McDonald’s Bahrain has launched a campaign that tied the price of its dip sauces to movements in the Nasdaq index. The ‘Buy the Dip’ promotion, developed with creative agency LEO UAE, ran from the end of June to the end of July 2025 and aimed to turn market volatility into a brand engagement opportunity.
The idea drew on a specific local insight that buying US stocks is common among traders in Bahrain. The Nasdaq index, driven largely by big technology companies, is one of the most closely followed by this audience and is known for its frequent fluctuations. This volatility made the connection between stock market “dips” and McDonald’s dip sauces both timely and culturally relevant.
According to the brand, the goal was to tap into a conversation already happening among consumers. By combining the language of finance with a familiar menu item, McDonald’s sought to drive awareness and engagement in a way that felt unexpected but rooted in local habits.
The campaign was delivered through multiple channels. Out-of-home placements appeared in Bahrain’s financial district, while digital banners ran across trading platforms and financial news websites. The centrepiece was an in-app mechanic featuring limited-edition ‘Dip Bundles’ redeemable using loyalty points, with the points required linked to the Nasdaq index.
Although the pricing mechanic did not update in real time, the brand monitored the index regularly and adjusted point values hourly. When the Nasdaq dipped, the number of points required for redemption fell accordingly.
“The market dips, and so do we,” said Ahmad Jasser, General Manager at McDonald’s Bahrain. “When tariffs affected the stock market, we saw an opportunity to join the conversation in a fun, relevant way. This campaign turns a moment of volatility into a reminder that not all dips are bad news.”
Victor Haffling, Associate Creative Director at LEO UAE, added: “Historically, McDonald’s dip sauces have consistently outperformed stocks, in flavour and satisfaction.”
Credits
Client: McDonald’s Bahrain
Ahmad Jasser – General Manager McDonald’s Bahrain
Eman Khorrami – Marketing Consultant McDonald’s Bahrain
Sajida Mahdi – Digital Marketing Coordinator McDonald’s Bahrain
Creative agency: LEO UAE
Michael Tadrous – Senior Creative Director
Karim ZeinElAbedin – Senior Creative Director
Victor Haffling – Associate Creative Director
Jhon Igua – Senior Art Director
Mohamed Saleh – Senior Designer
Mahmoud Jaber – Business Director
Mazen AlNaqib – Associate Business Director
Hani Abi Haidar – Communications & Project Management Executive
