The UAE’s digital commerce landscape is evolving at a rapid scale, thereby offering a plethora of opportunities for businesses to expand their reach and be present for their customers. From the surge in quick commerce to the increased dominance of mobile shopping, brands need to adapt to these industrial shifts while adopting the right tools to elevate their chances to be seen in a competitive market.
Here are a few key trends which are expected to shape the MENA e-commerce landscape in 2025, and the critical role digital commerce intelligence tools will play in helping emerging and existing brands to navigate in this dynamic environment.
Key digital commerce trends in the UAE for 2025
1. Quick commerce will continue to grow
The Quick Commerce (Q-commerce) market has changed the retail experience by offering quick delivery services. This established platform was anticipated to generate a revenue of USD 161.50 million by 2024. In line with the fast-paced lifestyle of UAE and KSA residents, Q-commerce validates instant gratification and unparalleled convenience.
Offering a range of products, starting from essentials to luxury items, has made their lives easier than ever by bringing everything to their doorstep. The demand and reliability will continue to grow in the upcoming year for their speedy and accurate deliveries. mFilterIt predicts more focus will be given to Q-commerce than any other platform.
2. Shift towards mobile-first platforms
Mobile Commerce (M-Commerce) will continue to be a growing and preferred platform in the MENA digital ecosystem. With 99 per cent smartphone penetration, changing consumer habits, and residents spending an average of 8 hours and 36 minutes online daily, e-commerce brands have to focus on being present on Mobile-first platforms.
This includes optimising web stores and creating seamless, secure, and user-friendly apps to meet consumer demands for convenience and uninterrupted shopping experiences. mFilterIt predicts renewed effort to convert mobile users.
3. Omnichannel presence will become essential
Brands who think about the customers and carve experiences based on their needs will stand out. In MENA consumers increasingly expect bespoke journeys that cater to their unique preferences. This change has led to the brands adopting an omnichannel approach. For example, pop-up stores are gaining popularity as they provide physical spaces for customers to interact with products before buying.
Leveraging AI and data analytics, businesses are creating tailored recommendations, dynamic pricing, and other personalised offerings that enhance customer satisfaction and loyalty. mFilterIt predicts platforms will focus on phygital journeys for customers. This will particularly work for luxury players.
4. Secured online shopping experiences
As the e-commerce ecosystem expands, the need for secured transactions and safe online shopping experiences has become imperative. Digital commerce brands have to ensure their shoppers are having a safe and secure shopping experience. Here the need for fraud detection systems has become necessary to detect abnormal activities, protect shoppers from becoming a victim of phishing links or transaction related fraud.
A secure online environment is no longer just a feature—it is a necessity for brands aiming to maintain credibility and customer confidence. mFilterIt predicts larger companies will enhance their security (both financial and cyber) to give customers a seamless and stress-free shopping environment.
Role of digital commerce intelligence tools
To thrive in the MENA’s growing e-commerce market, brands will need the right tools to stay updated. Here are a few ways digital commerce intelligence tools like mScanIt will help scale the growth of your digital brand:
- Identify and monitor trends: Brands can leverage the insights by digital commerce intelligence tools to keep track of the emerging trends and shifts in consumer behaviour. These insights can be used to optimise the strategies and meet evolving market demands effectively.
- Competitive strategy alignment: To stay in line with the dynamic changes of the industry and gain a competitive edge, an understanding of competitor pricing, promotions, and inventory strategies is crucial. Utilising this intelligence can help brands to refine their performance across platforms and maintain a competitive edge.
- Supply chain optimisation: Conduct demand forecasting and plan your supply chain operations effectively with the right insights. Using this intelligence, brands can reduce the risks of stock outs and overstocking, ensuring an efficient flow of products.
- Personalisation through sentiment analysis: To stay relevant to the customers, brands can use the customer sentiment insights and design a highly personalised shopping experience. This approach enhances customer satisfaction and fosters long-term loyalty.
By integrating the right intelligence tools and insights into their strategies, digital commerce businesses can gain a competitive edge in the MENA’s dynamic digital commerce ecosystem. As 2025 approaches, the ability to harness data-driven insights will define success, enabling brands to deliver exceptional value to their customers while staying ahead of the competition.
By Amit Relan, CEO & Co-Founder, mfilterit.
