UAE leads the world in mobile shopping usage, global survey reveals
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
The report places the UAE ahead of other tech-savvy markets like Saudi Arabia (66%) and Singapore (65%), cementing its position as a leader in digital retail engagement.
Mobile Shopping Surges Across the UAE
Smartphone usage for retail purchases in the UAE has grown by 23% since 2022, driven by demand for convenience, security, and seamless omnichannel experiences. The UAE also leads in online purchases via mobile devices at 37%, according to the survey, which was commissioned by Visa Acceptance Solutions and conducted by PYMNTS Intelligence.
The study gathered insights from 1,679 consumers and 329 merchants between October 17 and December 9, 2024, across eight global markets.
In-Store Shoppers Also Go Mobile
While mobile is dominant online, it's also transforming the in-store shopping experience:
73% of UAE consumers use their phones in-store to compare prices, search for coupons, or collect loyalty rewards.
This high engagement reflects a growing comfort with blended retail journeys, where the mobile device acts as a shopping assistant both digitally and physically.
Generational Breakdown of Mobile Shopping Habits
Although mobile shopping spans all age groups, adoption rates vary:
Millennials lead with 73% adoption, the highest among all age groups.
Gen X surprisingly outpaces Gen Z , highlighting a more established reliance on mobile shopping.
, highlighting a more established reliance on mobile shopping. Baby boomers and seniors show much lower adoption, with only 18% using smartphones for their latest purchase.
Security and Convenience Fuel Mobile Growth
UAE consumers cite security and ease of use as key reasons for their high mobile engagement:
32% of users used biometric authentication (fingerprint or facial recognition) in their latest online transaction that is almost double the global average.
One-third of shoppers chose one-click checkout via third-party platforms, far exceeding the global average of 17%.
Cross-Channel Shopping on the Rise
Consumers and businesses in the UAE are increasingly adopting cross-channel shopping features, allowing seamless transitions between online and offline retail:
53% of UAE shoppers already use or are interested in using cross-channel features.
On the business side, 56% of merchants currently offer these options, while 28% plan to implement them.
This alignment between consumer expectations and retailer offerings positions the UAE as a leader in digital commerce innovation.
Daily Shopping Habits Highlight Mobile Preference
According to the index:
UAE shoppers perform 1.5 mobile shopping activities per day, second only to Saudi Arabia.
They use mobile phones for product research an average of 17 days per month, preferring smartphones over computers across all digital shopping tasks.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
10 hours ago
- Mint
German Breweries Are Forced to Adapt as Gen Z Goes Alkoholfrei
(Bloomberg) -- Over the course of its 172-year-history, the Lang-Bräu brewery in the north of Bavaria has weathered two world wars and the fall of the Iron Curtain, whose defenses once stood less than thirty minutes away. But money troubles in recent years proved more than the small operation could handle. Facing €12 million ($13.9 million) in costs for much-needed upgrades, the owners decided last summer to shut everything down. 'Breweries are capable of incredible suffering,' said Richard Hopf, who led the family business and is now overseeing its closure. 'But when sales fall and costs keep going up, it leaves little room for long-term considerations.' Lang-Bräu is in a situation that's familiar to many German brewers. Between inflation and higher energy prices, financial pressures on beermakers are mounting. Adding to this uncertainty is another sobering development: in a country long defined by its beer culture, fewer young people want to consume alcohol. For many Germans in Gen Z — which includes anybody born between 1997 and 2012 — beer is no longer a daily ritual but a rare indulgence. And when they do enjoy the occasional wheat beer or pilsner, they're increasingly likely to choose an alcohol-free option. Some breweries have made moves to adapt — more than 800 varieties of alcohol-free beer are now available in Germany — but this hasn't offset a broader decline. The average German now consumes 88 liters of beer in a year, down from 126 in 2000. And in the first half of 2025, the nation's statistics office registered a 6.3% drop in beer production, a new low. 'It's frankly worrying,' said Holger Eichele, who leads Germany's brewer association. 'The conditions aren't good. Even those who've run their business for many centuries might be forced to give it up now.' Gen Z's abstention from alcohol isn't only happening in Germany, which produces the most beer on the continent. Young people are also drinking less across Europe and in the US. There are various reasons for this: younger people have less disposable income than previous generations, wellness movements are on the rise, and there is greater awareness of the health risks associated with drinking. 