World Heist hits UK: will you try 9 global McDonald’s treats in 6 weeks or miss £1.89–£9.99 deals?

New flavours, new rules, short time. A global tasting tour lands on the high street, and your wallet has choices to make.

From 22 October, McDonald’s UK rolls out the World Heist menu for six weeks, bringing limited items from seven countries. Some arrive with familiar names, others bend expectations with pineapple, pretzel crumbs and peppery coatings.

What lands, when and how much

On sale from 22 October to 3 December in participating UK restaurants. When it’s gone, it’s gone.

Why this drop matters to you

McDonald’s follows its Monopoly run with a broader, faster rotation of limited dishes. Canada staged a similar heist earlier this year, trading picks with Italy and Japan. The UK line‑up goes wider, with options from seven markets and prices starting under £2.

Expect a tight six‑week window, strong weekend demand and items that won’t quietly slide onto the permanent menu.

Taste tour: highlights and quirks

Canada’s maple barbecue double

The maple bbq & bacon double quarter pounder brings a sweet‑smoky glaze to two beef patties. Crispy onions add crunch, while pickles cut the richness. It targets fans of a bigger build, with the meal clipping the £10 mark.

Australia’s pineapple heat

Pineapple on a spicy chicken burger splits opinion. Here, the fruit cools the heat and lifts the salt with a clean, juicy bite. Bacon and cheese make it heavier, so the lettuce and sesame bun earn their keep for balance.

Japan’s peppery upgrade and sakura sip

Garlic & black pepper McNuggets tilt the classic towards pub‑snack territory. The garlic soy dip steers the flavour into savoury depth rather than sweetness. If you want contrast, the sakura Sprite brings a light, floral fizz that resets the palate between bites.

Poland’s shake‑up fries

Shaker fries deliver custom seasoning without a fryer change. The sour cream and black pepper mix leans tangy and aromatic, and the bag method keeps hands clean.

• Keep the fries in the bag.
• Tip in the sachet of seasoning.
• Fold the top and shake until evenly coated.

UAE’s crunchy mac bites

Mac & cheese triangles go for comfort. The breadcrumb shell needs to stay crisp, so eat them hot. The ketchup dip plays to nostalgia rather than complexity, which suits a quick side for sharing.

Indonesia and Malaysia on dessert duty

The choco caramel pie lands in the molten‑middle camp. Expect a rush of sweetness and a soft bite. For contrast, the pretzel McFlurry mixes salt, crunch and sauce. Chocolate brings a deeper finish; caramel pushes sweetness and echoes the pie if you pair both.

Value watch and smart pairings

You can keep a full try‑out under £10 by pairing a side and dessert. A portion of mac & cheese triangles (£2.79) plus a mini pretzel McFlurry (£1.89) leaves room for shaker fries (£2.19 medium) and still stays below £7.

Sharing helps on price and variety. A 20‑piece nugget sharebox at £8.29 plus two dips can anchor a table, with the pie and a regular McFlurry adding texture and temperature shifts for less than £15 total.

The menu spans roughly £1.89 to £9.99, with most single items landing between £2 and £8.

What to expect in restaurants

• Availability varies by site and time of day; some items may sell out during peaks.
• Queues tend to build on launch weekends and after school hours.
• App ordering can help with stock visibility and substitutions if a sauce or size runs low.

Allergens, swaps and dietary notes

Most picks contain common allergens such as gluten, dairy, soy and sesame. The garlic soy dip and sakura Sprite point to soy and flavourings you might not meet on the core UK board.

Vegetarian choices on the heist list skew to sides and desserts. The mac & cheese triangles and sweet items fit that brief. Those needing halal or other assurances should check in‑restaurant notices on sourcing, which can change by region.

Tips to make the six weeks count

• Pick a theme per visit. Do a “Japan run” with nuggets, dip and sakura Sprite, then return for a dessert duo.
• Balance sweet and salty. Pineapple McSpicy followed by shaker fries gives heat, fruit and pepper rather than a sugar pile‑on.
• Split the big hitters. The Canadian double and a share of triangles cover protein and crunch without doubling the spend.
• Go early for limited items. Drinks and desserts often rotate fastest; lunchtime runs tend to be safer than late evening.

Context you can use

Rotating menus let chains test flavours before wider rollouts. The maple barbecue profile could resurface in a future UK glaze if sales hold. Shaker fries are a low‑equipment way to vary sides, so expect seasoning sachets to return with new blends.

If you want a simple plan across the six weeks, sample one item from each region. Start with Canada’s burger, then Australia’s McSpicy, Japan’s nuggets and drink, Poland’s fries, UAE’s triangles, Indonesia’s pie and Malaysia’s McFlurry. You’ll spend comfortably under £40 across the lot if you avoid duplicate meals and share where possible.