McDonald’s Qatar Turns Menu Items into Currency with ‘The McDonald’s Exchange Rate’

In a playful twist on currency markets, McDonald’s Qatar, in partnership with Leo Burnett Dubai, has launched the McDonald’s Exchange Rate - a first-of-its-kind digital platform that establishes real-time trading values between McDonald’s menu items.

Available on the McDonald’s app, the Exchange Rate helps resolve one of the most common (and comical) tensions among fast food fans: negotiating fair trades when sharing meals. Whether it’s deciding how many fries equal a McNugget, or what a McChicken is worth in sips of soda, the platform provides a clear, item-to-item exchange - ensuring every trade is equitable and every bite accounted for.

This system assigns menu values based on a mix of price, popularity, and what the brand calls 'overall deliciousness.' With rates for fan-favourite items - from Cheeseburgers and McFlurrys to Chicken McNuggets and Big Macs - the Exchange Rate turns casual food sharing into a dynamic, gamified experience.

“This campaign taps into a universal truth: the most shareable items are often the most fought over,” said Sara Abuobeid, senior marketing manager at McDonald’s Qatar. “By turning our menu into a live exchange system, we’ve created a new way for fans to engage with the brand and each other—bringing fairness, fun, and even a little finance to food.”

Beyond the app, exchange rates were displayed across tray mats, digital screens inside restaurants, and even as stickers on product packaging. Fans who shared photos of their in-person food trades were rewarded with free fries, reinforcing the idea of food as currency.

“For many, sharing food has always been a dangerous game. Taking someone’s McNugget could very well end friendships. But now, with the McDonald’s Exchange Rate, you can trade without any hard feelings or Quarter Pounder-related betrayals,” says Victor Haffling, associate creative director at Leo Burnett Dubai.

"At its heart, McDonald’s is about bringing people together over food. The McDonald’s Exchange Rate captures this spirit by turning a playful food-sharing dilemma into a fun, fair experience that reflects the brand’s focus towards creating joyful moments," says Mazen Al Naqib, senior manager, Leo Burnett Dubai.

The campaign’s fine print, listed as Terms and Condiments within the app, cheekily notes that the brand “assumes no responsibility for arguments over the value of Big Tasty bites or miscalculated McFlurry spoonful.”