting, and ultimately approving and closing. This approach demonstrates how the templates work together as a unified, disciplined system that enhances accountability, ensures traceability, and accelerates on-site decision-making.
“Successful delivery depends on more than planning—it depends on execution discipline,” said Ibrahim Imam, CEO and Co-Founder of PlanRadar “When clarifications, inspections, approvals, and corrective actions are captured consistently and tied to the right locations and evidence, site teams reduce ambiguity, protect quality, strengthen compliance, and improve handover readiness. This playbook is designed to make those controls practical and repeatable on every project.”
While the playbook can be applied in manual environments, it also highlights how structured digital workflows strengthen template usage by improving ownership, visibility, and audit readiness. By digitising templates, site records become time-stamped, traceable, and location-linked—reducing common challenges such as missing paperwork, delayed approvals, duplicated records, and unclear responsibility.
The Construction Site Templates Playbook is available in English and Arabic and is intended for developers, consultants, main contractors, subcontractors, and site teams involved in construction and real estate delivery across the GCC.
Home Integrator
CALLIGARIS: A CENTURY OF ITALIAN DESIGN, CURATED FOR THE UAE BY WESTERN FURNITURE

For over three decades, Western Furniture has been synonymous with luxury interiors and European design excellence. As the exclusive partner of Calligaris in the UAE, it continues to bring Italian craftsmanship and innovation closer to homeowners and design enthusiasts.
A Century of Italian Excellence
Founded in 1923 by Antonio Calligaris in Manzano, Italy, the brand began as a family workshop crafting wooden chairs, including the now-iconic Marocca. Over the past century, Calligaris has grown into an international design house offering a complete range of furniture and accessories, combining tradition, technology, and artistry to define modern living.
Through its exclusive partnership with Western Furniture, the essence of Made in Italy continues to flourish in the UAE, uniting design heritage with contemporary sensibility.
Discover a curated selection of Calligaris’ most admired designs below.
The Ginza Sofa captures the essence of modern comfort with its soft, flowing lines and 1970s-inspired organic curves. Its modular design allows for multiple configurations, creating a sense of warmth and sophistication in any space.
Evoking the hues of dawn and dusk, the Sky Rug brings a poetic touch to interiors. Its delicate color gradients and textured weave create a calming, atmospheric foundation for the living space.
The Oleandro Lounge Chair offers a perfect balance of structure and softness. Its wooden base and plush upholstery combine craftsmanship and comfort in a design that’s both tactile and timeless.
Sculptural and refined, the Mushroom Coffee and Side Tables feature bush-hammered glass tops and subtly tilted wooden bases, striking a balance between elegance and lightness.
Minimal yet expressive, the Glen Dining Chair unites geometry and proportion in a sleek, enveloping form that delivers ergonomic comfort and enduring appeal.


The Onda Dining Chair, with its sinuous, wave-inspired lines and slender metal legs, conveys a sense of movement and contemporary grace.
The Alterego Sideboard introduces sculptural sophistication with its three-dimensional door fronts, creating depth, shadow, and a strong focal point for modern interiors.


Home Integrator
RENEW YOUR SPACE WITH NATUZZI ITALIA: A NEW YEAR, REFINED THROUGH DESIGN

Dubai, UAE – January 2026: This new year, reset your rhythm, refresh your surroundings, and renew your way of living — with Natuzzi Italia. where a new environment sets the tone for a fresh start. Natuzzi Italia offers inspiration for every room of the home, with refined designs that combine comfort, style, and timeless Italian craftsmanship. From the award-winning Amama collection to the serene elegance of Habita, each piece is designed to elevate daily living.
HABITA by Mauro Lipparini

Essential lines and timeless harmony define Habita — a serene living concept where design and well-being coexist in perfect balance.
At its heart is a sculptural, modular sofa with generous proportions, refined upholstery, and enveloping curves, designed for comfort, sharing, and flexibility. Premium padding and thoughtful detailing ensure a relaxed yet elegant experience, adapting effortlessly to different spaces.
Habita is not just a collection — it is a way of living.

The collection is completed by an elegant yet functional coffee table and a striking monolithic dining table, fully lacquered in high-gloss finish. With its organic lines and integrated rotating lazy susan, the dining table seamlessly merges practicality with sculptural appeal.
Amama collection

Amama is a compositional project that redefines conviviality and versatility. It is a modular island sofa designed to shape space, offering the possibility of double-sided configurations for a modern and unusual living experience. Reflecting on architecture and ways of living, the armrest or backrest can become functional elements such as a shelf, table, or even a container.

It is a dynamic project where multiple elements of different textures and materials coexist in a play of overlaps and geometries, opening up to multi-directionality and multifunctionality, combining comfort with freedom of composition and use. It represents a new approach to living that balances aesthetics, flexibility, and functionality, extended by living and dining elements of the same collection.

The soft textures and shapes of Amama harmonize with Verde Antigua marble displays, while furnishings and decorative objects engage in a palette inspired by earth and sea. The result is an immersive experience designed to engage all senses and convey the idea of a harmonious and welcoming home.
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