More than half of all online transactions in the UAE used a coupon or promo code in the first half of 2026. That makes discounts a routine part of how people shop, not an occasional bonus. UAE shoppers are also spending more on each discounted order, comparing prices across apps and checking coupon websites before big sales, and holding off on purchases until the right deal comes along. Sale events like White Friday, Ramadan, Eid, and the Dubai Shopping Festival now shape when people buy. Loyalty programs, cashback offers, and bank card deals are adding more ways to save on top of standard coupon codes.
For retailers, this means pricing and promotions matter more than ever in winning customers. Below are the latest coupon usage statistics for the UAE, highlighting the key numbers to help you understand the region’s shoppers better.
Key Coupon Statistics in the UAE
- More than 50% of online transactions in the UAE used a coupon or promo code in the first half of 2026.
- The average discounted online order in the UAE rose from AED 327 (USD 89) to AED 448 (USD 122) in one year.
- 80% of UAE consumers spend more time searching for the best deals and prices.
- 81% of UAE shoppers say finding a good deal feels satisfying.
- One in three UAE shoppers holds off on some purchases until discounts are available.
- 30% of UAE consumers wait for big sale events like Black Friday before making a purchase.
- 90% of UAE shoppers value access to exclusive deals and discounts as a membership benefit.
- 74% of UAE shoppers feel their favourite brands do not reward their loyalty.
- 53% of UAE online purchases were made on a mobile phone in the first half of 2026.
- Discount grocery stores in the UAE grew 56% between 2021 and 2024, the fastest rate in the MENA region.
How Many UAE Shoppers Use Coupons and Promo Codes
More than half of all online transactions in the UAE used a coupon or promo code in the first half of 2026. This finding is based on more than 2.5 million online orders placed across the GCC. The study also found that UAE shoppers now use promotions to plan their purchases, rather than as a reason for impulse buying.
Coupon awareness in the UAE has grown quickly in recent years. The number of UAE consumers who knew about coupons, promo codes or rewards went up by 51% from 2021 to 2022. The same survey found that free shipping and better prices are the main reasons UAE shoppers prefer to buy online.
Demand for discounts is still strong. 78% of UAE consumers say they want to see more discounts from the retailers they shop with.
Source: Khaleej Times, Campaign Middle East
Average Order Value of Coupon Orders in UAE
The average online order that used a discount in the UAE was worth AED 448 (USD 122) in the first half of 2026. That is up from AED 327 (USD 89) a year earlier, which is a rise of about 37%. Shoppers are using codes on bigger baskets, not just on small purchases.
Total online orders in the UAE fell by 9% in the same period. But the average value of all online orders went up from AED 356 (USD 97) to AED 408 (USD 111). This means UAE shoppers are placing fewer orders but spending more each time. Gross merchandise value in the UAE still grew by 2%, while it dropped by 9% across the wider GCC.
Source: Khaleej Times
UAE Average Online Order Value Over the Years
The average UAE online order grew from AED 327 (USD 89) in 2023 to AED 408 (USD 111) in the first half of 2026. The full-year and half-year figures below come from separate reports in the same research series.
| Period | Average online order value |
| 2023 | AED 327 (USD 89) |
| 2024 | AED 375 (USD 102) |
| First half of 2025 | AED 356 (USD 97) |
| First half of 2026 | AED 408 (USD 111) |
Source: Flowwow (now Udora) and Admitad e-commerce reports
Why UAE Shoppers Look for Discounts
Price is the main reason UAE shoppers look for discounts. In a survey of more than 5,520 grocery shoppers across five MENA markets, including the UAE, only about one in three said they were happy with the prices they paid. Price was the biggest cause of shopper dissatisfaction in the region.
This push for value is changing how people shop. Discount grocery stores in the UAE grew by 56% between 2021 and 2024, the fastest rate in the region, although from a low base. Across all five markets, discount formats grew by 20% a year, while overall modern grocery grew by just 1% a year. At the same time, fewer shoppers planned to trade down to cheaper products in 2025 than in 2023 and 2024.
UAE shoppers also put real time into finding deals. 80% of UAE consumers say they spend more time searching for the best deals and prices. Almost one in three (30%) wait for big sale events like Black Friday before they buy.
Consumers in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Egypt are trading down to discount brands, buying in bulk and looking for more value through promotions.
Source: McKinsey & Company, PwC Middle East, Khaleej Times.
Deal-Hunting Habits of UAE Shoppers
44% of UAE shoppers compare prices before buying during major sales, and 37% make shopping lists in advance. One in three holds off on certain purchases until discounts are available. Nearly three in ten say they rarely pay full price when they know a sale is coming.
Getting a deal also makes UAE shoppers feel good. 81% say finding a good deal feels satisfying, and 74% say it makes them feel like smart shoppers.
A year earlier, 77% of UAE shoppers said they felt satisfied when they got something they wanted for less. In the same 2025 study, 33% said they were more likely to buy a product only when it was on sale.
Source: Khaleej Times, Gulf Business
Coupon Use During Major Sale Seasons in UAE
UAE shoppers do most of their deal shopping around a few big sale seasons. White Friday, Ramadan and Eid, the Dubai Shopping Festival and Back to School are the main ones, and each brings a mix of promo codes, cashback and store discounts.
White Friday
White Friday is the busiest online sale period in the MENA region. During the November sales, White Friday pushed regional gross merchandise value up by 40% and orders up by 20% compared with the year before. UAE shoppers spent an average of AED 378 (USD 103) per order, up from AED 349 (USD 95), that is 2.7 times higher than the regional average.