'I'd never order it,' Carla Schüßler, a student in southwestern Germany, said of beer. In her generation, 'it's clear to everyone that alcohol isn't good for your body.' Beer's high calorie content also doesn't sit well with image-conscious Gen Zers. Fitness influencers routinely post about alcohol's adverse effects, warning that it hampers fat burning and muscle building. 'It's just hard to improve your fitness level while drinking,' said Luke Heiler, a 22-year-old who works in a chemical laboratory and exercises regularly. As these views become more common, Germany's roughly 1,500 breweries are having to adapt. And not all have been able to: between 2023 and 2024, 52 breweries closed across the country — the largest decline in at least three decades. Those who can are rethinking their product range to include more beers mixed with soda, known as radlers, and sparkling juice drinks. Billboards at train stations and ads on TV now promote alcohol-free fun — a once unthinkable development in a country known for Oktoberfest, and which still upholds a 500-year-old law mandating that beer contain no more than four essential ingredients. Amid all these changes, perhaps the biggest is the boom in alcohol-free beer. While 9 out of 10 beers sold in Germany still contain booze, production of non-alcoholic beer — defined as anything containing less than 0.50% alcohol by volume — has nearly doubled over the past decade. 'We don't think our flagship beer, which contains alcohol, will achieve major growth in the coming decades in Germany,' acknowledged Peter Lemm, a spokesperson for Krombacher, one of the nation's largest beermakers. 'Clearly, the growth area is low- or non-alcoholic beer.' For brewers, developing alcohol-free versions of their beer isn't a problem. The challenge is getting them to taste like the real thing. Those who can afford to will often opt for a process in which beer is brewed normally, with the alcohol removed in an extra step once fermentation is finished. At Krombacher's plant in the Western German city of Kreuztal — where beer flows through pipes across different parts of the building — this is integrated into a weeks-long process. That level of precision manufacturing, however, isn't available to everybody. 'Small breweries usually can't afford to take out the alcohol after,' said Thomas Becker, a Munich-area professor who specializes in beermaking. The equipment alone, he added, requires 'an investment in the region of €1 million ($1.2 million).' Instead, small breweries often resort to an easier method, which involves stopping the fermentation process before it's completed. While it doesn't require additional investment, in most cases, drinkers do notice the difference as the result is usually sweeter than normal. Entering the alcohol-free market as a smaller brewer also presents other challenges. It's tough to break into a field that's already saturated, especially when bigger players are better positioned to release new drinks quickly and buy up the trademarks of established brands. To local breweries like Lang-Bräu, which are already under heavy financial stress after years of dwindling sales, these obstacles can be fatal. The brewery never attempted to make its own alcohol-free beer, Hopf said. But given how many options are already on the market, he added, he doesn't think it would have made much of a difference. More stories like this are available on
News18
12 hours ago
- News18
Robert Kiyosaki Warns Of Stock Market Crash, Favours Gold, Silver And Bitcoin
Robert Kiyosaki has frequently predicted a sharp correction in equities, particularly in the US, where he believes retirement accounts like 401(k) plans are especially vulnerable. Personal finance author and investor Robert Kiyosaki, who predicted the financial crisis of 2008-09, has once again sounded alarm bells over the stock market, cautioning of a possible major downturn. In a post on social media platform X, the Rich Dad Poor Dad author said that indicators are pointing to a 'massive crash in stocks". 'Stock market crash indicators warning of massive crash in stocks. Good news for gold, silver, and Bitcoin owners. Bad news for Baby Boomers with 401k. Take care," Kiyosaki wrote in the post dated August 11, 2025. Kiyosaki, a long-time critic of traditional financial systems, has consistently urged investors to diversify into alternative assets such as gold, silver, and Bitcoin. He argues that these provide better hedges against economic uncertainty, inflation, and potential weakness in the US dollar. The price of gold (99.9 purity) has jumped nearly 40% in the past one year and is now hovering around Rs 1 lakh per 10 grams. Silver is trading at around Rs 1,16,000 per kg, having climbed more than 44% in a year. Bitcoin has seen the biggest jump, surging more than 111% in a year and a price of $1,17,293 (as of August 17, 2025). His latest warning comes at a time