Retail sector officials have reported a significant increase in consumer interest in shopping through e-commerce platforms and 'online shopping' since the beginning of Ramadan. Growth rates have ranged between 30% and 40% compared to regular days or even last Ramadan. They explained this surge is due to a combination of factors, most notably the significant development of e-commerce platforms by retail stores, the expansion of offers and discounts on these platforms, and the preference of many consumers for online shopping during Ramadan to avoid congestion in traditional stores and reduce the time and effort spent shopping.
In detail, the Head of Corporate Communications at 'Lulu Group Shopping Malls', Nanda Kumar, stated that online purchases saw a clear increase since the start of Ramadan, rising by about 30% compared to regular days or last Ramadan. He attributed this to the development of digital platforms and the availability of similar offers to those in physical stores, which encouraged families to rely more on online shopping, especially with growing consumer awareness of its benefits.
Meanwhile, the Director of Marketing and Public Relations at 'Sharjah Cooperative', Faisal Khalan Naboda, mentioned that orders through the cooperative's e-commerce platforms have increased by about 40% since the beginning of Ramadan, compared to last Ramadan or regular days. He clarified that this growth resulted from improvements in the cooperative's platforms, applications, and delivery systems, in addition to expanding the same offers available in branches, giving consumers a more convenient and comfortable shopping experience. He also noted that the increased awareness among a large number of shoppers about 'online' shopping is a key factor supporting the growth in demand through platforms.
In turn, the CEO of 'Union Cooperative', Mohamed Al-Hashimi, confirmed that e-commerce witnessed a remarkable growth during Ramadan, by up to 40%, pointing out that expanding offers through e-commerce platforms played a major role in increasing demand, especially with the rise in consumption during the fasting month. He added that the speed and efficiency of delivery services, along with higher consumer awareness of the benefits of online shopping, have boosted this trend.
In the same context, the Business Development Manager of an e-commerce platform, Ribal Olbek, stated that the increasing competition between platforms and traditional stores has contributed to the rise in online shopping, with growth rates exceeding 40% compared to last Ramadan. He noted that the strong entry of traditional stores into the e-commerce sector and the development of their platforms have intensified this competition. He also pointed out that many consumers prefer to avoid visiting stores during peak hours in Ramadan to avoid crowds, pushing them to rely on online shopping, especially with the availability of the same offers offered by physical stores.
Strong Competition
Retail expert Ibrahim Al-Bahr confirmed that the e-commerce sector is currently witnessing strong competition between digital platforms and traditional stores, especially after the latter began developing their own e-commerce platforms and offering similar promotions. He stated that this development has provided consumers with added value through the ease of comparing prices and making quick and efficient purchasing decisions when shopping 'online'.
