Business

UAE shoppers make most of White Friday sales to stretch their budgets

Smart choices can help UAE residents turn White Friday deals into long-term value

White Friday sales are in full swing across the UAE, stretching from late November into the first few days of December. It mirrors Black Friday in the West, but shoppers here approach it differently.

Amazon.ae, Expedia.ae and other major retailers and online travel operators are rolling out major deals, yet residents are becoming more selective and more strategic. You may notice this shift in your own habits — choosing products that last, add real value or make daily life easier.

These aren’t isolated choices. They reflect clear trends seen across millions of transactions. Joint research from Flowwow and Admitad highlights just how sharply UAE shoppers differ from the regional average.

Not falling for impulse buys

Across the MENA region, November online purchases rose 10%, but White Friday drove the real climb: GMV — the total value of everything bought online before discounts and fees — jumped 40%, and the number of orders increased 20%. Within this surge, UAE residents stood out for making higher-value purchases without falling into impulse spending.

Average order value, or AOV (the average amount shoppers spend per order), rose across MENA from $33.5 (Dh123) to $38 (Dh140). In the UAE, AOV moved from $95 (Dh349) to $103 (Dh378) — 2.7 times higher than the regional average. Bigger spends here reflect a preference for well-considered purchases that hold up longer and reduce replacement costs.

Electronics spending rose 22%, while fashion climbed 21%. Many residents used White Friday to upgrade work devices, refresh wardrobes or tick off items they’ve planned to buy.

Everyday choices hit budgets

The sharpest growth came from categories tied to daily life. Instead of grabbing eye-catching deals, shoppers focused on home, family and wellbeing. This shift shows a mindset that treats White Friday as a chance to make the coming months smoother and more affordable.

For example, spending on home and garden items climbed 18%. Families also directed more towards children’s items, sports gear, beauty and wellness products. Toys, hobbies and even automotive accessories saw steady growth. When you look at these movements together, a pattern emerges: people are investing in everyday upgrades rather than random sale items that don’t last.

Another telling signal comes from how shoppers saved money. Only 14% relied on coupons, but 21% used cashback and loyalty rewards — tools that add ongoing value. Coupons vanish. Cashback accumulates. It’s a subtle but powerful budgeting shift.

Gifting early now an advantage

Flowwow’s UAE data reflects the same habits. The platform saw GMV surge 96%, orders rise 72% and average spend reach Dh350. Much of this came from gifting — but gifting done early, thoughtfully and within planned budgets.

Lifestyle and gift items dominated spending this season, with shoppers showing a strong preference for thoughtful, meaningful purchases. Non-floral gifts such as edible bouquets and balloons surged by 180%, while beauty products climbed 150% and confectionery rose 70%.

Home and garden items grew 50%, reflecting a growing interest in practical upgrades and home comfort. Even within gifting categories, certain products stood out: indoor plants jumped 83%, gourmet gift sets soared 285%, and edible bouquets rose 61%, showing how residents leaned into presents that feel personal and festive.

If you’ve ever waited until mid-December and felt the financial pinch, these trends explain why many UAE residents now shop earlier. Buying gifts ahead of the rush spreads spending, prevents panic buys and locks in better prices.

Add travel to White Friday mix?

Many UAE residents also use the White Friday period to organise upcoming travel, especially with long booking windows and seasonal rate drops. One example this year includes hotel discounts of up to 50% on Expedia.ae between November 20 and December 2, with stays allowed until December 30, 2026 — a timeline that appeals to travellers planning well in advance.

A spokesperson for Expedia Group Brands observed broader destination choices among UAE travellers this winter, noting: “This winter, UAE travelers are embracing variety like never before, from tropical escapes in Thailand, festive European cities in Madrid and Amsterdam to ski adventures in St. Moritz. To make the most of these trips, timing is key; staying on February 3 or 15 can unlock the best rates, while bundling flights and hotels can save hundreds.”

The range of discounted hotels includes city properties in London and Paris as well as resort stays in Antalya, offering travellers a snapshot of the types of international options often discounted at this time of year.

