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Arabian Business
28-03-2025
- Business
- Arabian Business
Ramadan and Eid e-commerce sales soar in MENA, led by Saudi Arabia and UAE, study shows
Eid Al-Fitr shopping this year is expected to see a 30 per cent jump in gift demand in terms of gross merchandise value (GMV) in MENA, market research said. Along with an estimated over 150 per cent surge in gift demand during Ramadan 2025, the current festival shopping will also give a major boost to e-commerce sales in the region, the joint study by Flowwow, a UAE-based gifting marketplace, and Admitad, said. The study, which analysed over 900,000 customer orders, forecasted a 10 per cent increase in online sales during the Eid Al-Fitr shopping period. Shoppers in MENA are turning to online gifting during this time of generosity and family connection, the study said. 'The latest numbers confirm that this year's Ramadan sales in MENA have outpaced 2024, with a 9 per cent increase in total sales and an impressive 35 per cent growth in GMV. Saudi Arabia saw an even bigger e-commerce peak, with sales increased by 30 per cent and GMV rising 35 per cent,' the market study said. With strong early Ramadan sales this year, Flowwow and Admitad experts predicted a record-breaking Eid Al-Fitr 2025, forecasting a 10 per cent rise in online sales and a 30 per cent increase in GMV compared to last year. Anna Gidirim, CEO at Admitad, said the Ramadan and Eid season continues to be a peak period for e-commerce in the MENA region, driven by the growing consumer preference for online shopping and gifting. 'This trend is particularly pronounced in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, where digital retail adoption remains strong,' she said. Ramadan and Eid average order value surge A key trend observed during Ramadan and Eid Al-Fitr is the average order value (AOV) increase from $41 to $49 year-over-year, particularly in top-spending countries such as Kuwait, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia. Among MENA countries, Kuwait led the way with an average order value of $125, followed by Saudi Arabia at $86, the UAE at $83, Qatar at $53, and Jordan at $48. 'As Ramadan and Eid Al-Fitr bring people together, we're seeing more shoppers choosing meaningful gifts to celebrate and strengthen their connections with loved ones,' said Slava Bogdan, CEO of Flowwow. 'Based on current trends, we expect Eid Al-Fitr 2025 to set new records, with gifting sales projected to grow by at least 50 per cent, compared to last year in the UAE,' she said. Bogdan said flowers, sweets, and gourmet sets remain among the top choices, reflecting the blend of tradition and convenience. Rise in mobile shopping Online shopping during the Ramadan and Eid season also saw a jump in orders via mobile devices, accounting for over 40 per cent of all purchases in MENA. Mobile-based orders were even higher in countries like Saudi Arabia (50+ per cent) and the UAE (up from 39 per cent to 47 per cent), the study said, adding that this surge is largely driven by younger generations like Gen-Z, who are fully accustomed to mobile-first, digital commerce. The study said the gifting market is also intensifying, with more players entering the sector to meet the rising demand. 'Today's competitive landscape spans niche gifting marketplaces such as Floward, FNP and Flowwow, whereas e-commerce platforms like Amazon UAE, super-apps like Talabat, Deliveroo, and Careem, besides retailers and offline stores are also expanding beyond rides and food delivery, quickly launching gifting services to take advantage of the booming demand during Ramadan and Eid,' it said.
