DUBAI // Online spending across the Emirates fell last year, but consumers here are still outspending buyers in the Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa.
UAE residents who shopped online spent an average of US$1,048 (Dh3,849) in the December quarter last year, down from US$1,193 in the same period a year earlier, data from the latest MasterCard survey of online shopping showed.
But this was far ahead of the second-biggest spender, Singapore, where the average online shopper spent $779 over the same three months. The average across all 14 countries surveyed was $660, down from $667 the year before.
Laurent-Patrick Gally, a retail analyst at Shuaa Capital, said the drop in spending was probably caused by consumer caution after the economic downturn, but was also influenced by online price reductions. "People might have been more careful," Mr Gally said. "And when they spend, they wait for the right bargain opportunity."
Another possible factor is that many credit card holders in the UAE had their limits reduced last year, as banks aimed to reduce their liabilities, he said.
MasterCard declined to comment. The fall in online spending came as more retail start-ups launched their online shopping concepts or expanded existing online offerings. Nahel.com and emirates avenue.com are two general retailing websites that have recently entered the market, and QuickDubai.com recently extended its reach to QuickAbuDhabi.com.
Jashanmal launched a website for its bookstores last month, one of the few brick-and-mortar retailers to take its goods online. Jashanmal is testing the waters with the book e-commerce site before taking its other stores on to the Web.
Retailers say that UAE residents are becoming more comfortable with shopping online, and the MasterCard survey shows they are shopping more often - 2.7 times a month in the three-month period to December compared with 2.1 per cent a year earlier. Still, just 52 per cent of UAE shoppers said it was convenient to shop online in the final quarter of last year, up from 47 per cent in the year before, but below the average of 78 per cent in the countries surveyed.
Sixty-seven per cent of UAE residents said they were deterred from shopping online by uncertainty that the transactions were secure. The average across all the countries surveyed was 59 per cent.
Because of this reluctance, most shopping transactions on UAE websites are for cash on delivery, retailers say.
But the relatively high spending indicates that if this concern can be overcome, there is a market to be tapped, said Saeid Hejazi, the managing director of Nahel.com.
Mr Hejazi believes that many transactions involve airline ticket purchases, which customers are more comfortable executing online with credit cards.
"For us and e-commerce websites, this is great news," he said. "If they are willing to buy tickets online, they are willing to spend on the internet. We just want them to trust us like they trust the airline."
Mr Gally said there was a market available "for whoever can come up with credible offering on the internet, that is updated regularly, and that gives confidence to the consumer that what they're doing or about to do is secure and safe".
aligaya@thenational.ae
Du Football Champions
The fourth season of du Football Champions was launched at Gitex on Wednesday alongside the Middle East’s first sports-tech scouting platform.“du Talents”, which enables aspiring footballers to upload their profiles and highlights reels and communicate directly with coaches, is designed to extend the reach of the programme, which has already attracted more than 21,500 players in its first three years.
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
The Florida Project
Director: Sean Baker
Starring: Bria Vinaite, Brooklynn Prince, Willem Dafoe
Four stars
Cinco in numbers
Dh3.7 million
The estimated cost of Victoria Swarovski’s gem-encrusted Michael Cinco wedding gown
46
The number, in kilograms, that Swarovski’s wedding gown weighed.
1,000
The hours it took to create Cinco’s vermillion petal gown, as seen in his atelier [note, is the one he’s playing with in the corner of a room]
50
How many looks Cinco has created in a new collection to celebrate Ballet Philippines’ 50th birthday
3,000
The hours needed to create the butterfly gown worn by Aishwarya Rai to the 2018 Cannes Film Festival.
1.1 million
The number of followers that Michael Cinco’s Instagram account has garnered.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
House-hunting
Top 10 locations for inquiries from US house hunters, according to Rightmove
- Edinburgh, Scotland
- Westminster, London
- Camden, London
- Glasgow, Scotland
- Islington, London
- Kensington and Chelsea, London
- Highlands, Scotland
- Argyll and Bute, Scotland
- Fife, Scotland
- Tower Hamlets, London
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
The biog
Name: Salem Alkarbi
Age: 32
Favourite Al Wasl player: Alexandre Oliveira
First started supporting Al Wasl: 7
Biggest rival: Al Nasr
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Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
Pupils in Abu Dhabi are learning the importance of being active, eating well and leading a healthy lifestyle now and throughout adulthood, thanks to a newly launched programme 'Healthy Lifestyle'.
As part of the Healthy Lifestyle programme, specially trained coaches from City Football Schools, along with Healthpoint physicians have visited schools throughout Abu Dhabi to give fun and interactive lessons on working out regularly, making the right food choices, getting enough sleep and staying hydrated, just like their favourite footballers.
Organised by Manchester City FC and Healthpoint, Manchester City FC’s regional healthcare partner and part of Mubadala’s healthcare network, the ‘Healthy Lifestyle’ programme will visit 15 schools, meeting around 1,000 youngsters over the next five months.
Designed to give pupils all the information they need to improve their diet and fitness habits at home, at school and as they grow up, coaches from City Football Schools will work alongside teachers to lead the youngsters through a series of fun, creative and educational classes as well as activities, including playing football and other games.
Dr Mai Ahmed Al Jaber, head of public health at Healthpoint, said: “The programme has different aspects - diet, exercise, sleep and mental well-being. By having a focus on each of those and delivering information in a way that children can absorb easily it can help to address childhood obesity."
Defence review at a glance
• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”
• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems
• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.
• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%
• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade
• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels
RESULT
Brazil 2 Croatia 0
Brazil: Neymar (69'), Firmino (90' 3)
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
'How To Build A Boat'
Jonathan Gornall, Simon & Schuster