Shopping behavior in the Middle East and North Africa - statistics & facts

Global consumer spending has been increasing in the past years. By 2025, total consumer spending is expected to reach around 62 trillion dollars. Spanning across two continents and with a young, ever-growing population, consumer behavior in the Middle East and North Africa region has been continuously evolving. The digital adoption, innovative business models, and nimble market entrants are revolutionizing the way consumers shop. The COVID-19 outbreak has disrupted established ways of living which significantly shifted shopping habits. Right after the outbreak in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, the vast majority of consumers prioritized their needs over wants in their shopping.  

 The MENA consumer

  Consumer markets in the MENA region are surely progressing and have bold growth ambitions, with further opportunities for growth. Even before the pandemic outbreak, consumer behavior had been evolving. Brand loyalty plays a less significant role in buying preferences, while consumer expectations for their shopping experiences are higher than ever. In a survey conducted in the UAE, around half the respondents reported that they were not willing to pay for shipping for online purchases. New trends are also emerging in the food sector. Consumers are expecting more convenience, more health-oriented options, and locally sourced products. In Egypt, consumer spending on restaurants exceeded one billion U.S. dollars, the highest in the region.  

Consumer preferences

It is expected that many consumers will stick to their new shopping habits that the pandemic has shifted. Around three-quarters of female consumers surveyed in Saudi Arabia reported that they will keep their online shopping habits after the pandemic. This has driven many companies to switch their focus from maintaining the status quo to identifying evolving customer needs and addressing them. While this presents a challenge for businesses in the current environment of uncertainty, it has also created an opportunity for them to grow new customer relationships and add value to existing ones.
This text provides general information. Statista assumes no liability for the information given being complete or correct. Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date data than referenced in the text.
Published by Statista Research Department, Mar 28, 2024

Key insights

Country with highest retail sales in MENA
Egypt
Highest scoring retail market in MENA
Saudi Arabia
Most attractive retail market in MENA
Saudi Arabia
Get more insights

Editor’s Picks Current statistics on this topic

Retail e-commerce sales compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from 2024 to 2028, by country

Key Figures of E-Commerce

E-commerce retail sales CAGR 2024-2028, by country

Quick commerce market size in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) from 2018 to 2024 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Online Retail

Q-commerce market size in MENA 2018-2024

Revenue of the food and beverages sector in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from 2016 to 2020 (in million U.S. dollars)

Food & Nutrition

Revenue of food and beverages sector UAE 2016-2020

Related topics

Recommended

3

Recommended statistics

Overview

5

Overview

Payment methods

6

Payment methods

Online shopping

4

Online shopping

Shopping in Ramadan

4

Shopping in Ramadan

Consumer behavior

4

Consumer behavior

Further reportsGet the best reports to understand your industry

Contact

Get in touch with us. We are happy to help.
Statista Locations
Contact Meredith Alda
Meredith Alda
Sales Manager– Contact (United States)
Email
support@statista.com

Mon - Fri, 9am - 6pm (EST)

Contact Yolanda Mega
Yolanda Mega
Operations Manager– Contact (Asia)
Email
asia.support@statista.com

Mon - Fri, 9am - 5pm (SGT)

Contact Kisara Mizuno
Kisara Mizuno
Senior Business Development Manager– Contact (Asia)
Email
asia.support@statista.com

Mon - Fri, 10:00am - 6:00pm (JST)

Contact Lodovica Biagi
Lodovica Biagi
Director of Operations– Contact (Europe)
Email
eu.support@statista.com

Mon - Fri, 9:30am - 5pm (GMT)

Contact Carolina Dulin
Carolina Dulin
Group Director - LATAM– Contact (Latin America)
Email
latam@statista.com

Mon - Fri, 9am - 6pm (EST)

Menu