Campaign ME
14-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Campaign ME
37 per cent of Valentine's Day sales made on mobile devices: report
With a 37 per cent mobile shopping growth has become one of the key shopping events for Middle Eastern consumers. Mobile shopping has seen significant growth in the region, with more than 37 per cent of Valentine's Day sales being made via mobile devices. In Saudi Arabia, mobile purchases accounted for more than half of all orders, while in the UAE, this figure reached 41 per cent. Flowwow, a UAE-based gifting marketplace and Admitad, a partnership marketing platform, have unveiled key Valentine's Day market trends in the MENA region based on learnings from online sales during the Valentine's Day season, February 12-15 in 2024. The study reveals that the UAE, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia are some of the top spenders on Valentine's gifts in the region. Valentine's Day is currently topping the searches on google trends in the UAE and MENA, where customers are preparing gifts for their loved ones. Slava Bogdan, CEO of Flowwow, said, 'The UAE and MENA region stand out for their deep-rooted culture of expressing love through meaningful gestures. This year, we predicted a significant 15 per cent rise in gifting sales for Valentine's Day, one of the biggest shopping peaks of the year, with a notable 10 per cent increase specifically in the confectionery category.' Rising Valentine's Day trends: more gifts for men and Gen Z gamers join the celebration Gifts for young mothers made up 9 per cent of sales, and men were 1.5 times more likely to receive car accessories and electronics 20 per cent. Generation Z (Gen Z) is shifting towards gifting digital beauty items in video games, like CS:GO skins and DOTA 2 Arcanas, driven by a 32 per cent increase in online game sales. Fashion and cosmetics were among the top choices in the UAE: the fashion category led at 25 per cent, followed by electronics at 18.5 per cent and home and garden at 15.5 per cent, with beauty products making up 12 per cent of purchases. Demand for these categories grew in 2024 and is expected to increase more, with fashion and electronics projected to rise by 9 per cent in 2025. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia saw an unexpected Valentine's Day trend, with men receiving more gifts than ever, particularly sports gear, tools, and car accessories, which saw the largest growth. Valentine's Day remains the biggest driver of flower sales, with purchases surging by 550 per cent and revenue rising by 635 per cent compared to the average month, according to Flowwow. The MENA region is experiencing a growing trend in the confectionery and bakery categories, following the international popularity of candies (56 per cent of all purchases) for Valentine's Day gifts. Bodgan continues, 'As long as people love, the gifting business will continue to thrive – especially on occasions like Valentine's Day, where expressions of affection matter most', Valentine's Day in the MENA region will continue to see growth in online gifting sales, with mobile purchases, luxury gifts, and floral arrangements leading the way. As trends evolve, the demand for a wider variety of gifts, from flowers to fashion and gaming items, is expected to grow in 2025. The UAE and Saudi Arabia remain at the forefront of this shift, reflecting the tradition of love and giving, prominent among all cultures of the region. According to Flowwow and Admitad experts, the proportion of mobile purchases for Valentine's Day gifts is expected to increase further by 3 per cent in 2025.
Khaleej Times
13-02-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Valentine's Day in UAE: Popular gift items for this year revealed
UAE residents spent on average $95 (nearly Dh350) on Valentine's Da y gifts in 2025, mostly on fashion, electronics and home and garden products. According to the UAE-based gifting marketplace Flowwow, UAE shoppers were the second highest spenders on Valentine's Day gifts after Kuwait ($126 or Dh460) across the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region. Beauty, car products and toys are the other most popular items that UAE shoppers buy on Valentine's Day to gift to their loved ones. 'The UAE and Mena region stand out for their deep-rooted culture of expressing love through meaningful gestures… This year, we predict a significant 15 per cent rise in gifting sales for Valentine's Day, one of the biggest shopping peaks of the year, with a notable 10 per cent increase specifically in the confectionery category,' said Slava Bogdan, CEO of Flowwow. 'As long as people love, the gifting business will continue to thrive – especially on occasions like Valentine's Day, where expressions of affection matter most,' he said. Valentine's Day is one of the busiest shopping seasons in the UAE when a large number of people buy gifts for their loved ones. Across the Mena, consumers are expected to spend a record Dh101 billion on Valentine's Day, according to the National Retail Federation. In the UAE, large bouquets in shades of red, pink and white, composed of classic and peony roses, remained one of the top choices of customers in 2024. Luxurious bouquets with 101 or 109 roses have become bestsellers in the Emirates, often selected for special occasions, including Valentine's Day. The average order value for the flower bouquets in the UAE stood at Dh275. Valentine's Day appears to be losing its charm for local Mena audiences, as total sales in 2024 have decreased by 5 per cent in the week of the holiday compared to the previous year as residents will be spending during the upcoming holy month of Ramadan as well, for gifts. 'Consumers have been less active in making Valentine's Day purchases compared to, for example, the month of Ramadan. However, the situation will improve with the overall growth of e-commerce in the region, which is projected to increase by 5 per cent in the total number of orders by the end of 2025,' said Anna Gidirim, CEO of Admitad.
