Dubai leads the global trends in digital shopping, with 94% of consumers using digital features.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has established itself as a frontrunner in the adoption of digital shopping features. An impressive 94% of its 3.1 million adult buyers have used at least one digital function during their recent shopping experiences. This trend underscores the preference of local consumers for digital shopping. Based on these developments, retailers in the UAE have made efforts to offer a diverse range of digital shopping features that cater to consumer preferences and contribute to seamless shopping experiences, positioning the UAE as a leader among other countries. To read about the significance of online commerce in comparison to Germany, click here.

A joint project by PYMNTS and Cybersource, the “2023 Global Digital Shopping Index: UAE Edition,” delves into consumer shopping habits and preferences. The study surveyed 13,349 consumers and 3,124 merchants across various countries, including Brazil, India, Mexico, and the United States. In particular, it examines factors influencing consumer shopping behavior and their preferred payment methods.

Some key findings from this insightful report are:

UAE consumers are increasingly turning to online shopping for better deals and experiences.

Online shopping has become a preferred choice for consumers in the UAE, as they believe it offers better deals and seamless experiences. According to a recent study, 25% of customers in brick-and-mortar stores in the UAE used their smartphones to compare prices.

The attractiveness of online shopping lies in the perception that products are cheaper online, especially in combination with free shipping. Half of all E-commerce buyers in the UAE cited free shipping as a decisive factor for online purchases. Another 43% appreciated the convenience of a straightforward checkout experience. This contrasts with the reasons cited by customers in physical stores, indicating clear preferences between the two shopping methods.

Mobile shopping has experienced remarkable growth in the UAE. Approximately 28% of consumers are reported to have made their last retail purchases through their smartphones. Only India surpasses the UAE in the prevalence of mobile purchases. Interestingly, men in the UAE are as enthusiastic about mobile shopping as women, if not more. A striking 55% of men have improved their in-store shopping experience using smartphones, compared to 45% of women.

Retailers in the UAE have cleverly recognized the importance of digital shopping features and invested in creating a smooth, stress-free shopping experience. A wide range of digital shopping features has contributed to the UAE being ranked as the country with the overall smoothest shopping experience. Moreover, the research also shows a remarkable increase in consumer awareness of shopping features offered by local merchants. Consumers in the UAE actively seek out cost-saving features. This is evident from a 51% increase in awareness of coupons, promo codes, or rewards from 2021 to 2022.

Altogether, excelling in the digital realm has become a competitive imperative for retailers in the UAE. Failure to do so could result in a loss of market share. Interested parties can download the report and gain insights to stay at the forefront of the digital shopping landscape.