UAE ranks first globally in mobile shopping usage, survey reveals
MAYS IBRAHIM (ABU DHABI)Sixty-seven percent of UAE shoppers have used their phones for their latest retail purchase, whether online or in-store. This makes the country the top-ranking nation for consumer mobile shopping engagement, according to the 2025 Global Digital Shopping Index.Mobile shopping usage in the UAE has increased by 23% since 2022, placing the country ahead of Saudi Arabia (66%) and Singapore (65%), among the eight countries surveyed, the index showed. The research, commissioned by Visa Acceptance Solutions and conducted by PYMNTS Intelligence, draws on responses from 1,679 consumers and 329 merchants surveyed between October 17 and December 9, 2024. The UAE leads in online shopping via mobile devices at 37%, the report added. When it comes to in-store purchases, 73% of the country's consumers use their phones to compare prices, find coupons, and collect loyalty benefits.This mobile-first trend cuts across age groups, though millennials lead in adoption at 73%. Surprisingly, younger Generation Z consumers trail behind Generation X. Among baby boomers and seniors, just 18% reported using a mobile phone for their latest purchase. Security and convenience are major drivers of mobile engagement for UAE shoppers. The survey showed that 32% of UAE consumers used biometric authentication, such as fingerprint or facial recognition, in their latest online retail transaction - nearly double the global average. Additionally, one in three UAE shoppers opted for a one-click checkout via a third party, which is well above the global average rate of 17%. The report also stated that more than half (53%) of UAE consumers say they have used or want to use cross-channel shopping features at the merchant where they most frequently shop.Fifty-six percent of the country's merchants say they currently offer cross-channel shopping, while 28% say they plan to implement these features. According to the report, consumers in the UAE conduct about 1.5 mobile shopping activities per day, placing them second only to Saudi Arabia.
They also browse or research products via mobile 17 days a month, on average, and consistently favour smartphones over computers for every digital shopping activity measured.
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