The UAE's e-commerce sector has registered a 20% increase since February 2026, marking a continuing transition toward digital shopping as a core element of the country's retail economy, according to industry data cited by Khaleej Times. The reported expansion has been driven by mobile-first consumer habits, quicker fulfillment services, and a broader shift toward cashless transactions.
Online demand rose across multiple retail segments over a two-month period. Food and beverage delivery volumes led sector gains with an 18% increase, followed by beauty and personal care at 15%, fashion at 14%, and long-shelf grocery purchases at 11%, indicating that consumer uptake is widening beyond essential staples into discretionary product lines.
Khaleej Times noted that retailers are adjusting to these behavioral shifts by investing in omnichannel infrastructure, marketplace integrations, and data-driven demand planning to manage stock levels and provide consistent fulfillment across online and brick-and-mortar touchpoints.
The sector's momentum aligns with official federal targets under the UAE Digital Economy Strategy, which aims to raise the digital economy's share of non-oil gross domestic product to more than 20% over the next decade, supported by ongoing domestic logistics and smart infrastructure development.
Sources
- Khaleej Times · 2026-10-04