when global markets remain volatile, with concerns over high interest rates, slowing growth, and rising debt levels in the US. Kiyosaki has frequently predicted a sharp correction in equities, particularly in the US, where he believes retirement accounts like 401(k) plans are especially vulnerable. In contrast, he maintains a bullish stance on precious metals and cryptocurrencies. In earlier posts, Kiyosaki has forecast that Bitcoin could eventually surge well beyond $100,000, while gold and silver prices could also see significant gains as investors flock to safe havens. Kiyosaki earlier said that he began purchasing Bitcoin when it was priced at around $6,000 per coin and continued to buy as much as he could. Reflecting on that decision, he said, 'I wish I had more fake money to buy more Bitcoin." The message reflects Kiyosaki's long-standing skepticism toward fiat currency, which he often labels as 'fake money", and aligns with his consistent endorsement of hard assets like gold, silver, and crypto. He also made a bold prediction: Bitcoin could reach $1 million per coin by 2030. While acknowledging that price does have importance, he stated that true wealth in the future will belong to those who control more units of valuable assets, not necessarily those who bought them at the lowest price. While many market experts often push back on his extreme predictions, Kiyosaki's warnings resonate with retail investors who see growing risks in conventional markets. His advice remains consistent: hold tangible assets and digital currencies as insurance against systemic shocks. view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: August 17, 2025, 10:56 IST News business » markets Robert Kiyosaki Warns Of Stock Market Crash, Favours Gold, Silver And Bitcoin Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
News18
14 hours ago
- News18
The Ever-Growing Coffee Trends Shaping India's Coffee Choices
A movement where the modern Indian coffee drinker wants to savor something that looks beautiful, feels wholesome, and tells a story There's something magical about that first sip of coffee, it's not just caffeine, it's comfort, ritual, and lately, a canvas of creativity. For many young Indians, coffee is no longer just a wake-up call, it's a statement. And it's this emotional connection with coffee that's brewing an exciting transformation in India's coffee culture. Across the country, Gen Z and millennials are saying goodbye to the standard cappuccino and hello to beverages that are vibrant, health-conscious, and packed with unique flavors. One of the most exciting trends fueling this shift is fruit-flavored infusions so much so that fruit-based beverages now account for 22% of all offerings in India's foodservice market, underscoring a booming demand for fresh, vibrant, and experiential drinks. Whether it's an Orange Brûlée Cappuccino or a creamy Avocado Frappe, these drinks don't just taste extraordinary, they look like art and feel like indulgence with a healthy twist. This trend is deeply rooted in coffee's natural flavor profile, which often leans toward fruits like citrus and stone fruits, making it well-suited for fruit infusions. By enhancing these natural notes with real fruit ingredients, cafés are crafting beverages as rich in flavor as they are in story. 'The future of coffee isn't just about how it tastes, it's about how it's experienced. When we let coffee speak through its natural flavors and pair it with intention, we create something truly memorable," reflected Boram Um, 2023 World Barista Champion and Head of Coffee Innovation, Kenangan Coffee India. It's no surprise that in markets like China and Korea, orange Americanos and fruit-based coffee syrups have already made waves and Indian cafés are catching up fast. Equally compelling is the shift toward health-conscious alternatives. With increasing awareness of refined sugar's impact, consumers are now seeking sweetness that nourishes. As a result, the trend to reduce sugar in beverages is gaining momentum globally from Chinese tea houses using less sugar and Western cafés embracing unsweetened coffee, to India, where sales of no-sugar and low-sugar drinks doubled in 2024, now accounting for 10% of the beverage market. Reflecting this change, many cafés, like Kenangan Coffee, are now offering natural alternatives such as jaggery, stevia, honey, and Gula Aren, a traditional Indonesian palm sugar with a low glycemic index. The focus is clear: cut added sugars and let natural sweetness elevate coffee's true flavor. But this shift isn't just about nutrition, it's also about experience. What we're witnessing is more than a passing trend, it's a movement. A movement where the modern Indian coffee drinker wants to savor something that looks beautiful, feels wholesome, and tells a story. Whether it's sipping on a vibrant fruit-infused espresso or choosing mindful ingredients, today's coffee is about connection both to the self and to the world. First Published: August 17, 2025, 09:37 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