Khaleej Times
30-01-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
UAE leads Mena's $1.8 billion e-commerce boom
The e-commerce landscape in the Middle East is undergoing a remarkable transformation with the region recording a 30 per cent surge in online orders. The UAE and Saudi Arabia have emerged as frontrunners in this booming market, contributing significantly to the gross merchandise value (GMV) of online sales. A recent study from Flowwow, a UAE-based gifting marketplace, and Admitad, a partner marketing platform, highlights that the UAE experienced a 7.0 per cent increase in online orders, while Saudi Arabia saw a 9.0 per cent rise. This growth underscores their dominance in the region's e-commerce sector, which is currently valued at $1.8 billion The study, which analysed more than 6.8 million online orders across Mena, including Turkey and Pakistan, identifies Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Kuwait as top contributors to the region's online sales, driven by robust consumer spending and digital expansion. Turkey and Egypt follow closely in the GMV rankings, bolstered by their large populations and increasing Internet penetration. Other countries such as Morocco, Pakistan, Qatar, Algeria, and Bahrain are also witnessing growth, particularly in mobile commerce. The UAE's e-commerce sector is thriving, with an impressive increase in average order values (AOV). The AOV in the region grew from $30 in 2023 to $35.6 in 2024. Notably, the UAE's AOV jumped from $89 to $102, while Saudi Arabia's rose from $49.6 to $52.5. These statistics indicate a growing trend of consumers opting for higher-value purchases. The study also highlights the top product categories driving order growth in 2024. Online gaming took the lead with a remarkable 32 per cent increase in orders, followed by B2B services at 25 per cent and fashion at 23 per cent. In the UAE, the demand for B2B online services surged by 32 per cent, with online gaming also showing a strong growth of 30 per cent. Other notable categories include electronics (+19 per cent), home goods (+18 per cent), and car products (+16 per cent). 'The rapid development of e-commerce and gifting markets, coupled with support for local SMEs, is driving economic growth and creating new opportunities in the region,' said Slava Bogdan, CEO of Flowwow. 'The record-breaking results of 2024 set the stage for exponential growth ahead, with expectations of a fourfold increase in the coming years.' Factors contributing to this growth include government initiatives aimed at digital transformation in both the UAE and the broader Mena region. Programmes such as the UAE's Digital Economy Strategy and Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 are pivotal in fostering a more efficient online ecosystem, ultimately benefiting both businesses and consumers. As Mena e-commerce evolves, there is a noticeable shift towards AI-driven personalisation and community-oriented strategies. Platforms like TikTok and Pinterest are emerging as key shopping hubs for Generation Z, reflecting a changing consumer landscape. However, while AI streamlines operations, the importance of human-centric customer service remains crucial for building trust and loyalty. The gifting sector in the UAE is witnessing unprecedented growth, with recent research indicating a projected CAGR of 14.7 per cent from 2024 to 2030. The influx of over 200 nationalities and a strong culture of gift-giving during occasions such as weddings and birthdays is driving this trend. Flowwow's data reveals that the Mena gifting market is expected to reach $6.38 billion by 2030, with the UAE attracting more than 13,000 customers in 2024, resulting in a staggering 20,782 gift orders annually. The UAE market has seen remarkable revenue growth of 212.6 per cent, with the number of gift purchases increasing by 198.21 per cent and the number of buyers growing by 160.03 per cent compared to 2023. Dubai leads the sales with over 11,000 customers annually and the highest average order value at Dh352, followed by Ras Al Khaimah (Dh295), Abu Dhabi (Dh229), Ajman (Dh188), and Sharjah (Dh175). The average order value in the UAE increased by 4.92 per cent, reaching Dh254.69.
