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UAE e-commerce market value zooms to over $5b in 2021

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The UAE e-commerce sector continued to show growth in 2021 based on the recent report launched by EZDubai, the fully dedicated e-commerce zone in Dubai South, in partnership with Euromonitor International, the world’s leading provider for global business intelligence, market analysis and consumer insights. Total e-commerce in the UAE, reached just over $5 billion in 2021 and is anticipated to surpass $8 billion by 2025.

According to the report’s findings, more consumers in the UAE made online purchases across all categories during 2021 compared to 2020, with an average 75 per cent of respondents typically purchasing online. The fastest-growing sectors by industry from 2021 – 2025 will be homewares & home furnishings, food & beverage, and media products.

Countries in the Middle East are in a strong position to enable further e-commerce development thanks to high GDP per capita and internet penetration. The UAE and Qatar are in the strongest position, with GDP per capita above $40,000 and internet penetration above 90 per cent. Both countries have successfully implemented fiber access in homes and have the highest active mobile-broadband subscriptions in the region.

E-commerce in the MENA region is fast catching up with global powerhouses, such as China, with many online retailers scaling up services during Covid-19; by 2021, the total market size was estimated at $31.7 billion. The expansion of e-commerce in the MENA region is mainly driven by strong internet penetration rates, high possession of digital devices, rising incomes, improving logistic advancements, and the increasing presence of global and recognized players that have brought variety and availability to local consumers amidst the pandemic.

While the MENA is mostly a cash-based economy, after the pandemic, consumers shifted quickly to adopt credit and debit cards, driven by increased trust and the improvement of company operations. According to the report, in the UAE, credit/debit cards are the preferred method of payment.

UAE consumers purchase from cross-border retailers to access a wider range of products or search for lower prices or higher quality products not offered locally. The UAE also has affordable shipping costs for consumers looking to purchase outside the region. The leading countries, which UAE consumers purchase from include the USA, India and China and are often related to apparel and footwear as well as beauty and personal care. Foreign e-commerce (UAE consumers purchasing outside of the country) is rising fast, from 23 per cent of total e-commerce sales in 2019 to 26 per cent in 2021; this is expected to rise to 32 per cent in 2025.

The MENA is an active region for attracting local and international investments in e-commerce. With the current pace of developments and growing consumer preference for online retail, the region will see e-commerce growth of over $18 billion in absolute value terms over 2021-2025 reaching over $49 billion in 2025.

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Visiting Wafi Mall? Your parking can now be paid through Salik

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Parking at Wafi Mall has gone fully digital.

Parkonic has introduced its ticketless parking system at the popular Dubai mall, allowing motorists to pay parking fees automatically through their Salik accounts or by scanning a QR code before leaving.

When drivers enter the car park, their vehicle’s number plate is automatically scanned, creating a digital parking ticket without the need for paper tickets or parking machines.

Parking charges

  • First 3 hours: Free
  • 3–4 hours: Dh15
  • Each additional hour (or part): Dh10

Parking charges apply Monday to Friday, while parking remains free on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.

Drivers who leave and return after using their three free hours will be treated as a new entry. However, to receive another three hours of free parking on the same day, there must be a two-hour gap between visits.

There are no cash payment options or parking machines at the site. Visitors without a Salik account, or those with insufficient balance, must pay using an alternative payment method before exiting.

Loading bay vehicles are eligible for one extra hour of free parking once validated.

Parkonic warned that motorists who fail to pay the required parking fees could face fines, blacklisting or legal action.

The operator has been expanding its ticketless parking network across the UAE, with recent rollouts at West Yas Plaza, Yas Bay, Yas Marina, selected Choithrams stores, Discovery Gardens and Palm Jumeirah Crescent.

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Four-day deadline for Sharjah motorists to claim impounded vehicles

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If your vehicle has been impounded in Sharjah, now is the time to check.

Sharjah City Municipality has given owners of impounded vehicles, machinery, motorcycles and bicycles four days to complete the necessary release procedures or risk having their property sold at a public auction.

The warning applies to vehicles and equipment that have remained impounded for more than six months.

Owners are required to visit the Control and Inspection Department in Industrial Area 5 to resolve the reason for the impoundment and complete the legal procedures needed to recover their property.

After the deadline, any unclaimed vehicles or equipment will be put up for public auction.

To help owners, the municipality has published a list of all affected vehicles on its official website, allowing residents to check whether their vehicle is included before visiting the department.

The move is part of Sharjah Municipality’s ongoing efforts to regulate impounded assets and encourage owners to complete the required procedures within the specified timeframe.


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UAE motorists face Dh500 fine for carrying extra passengers

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Abu Dhabi Police are reminding motorists not to carry more passengers than their vehicle is designed for, warning that overcrowded cars significantly increase the risk of serious injuries and fatal crashes.

Officials said exceeding a vehicle’s approved passenger capacity can leave some occupants without seat belts, reduce the driver’s control of the vehicle and make accidents more likely.

Drivers have been urged to ensure every passenger is seated in a designated seat and wearing a seat belt before setting off.

Motorists caught carrying more passengers than permitted face a Dh500 fine, four black points on their driving licence and seven days of vehicle impoundment.

Abu Dhabi Police stressed that following passenger limits is a basic road safety requirement and reminded drivers that protecting everyone inside the vehicle is a shared responsibility.

The number of passengers per car: 

Most private cars and sedans allow up to 4 passengers plus the driver. Larger SUVs or vans can seat up to 6 to 7 passengers or more, depending on their registered design. 


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