Turn sales to budgeting wins

You can mirror the same habits that now define UAE spending patterns:

Identify what you’ll genuinely need over the next six months — White Friday pricing often beats New Year or Ramadan deals.
Compare marketplace prices first. With 74% of all online purchases in the region happening on marketplaces, competition keeps prices tight.
Use loyalty points and cashback as part of a longer-term savings strategy.
Finalise your holiday gift list early to avoid inflated December prices.
Check long-window travel offers if you have fixed travel plans for 2025 or 2026.

UAE sales to soar further

This year’s White Friday is expected to be strong again: UAE GMV may rise 14%, order volumes 11%, and gifting alone could climb 65%. With 65% of the UAE population under 35, digitally native shoppers are driving the market forward. Nearly half of all purchases now happen on mobile, and marketplace activity keeps growing.

For your personal finances, this means the next few days offer prime opportunities — but only if what’s in your cart supports your real needs. What purchases would meaningfully improve your day? Which gifts bring joy without stretching your budget? With the sales still running into the first days of December, you have room to choose value, not noise.

Gulf News

Business

UAE President to Begin Working Visit to India

UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan will begin a working visit to the Republic of India tomorrow.

During the visit, His Highness will hold talks with His Excellency Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, to explore opportunities to strengthen bilateral cooperation, reflecting the longstanding ties and Comprehensive Strategic and Economic Partnerships between the two countries.

WAM

Business

UAE records key gains in energy, infrastructure, housing in 2025

The United Arab Emirates reported significant growth across its energy, infrastructure, maritime transport, housing and digital transformation sectors in 2025, underscoring its ability to pair long-term planning with execution on the ground.

The achievements reflect a government approach built on innovation, operational efficiency and improving quality of life, demonstrating the ability to translate national strategies into tangible results that strengthen the country’s competitiveness.

In the housing sector, the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure issued 3,567 housing support decisions with a total value of AED2.546 billion. These decisions included housing grants, loans, and housing financing solutions.

These efforts contributed to an unprecedented achievement, as the homeownership rate among UAE citizens rose to 91 percent, one of the highest rates globally. The UAE also won, for the first time, the presidency of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) General Assembly and secured membership on its Executive Council.

As for the energy sector, 2025 marked the launch of the Global Energy Efficiency Alliance, which attracted the participation of more than 40 countries and international organisations—an initiative that underscores the UAE’s advanced role in leading global dialogues on reducing consumption and enhancing efficiency.

The year also witnessed the publication of the State of Energy Report 2025, the election of the UAE as a member of the Water Council of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and the launch of a guidance manual for supporting domestic workers in eight languages to raise community awareness of responsible consumption practices.

The implementation of the National Energy and Water Demand Management Programme 2050 further reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to reducing energy demand by 42 percent–45 percent by 2050, through a comprehensive portfolio of projects and initiatives spanning the industrial, agricultural, built environment, and transport sectors.

In the infrastructure and transport sectors, the Ministry worked on developing the National Agenda for Addressing Traffic Congestion, which includes a portfolio of national transport and road projects valued at over AED170 billion through 2030.

The Ministry’s plan targets a 73 percent improvement in the efficiency of federal roads over the next five years, through the implementation of the Emirates Road upgrading and capacity enhancement project, with an investment of AED750 million. The plan also includes increasing the capacity of Al Ittihad Road by 60 percent and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road by 45 percent.

Additionally, the plan includes a feasibility study for the construction of the Fourth Federal Road, extending 120 kilometres with a capacity of up to 360,000 trips per day.

Moreover, the Ministry completed five major transformational projects, which are the humanisation of buildings and their transformation into healthy, well-being–supportive environments, the development of the Green Recycling Yards Project, the advancement of green industrial transformation, the implementation of the Sustainable Farm Irrigation Project, and the recycling of electric and hybrid vehicle batteries.

The UAE also continued to strengthen its global maritime presence by hosting the World Maritime Day Parallel Event and launching the National Maritime Navigation Centre, in addition to being re-elected for the fifth consecutive term to Category “B” membership of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).

The Ministry also won 41 local, regional, and international awards and obtained 19 ISO certifications, underscoring the maturity of its administrative systems and the quality of its operational processes.

