Have you noticed groups of people running around the city, eyes glued to their phones, slowly congregating towards each other in malls and landmarks?

Well it’s not some new cult… well, actually it kind of is. They’re probably playing Pokémon GO, the app that lets you chase fantasy cartoon characters all around the globe.

The new mobile game is fast taking the world by storm, with reports from mobile app analytics site SimilarWeb showing that a mere two days after its release, Pokémon GO was already installed on 5.16 per cent of all Android phones in the US.

Currently, the app from developer Niantic has only been released officially in the US, UK and Australia. However, it still seems to have made its way over to Dubai, and is slowly beginning to take over.

The game is so popular, it’s made Nintendo’s stock price skyrocket by close to 22 per cent.

*MORE: 6 video gaming cafés in Dubai*

If you’re not yet acquainted with Pokémon GO, it’s an app that allows you to venture out into the real world (yes, the real world) with your smartphone and catch Pokémon (no, not real Pokémon) all around the city.

So unlike most games you play sat on the sofa, this one actually comes with some cardio.

Here are a couple of examples of what the Pokémon GO world looks like through your phone…

pokemon go dubai pokemon go dubai

With said Pokémon, you can train them up and have them take over ‘Gyms’, which are various locations throughout Dubai in which you have to beat the previous leader to become the new king. Why? To be the very best, like no one ever was…

*ALSO: Details on one of Dubai’s first virtual reality gaming lounges*

As a member of either the red, blue or yellow team, you have to slowly take over the city’s gyms (currently, red’s doing pretty well in Dubai – they ‘own’ the Burj Al Arab).

burj al arab pokemon go

However, what’s incredible about this game is the whopping sense of community.

Sit in a busy mall, pop down a ‘lure’ to attract nearby Pokémon, and watch other Pokémon GO ‘trainers’ appear from the shadows.

Here are some pictures of random Pokémon GO lure-inspired meet-ups in the USA:

pokemon go meetup pokemon go meetup

However, as Dubai’s Pokémon GO scene grows, it must be reiterated that your own safety and the safety of others is more important than the missed opportunity of catching most all Pokémon.

Abu Dhabi Police have even issued a warning, urging players to not expect “cars to know you are there”, according to The National.

Don’t stick your hazards on halfway down Sheikh Zayed to grab that rare Dragonite, and do remember to look both ways before crossing the road. Some drivers might be playing Pokémon GO and driving.

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Images: Reddit, Getty