The festive holiday shopping season is already in full swing and FedEx Express (FedEx), and the world’s largest transportation company, is going all-in to help shoppers and shippers spread some seasonal joy at this special time of the year.
With seasonal shopping increasing, the share of e-commerce’s retail spending is also increasing during this period. According to recent EZDubai research, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) e-commerce sector shows great potential: the overall regional e-commerce market rose to US$31.7 billion in 2021, a 15% increase over 2020.
The UAE’s e-commerce sector alone is estimated to be worth US$9.2 billion by 2026. In addition, a new Checkout.com survey reveals that 88% of the respondents across MENA plan to increase their online purchases during the coming year. Meanwhile, local festivities such as the UAE National Day, which mark the final countdown to the holiday season, provide the consumers with great deals and offers. In fact, according to Google’s own data, consumers in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt are among the most thrilled to search for Black Friday compared to consumers in Brazil, the UK, and the US.
To make the most of the season, e-tailers are looking to boost their effectiveness and are innovating their services through personalized customer offers, online shoppertainment, and new payment options to attract visitors and clicks. To deliver superior customer experience during periods of high demand, they also need the support of a reliable logistics provider.
“During the holiday season, customers in the UAE and the rest of the GCC place big importance on making the most out of the shopping discounts,” said Taarek Hinedi, vice president of Middle East and Africa operations at FedEx Express. “With our strong network and comprehensive portfolio of services including digital solutions, we aim to help drive the UAE’s e-commerce value chain during the holiday season.”
