The UAE now leads the world in mobile shopping, with over 67% of users using phones for retail. Visa’s new report shows strong support for digital payments, with tools like Click to Pay improving speed and security. UAE businesses must act fast to meet demand for mobile-friendly, reward-rich shopping.
The UAE is now the top country in the world for mobile shopping, according to the 2025 Global Digital Shopping Index (UAE edition). The report, created by Visa Acceptance Solutions and PYMNTS Intelligence, is based on a survey of 1,679 UAE consumers and 329 merchants. It shows how smartphones are changing how people in the UAE shop—and what retailers can do to keep up.
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The study shows that mobile phones play a major role in how people buy things in the UAE. Over 67% of consumers used their phones for their most recent purchase—a 23% jump since 2022. Mobile devices are now the most common way to shop online in the country.
Here’s how the UAE compares with other countries:
This makes the UAE the world leader in mobile-first shopping.
Mobile shopping is growing across all age groups in the UAE. The report found:
This shows that most people in the UAE are moving to mobile-first shopping, though older adults are doing so at a slower pace.
The study gives a clear message to UAE businesses: make mobile shopping easier.
Here’s what shoppers want:
Even though stored credentials help speed up checkouts, only 26% of UAE shoppers used this feature in their last transaction. That’s much lower than the global average of 45%. This means retailers have room to improve their payment experience.
Visa is helping UAE businesses improve mobile payments through tools like Visa Click to Pay. This system makes checkout easier by:
All biometric checks are done on the user’s device, and no personal data is shared—making it a safe and secure way to shop online.
“The UAE shows what’s possible when everyone works together to build the future of shopping,” said Salima Gutieva, Visa’s Vice President and Country Manager for UAE. “We’re proud to support the UAE’s digital goals and continue to work with businesses and banks to bring in smart tools like Click to Pay.”
UAE customers are not just shopping with phones—they also want rewards and good deals. Here’s what the report found:
Also, 32% used biometric login like fingerprint or face recognition for their most recent online retail purchase. That’s nearly double the global average of 17%.
More than half (53%) of UAE shoppers want to shop across different channels and devices—for example, starting on their phone and finishing in a physical store, or vice versa. This is one of the highest rates globally, showing how UAE shoppers want flexible, fast, and connected shopping experiences.
Visa is working with partners in the UAE to support this growth. By offering tools like Click to Pay, Visa is helping to create an easy, secure, and mobile-friendly shopping environment for businesses and customers.
