The UAE has secured the world’s top position in mobile commerce, according to the 2025 Global Digital Shopping Index released by PYMNTS Intelligence and commissioned by Visa Acceptance Solutions.

The study, which surveyed 1,679 consumers and 329 merchants in the UAE, found that 67% of shoppers used their smartphones for their most recent purchase, marking a 23% increase since 2022. The UAE also recorded the highest global share of online purchases made via mobile devices at 37%, surpassing Singapore, the UK, and Brazil.

Notably, biometric authentication adoption among UAE consumers reached 32%, nearly double the global average of 17%. Multi-channel shopping remained popular, with 53% of respondents favouring a blend of online and in-store experiences, while loyalty programmes (75%), free shipping (73%), and price matching (70%) were the most desired retail features.

The report stressed that 38% of UAE consumers opted for home delivery using either mobile or desktop platforms for their last purchase. The "mobile-first" trend was strongest among millennials, with smartphone usage reaching 73% in this cohort.

Salima Gutieva, Vice President and UAE Country Manager at Visa, said the findings reflect the UAE’s proactive approach in building a digitally enabled retail ecosystem. “We work closely with government and private sector partners to introduce innovative solutions like Tap to Pay, delivering seamless and secure digital payment experiences,” she said.

The index surveyed 18,468 consumers and 3,464 merchants across eight countries, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, US, UK, Singapore, Australia, Mexico, and Brazil, between October and December 2024.