UAE residents gear up for Dubai Shopping Festival with a strong appetite for spending
As the Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) approaches, new data from YouGov reveals that it remains the most anticipated sale event for UAE residents, with 61% planning to shop during the festival.
Among those planning to participate in shopping, 71% of UAE residents indicated they are likely to spend the same amount or more compared to last year, reflecting a strong appetite for shopping during the festival.
Fashion tops the list of items UAE residents are most likely to purchase during DSF, with 69% saying they typically buy clothes during the event. Notably, women are more likely to indulge in clothing purchases than men, with 75% of women compared to 66% of men stating they will shop for clothes. After clothing, other popular purchases include accessories such as shoes and bags (57%), gifts (46%), cosmetics (45%), and tech products (44%).
The Dubai Shopping Festival also plays a significant role in holiday and gift shopping. Nearly half of shoppers (49%) agree that they do most of their gift or holiday shopping during mega sale events. Many consider it an ideal time to purchase essential and luxury items. Close to 44% of shoppers say they hold off on making essential purchases until mega sale event offers, while 36% wait for such offers to buy luxury items.
The influence of social media is significant in driving awareness of mega sale events like DSF, with 69% of UAE residents acknowledging its impact. Its influence is most pronounced among the 35+ age group, where 73% rely on social media to stay informed about mega sale events. Additionally, 52% of residents are influenced by online shopping websites, and 51% are swayed by online advertisements when making their purchase decisions.
Methodology: YouGov Surveys: Serviced provide quick survey results from
nationally representative or targeted audiences in multiple markets. The data is based on a survey of 1005 UAE adults aged 18+ years. The survey was conducted online between July 12 and 30, 2024. Learn more about YouGov Surveys: Serviced.