Title: UAE Consumers Embrace Online Shopping for Holiday Season, Demanding Seamless Digital Experiences

As UAE consumers prepare for the end-of-year holiday shopping sales, new data reveals that a majority of shoppers are turning to applications and digital services to fulfill their needs. Compared to the previous year, 70 percent of UAE consumers are planning to do more of their holiday shopping online, highlighting the growing preference for online platforms.

A survey conducted by Cisco AppDynamics, which involved 12,000 consumers across 12 countries, including 1,000 UAE consumers, delved into consumer intentions, behaviors, and preferences during the holiday season. The study found that, on average, UAE consumers expect 68 percent of their holiday shopping spend to be done through applications and digital services, compared to an estimated 61 percent the previous year.

The main driver behind the increase in online shopping preference is the perception that there is a wider range of choices available online compared to physical stores, cited by 52 percent of UAE consumers. Additionally, the ability to shop during working hours (34 percent), avoid last-minute panic buying in stores (32 percent), and shop at convenient times (24 percent) were other key factors influencing the shift towards online shopping.

James Harvey, CTO Advisor EMEA at Cisco AppDynamics, emphasizes the significant opportunity for online retailers in the UAE to attract new customers and drive revenues. However, the pressure to provide seamless digital experiences is higher than ever. According to the survey, 77 percent of UAE consumers stated that an application or digital service failure during holiday shopping would leave them feeling anxious and angry. Moreover, 68 percent of consumers emphasized that no matter how good the deals are, a poor online shopping experience is unacceptable, while 72 percent said retail brands have only one chance to impress them.

“To mitigate this risk, [retailers] need to implement an observability solution which spans across both cloud native and on-premises environments and allows technologists to monitor the health of key business transactions distributed across their entire technology landscape,” suggests James Harvey. The ability to identify and quickly resolve issues with real-time insights ensures that applications consistently operate at peak performance.

As UAE consumers express their expectations for seamless online shopping experiences, the upcoming holiday season presents a critical opportunity for retailers to meet their demands and stand out among competitors. By combining enticing deals with reliable application performance, retailers can gain a decisive edge and drive sales during this festive period.