UAE among three countries where every adult resident owns a phone

Khaleej Times

4 days ago

The UAE, along with Norway and Libya, is among the only three countries in the world where every adult resident owns a mobile phone, according to a new study.
In the Gulf region, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Oman follow closely with 98 per cent mobile phone ownership among adults, while Kuwait stands at 95 per cent, according to the World Bank's Global Findex 2025 report.
Several developed countries also report high mobile phone penetration. In Sweden, Iceland, Finland, Lithuania, Italy, Denmark, and Estonia, 99 per cent of adults own a mobile phone.
The figure stands at 98 per cent in the United States, Cyprus, Algeria, Hong Kong (China), Latvia, Mongolia, and Vietnam. In most other developed nations, mobile ownership typically ranges in the mid-90 per cent range.
Among major developing countries, the numbers are notably lower: 66 per cent in India, 63 per cent in Pakistan, 78 per cent in the Philippines, 85 per cent in Egypt, and 92 per cent in the United Kingdom.
'Mobile phones and the internet have become widespread and essential to daily life in economies around the globe. As of 2024, 86% of adults worldwide own a mobile phone,' the World Bank noted.
'For many people, barely an hour passes without using a mobile device — whether to make a call, send a text, read the news, conduct business, post on social media, make payments, play games, or search for information. As digital connectivity expands, online interaction is becoming a top priority for individuals, businesses, and governments alike.'
Internet usage is also high across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), ranging between 86 per cent and 99 per cent over the past three months.
This trend is reflected in the 2025 Global Digital Shopping Index, which found that the UAE leads the world in mobile-driven online shopping, with 37 per cent of purchases made via mobile devices. This surpasses Singapore (34.8 per cent), the UK (27.6 per cent), and Brazil (24.4 per cent).
Commissioned by Visa Acceptance Solutions and conducted by Pymnts Intelligence, the study also found that 67 per cent of UAE consumers used a mobile device in their most recent retail purchase — a 23 per cent increase since 2022. Additionally, 38 per cent of UAE shoppers completed their latest retail transaction online using a mobile phone or computer for home delivery.
'The UAE's approach shows what is possible when all stakeholders work together to build the future of commerce,' said Salima Gutieva, vice-president and country manager for Visa UAE.
A separate study by Syrve Mena highlighted the continued dominance of food delivery apps in the region. Around 75 per cent of mobile orders from surveyed restaurants were processed through platforms like HungerStation, Talabat, and Deliveroo. The remaining 25% were handled through call centers, proprietary apps, or restaurant websites — further underscoring the central role of mobile technology in the daily lives of UAE residents.