41% of UAE shoppers relied on coupons during White Friday sale in 2025, while 21% chose cashback or loyalty-based offers.
The 2025 season was even bigger. White Friday and Cyber Monday lifted MENA gross merchandise value by 59% and order volumes by 46% compared with an average week in 2025.
Ramadan and Eid
Ramadan and Eid are among the biggest online shopping seasons in the UAE. In a study of 900,000 orders, online orders for Ramadan and Eid Al Fitr sales rose by 40%. More than 40% of UAE consumers said they spent more during Eid Al Fitr than the year before.
Source: Gulf News
Retailers go big on discounts during this period. For Ramadan 2026, retailers cut prices on around 10,000 items, with discounts of up to 65%. Grocery bundles priced between AED 50 (USD 13.6) and AED 100 (USD 27.2) carried discounts of up to 50%, and some apps offered up to 15% extra cashback on grocery orders above AED 200 (USD 54.5).
Source: Gulf News
Dubai Shopping Festival
The Dubai Shopping Festival 2025-26 offered 25% to 75% off across more than 1,000 brands and 3,500 outlets. A one-day 12-hour sale at selected malls offered 25% to 90% off at more than 100 brands. Shoppers who spent AED 300 (USD 82) or more could enter weekly car draws.
The number of participating brands has grown. The previous edition in 2024-25 had more than 800 brands across 3,500 outlets, with the same 25% to 75% discount range.
Source: Observer Dubai
Back to School
Back to School is now one of the busiest deal periods in the UAE. Online orders in the UAE rose by 18% during Back to School 2025, and gross merchandise value grew by 22%. The average order went up from AED 360 (USD 98) to AED 422 (USD 115). Fashion made up 27% of back-to-school online baskets in the UAE.
Source: Khaleej Times
Top Categories for Coupon Use in UAE
Electronics, fashion and automotive products are the top categories where UAE shoppers use promotions. Fashion is also the largest online category overall, making up 20.6% of all online purchases in the first half of 2026. Home goods, automotive products and electronics come next.
The fastest growth came from everyday needs. Home goods grew by 18%, food and delivery services grew by 15%, and sports and entertainment products grew by 11%.
Food delivery leads routine online buying in the UAE. It holds a 57% share of online purchases, followed by clothing and fashion at 48% and travel at 38%. 62% of UAE consumers also plan to increase their online shopping.
Source: Khaleej Times
Mobile Coupon Use in UAE
53% of UAE online purchases were made on a mobile phone in the first half of 2026. The number of orders placed on smartphones grew by 20.5% compared with the year before. This means most UAE shoppers now find and apply codes on their phones.
67% of UAE consumers used their phones in their most recent retail purchase, a 23% increase since 2022.
Source: Khaleej Times
UAE Mobile Share of Online Purchases Over the Years
The share of UAE online purchases made on mobile phones rose from 39% in 2023 to 53% in the first half of 2026.
| Year | Share of online purchases made on mobile |
| 2023 | 39% |
| 2024 | 47% |
| 2025 | 51% |
| First half of 2026 | 53% |
Source: Flowwow (now Udora) and Admitad e-commerce reports
Loyalty Programs and Cashback in UAE
62% of UAE consumers say they are more likely to shop with brands that offer loyalty programs. But 55% say these programs often ask too much in time, effort or data. More than half are not sure the rewards are worth it.
Source: Gulf Business
Many shoppers feel let down by brands. 74% of UAE shoppers feel their favourite brands are not rewarding their loyalty, up 4% from the year before. In response, 75% of brands are offering discounts all year round to win back loyal customers.
Source: Khaleej Times
Paid memberships are popular because of their deals. 90% of UAE shoppers value access to exclusive deals and discounts as a membership benefit.
Source: Khaleej Times
Memberships also keep shoppers coming back. In 2025, 73% of UAE shoppers said digital memberships make them more likely to shop again with the same retailer. Exclusive discounts and deals were one of the top membership benefits, picked by 57% of shoppers.
Source: Khaleej Times
Loyalty programs in the region are also moving closer to instant savings. Retailers are shifting away from points toward instant discounts and member-only promotions. Well-run programs can raise a retailer’s revenue by 4% to 7%.
Source: McKinsey & Company
UAE Loyalty Market Size Over the Years
The UAE loyalty market is expected to reach AED 1.80 billion (USD 490.8 million) in 2025, up 16.1% from the year before. It is forecast to reach AED 3.00 billion (USD 817.6 million) by 2029.
| Year | UAE loyalty market size |
| 2024 | About AED 1.55 billion (USD 422.7 million) |
| 2025 | AED 1.80 billion (USD 490.8 million) |
| 2029 (forecast) | AED 3.00 billion (USD 817.6 million) |
Note: The 2024 figure is worked out from the reported 16.1% growth in 2025.
Source: ResearchAndMarkets
How UAE Shoppers Find Coupons and Deals
UAE shoppers find deals through online content, social media and AI tools. In the first half of 2026, around 15% of UAE shoppers relied on online media and content websites for shopping decisions. 13% were influenced by social media content.
Source: Khaleej Times
AI is fast becoming a deal-finding tool. About 80% of UAE adults now use AI to guide their shopping, including product research and price comparisons. A separate study found that 70% of UAE consumers have used AI to help them shop, a 44% jump from 2024.
Source: Khaleej Times
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