In support of enhanced community engagement, the Ministry held 30 customer council meetings across the Emirates and signed 26 agreements and memoranda of understanding to expand partnerships, knowledge exchange, and amplify the impact of national projects. The year also witnessed the launch of the first fully integrated digital government services centre in Fujairah.

“The year 2025 represents an important milestone in the development journey of the energy, infrastructure, transport, and housing sectors in the UAE,” said Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure. “We witnessed tangible progress in the implementation of strategic projects that reflect the vision of our wise leadership in building an integrated, more efficient, and sustainable ecosystem capable of supporting economic growth and enhancing quality of life.”

“Our efforts have focused on strengthening the readiness of federal infrastructure, improving the efficiency of the energy system, and developing advanced housing solutions that align with the needs of citizens and their future aspirations,” he said.

Al Mazrouei added that the achievements realised in 2025 confirm the Ministry’s ability to translate national plans into concrete, data-driven results by adopting a work model based on effective governance, efficient resource management, and the expansion of local, regional, and international partnerships.”

“We commence 2026 confidently, building on clear results and solid foundations, while reaffirming our commitment to supporting the objectives of the ‘We the UAE 2031’ Vision, on the path toward the UAE Centennial 2071. The Ministry will continue its work to ensure advanced infrastructure, a sustainable energy sector, and flexible housing solutions that collectively enhance the country’s competitiveness and leadership at both the regional and global levels,” he noted.

WAM

Business

Industry Ministry, WEF Partner on Global Minerals

The Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources and the World Economic Forum announced a cooperation agreement signed on the sidelines of the Future Minerals Forum (FMF) in Riyadh. The signing took place in the presence of Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef, FMF Chief Executive Ali Al-Mutairi, and World Economic Forum Executive Committee Member Fernando J. Gómez.
Under the agreement, the cooperation will run until September 2027, with FMF serving as the central and principal platform for implementation and management of the related dialogue. The cooperation aims to unify efforts to strengthen partnerships around critical minerals required for energy and other technologies, contributing to the assurance of resilient, sustainable, and responsible mineral supplies aligned with industrial objectives and the energy transition. According to the agreement, the initiative will be overseen by a joint executive committee comprising representatives from the ministry and the World Economic Forum.
The Future Minerals Forum and the World Economic Forum will support efforts to mobilize the public and private sectors to enhance resilience, transparency, and capacity building across mineral value chains. This includes developing and disseminating insights and knowledge on mineral traceability and policy options to increase supply. These insights are intended to complement FMF’s ongoing initiatives to advance standards and best practices in the sector.
The minister affirmed that this partnership represents a pivotal step toward advancing FMF’s objectives in building a more sustainable and equitable global minerals ecosystem, emphasizing that cooperation with the World Economic Forum embodies the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s vision to become a key hub within global mineral value chains.
Gómez expressed optimism about the cooperation with the ministry, stressing that securing resilient and sustainable mineral supplies requires close collaboration across sectors and borders, and that this partnership will help unlock the potential of mineral resources as drivers of sustainable growth and shared prosperity.
This cooperation further strengthens the Kingdom’s ongoing efforts to advance international collaboration on minerals. Since the launch of the Future Minerals Forum in 2022, it has become a global platform that has helped shape the future of minerals and provides a space for cross-sector dialogue that supports action and leadership in mineral traceability and sustainability.
The ministry, the World Economic Forum, and the Future Minerals Forum will leverage this agreement to enhance cooperation between governments and the private sector, support enabling policies, best practices, and innovations across mineral supply chains, address sustainability and efficiency challenges, and strengthen environmental, social, and corporate governance standards.
The agreement reflects the World Economic Forum’s role as a neutral, non-profit international organization that supports cross-sector cooperation and promotes solution-oriented dialogue to ensure resource sustainability and inclusive growth. The project’s outcomes and insights are expected to contribute to the sixth edition of FMF, to be hosted in Riyadh in January 2027.
It is noteworthy that FMF brings together, through the government-led ministerial roundtable, senior government representatives, policymakers, industry leaders, non-governmental organizations, academic institutions, and stakeholders across the mineral value chain to address sector challenges, enhance investment opportunities, and ensure responsible and resilient mineral supplies.
— SPA