eCommerce sales almost doubled in 2021 compared to a year ago as UAE consumers made more purchases online.
According to recent research by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce, which is based on data from Euro monitor International, the country’s total e-commerce sales reached $4.8 billion in 2021, up by 84 percent from $2.6 billion in 2019.
By 2026, it is anticipated that the value of eCommerce in the UAE would reach $9.2 billion as more consumers choose to do their business online. According to the survey, eCommerce is expected to make 12.6 percent of all retail sales in the UAE by 2026.
According to a study by the Dubai Chamber, UAE consumers use their mobile devices for shopping more frequently than customers worldwide. More than a third of UAE consumers use their smartphones to make at least one purchase per week, higher than the global average.
The majority of consumers make purchases using mobile devices, with smartphones and tablets accounting for the largest percentage of e-commerce transactions last year. Over the years 2022–2026, mobile retail sales alone are expected to increase at a compound annual growth rate of 15.6 percent, reaching $4.6 billion.
This tendency is being supported, by the availability of apps and the rise in the number of loyalty reward programs, observed Dubai Chamber. Global corporations are investing heavily in the e-commerce industry, which is promoting the growth of the digital financial sector.
The report cited that, “the improvement and modernization of payment systems and services are identified as another key factor [boosting] demand and business activity within the UAE’s eCommerce sector.”
