Middle East B2C E-Commerce and Payment Market 2021 & COVID-19’s Impact
Middle East B2C E-Commerce market value projected to double between by 2025: new yStats.com report.
The latest publication from Germany-based online research firm yStats.com, “Middle East B2C E-Commerce and Payment Market 2021 & COVID-19’s Impact” provides insights into the current state and future trends of the B2C E-Commerce and payment market in the Middle East. Among other finding, the publication reveals that “Electronics, appliances and media” product category was expected to dominate in the Middle East B2C E-Commerce market by 2025.
Despite a steady B2C E-Commerce market size increase in the Middle East in 2020, the growth rate remained relatively low
In a pre-COVID-19 assessment, the value of the region's B2C E-Commerce industry was anticipated to rise by more than 20% year on year in 2020 from 2019. However, after the onset of COVID-19 sales volume surged even more and were estimated to almost double from 2020 to 2025. Just two countries in the region, UAE and Saudi Arabia controlled a sizable portion of the market, accounting for more than 70% of the total in 2020.
Consumers’ preferences for digital payments in the Middle East surpassed cash on delivery in 2020
Consumers opted for online purchases and contactless payments more during the outbreak in 2020, indicating widespread adoption of digital commerce in the region. Furthermore, in 2020, over 50% of consumers in the region will use digital payments while buying online, compared to only 36% who will use cash on delivery. Convenience, quickness, avoiding human touch, new ways to pay, and control, were cited as reasons for the change.
By 2025, the “Electronics, Appliances, and Media” product category was expected to lead the Middle East B2C E-Commerce industry
Consumers developed preferences in product categories to be purchased online as online shopping usage grew. The most popular categories among shoppers in the Middle East were: ""electronics, appliances & media,"" ""fashion & beauty,"" ""toys, hobby & DIY,"" and ""digital services (food delivery, events, fitness & services)."" Aside from that, FMCG (fast moving consumer goods) E-Commerce grew steadily from 2015 to 2020, more than doubling from 2019 to 2020 as the pandemic movement restrictions forced consumers to shop online for daily necessities.
- 1. Management Summary
- 2. Global Developments
- B2C E-Commerce Sales Value, in USD trillion, 2019 & 2022f
- B2C E-Commerce Year-on-Year Growth Rate, by Region, in %, 2020e
- Internet Penetration Rate, in % of Households, 2020
- Consumers Who Experienced Online Purchases Difficulties, by Country, incl. Egypt and Israel, in %, 2019 & 2020
- 3. Regional
- B2C E-Commerce Sales Value, in USD billion, 2019 & 2022f
- B2C E-Commerce Market and Payments Overview, July 2021
- Value of B2C E-Commerce Sales, in USD billion, and Year-on-Year Change, in %, 2017 - 2020e
- Value of B2C E-Commerce Sales, in USD billion, and Y-o-Y Change, in %, 2020e - 2025f
- Internet Penetration Rate, in % of Population, by Country, incl. Population, in millions, Number of Internet Users, in millions, 2021
- Share of UAE & Saudi Arabia E-Commerce Sales, in % of Total E-Commerce Sales, 2020
- Breakdown of Purchasing Forms Preferred in the Next Big Shopping/Sales Event, in % of Consumers, October 2020
- FMCG E-Commerce Penetration Rate, in % of Total Sales, 2015 - 2020
- B2C E-Commerce Market Value, by Product Category, in USD billion, incl. COVID-19 Adjustment, and Estimated B2C E-Commerce Penetration, in %, 2020e & 2025f
- Consumer Digital Economy, in USD billion, 2018 - 2020 & 2023f
- Breakdown of Digital Economy, by Sectors, in % of Total Digital Economy Value, 2018 - 2020 & 2023f
- Market Share of Online Travel & Transport Sector, by Country, in %, October 2020
- Digital Activities’ Usage Frequency Change, by Category, incl. Streaming Video, Shopping Online & Contactless Payments, in % of Arab Respondents, August 2020
- Overview of Selected Leading Fintech Startups, incl. Total Funding, June 2021
- Top Payment Methods Preferred When Shopping Online, in % of Consumers, September 2020
- Share of Consumers Who Will Mostly Shop Online For Things They Used to Buy in Stores Pre-COVID-19, in %, October 2020
- 4. Saudi Arabia
- B2C E-Commerce Players Overview, July 2021
- Value of B2C E-Commerce Sales, in USD billion, and Year-on-Year Change, in %, 2017 - 2020e
- Value of B2C E-Commerce Sales, in USD billion, and Year-on-Year Change, in %, 2020e - 2025f
- Share of Consumers Who Shopped More Online Since the COVID-19 Pandemic Onset, in %, November 2020
- Top 3 Product Categories Purchased More Online, in % of Consumers, November 2020
- Share of Consumers Who Discovered New Sellers on Social Media Platforms, by Platform in %, November 2020
- Mobile Share of Internet Traffic, in %, June 2021
- Top 10 Mobile Shopping Apps in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, by Rank, July 2021
- Share of Respondents Who Would Opt for Digital Banking Services over Visiting a Bank, in %, July 2021
- 5. United Arab Emirates
- B2C E-Commerce Market Overview, July 2021
- Value of the B2C E-Commerce, in USD billion, and Year-on-Year Change, in %, 2017 - 2020e
- Value of B2C E-Commerce, in USD billion, and Y-o-Y Change, in %, 2020e - 2025f
- B2C E-Commerce Market Value, in USD billion, 2019 & 2020
- Share of B2C E-Commerce, in % of the Overall Retail Market, 2020
- Share of M-Commerce, in % of E-Commerce, 2015 & 2020
- Value of M-Commerce Market, in USD billion, 2019 - 2020 & 2025f
- Share of SMEs Who Invested in Sales Online and Plan to Develop Online Sales Services, in %, October 2020
- Share of Consumers Who Have High Level of Confidence in Digital Payments, in %, 2021
- Top Reasons for Trusting Contactless Payments, in % of Consumers, 2021
- 6. Israel
- Top Financial Transactions Performed on Payment Platforms via a Smartphone, in % of Adults, 2018, 2019 & 2020
- Share of Adults Who Purchase on Israeli and Foreign Websites, in %, 2020
- Top Issues Arisen When Purchasing Product Online, in % of Respondents, 2020
- Top 10 Mobile Shopping Apps in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, by Rank, July 2021
- 7. Iran
- Breakdown of Internet Traffic, by Device, in %, June 2021
- Smartphone Penetration Rate, in %, 2019 & 2020
- Nominal and Real Ratio of E-Commerce Transactions, in % of GDP, 2018 - 2020
- Value of Nominal and Real Electronic Transactions, in IRR billion, 2017 - 2020
- Number of Electronic Transactions, in billions, 2019 & 2020
- Online Shopping Methods, in % of E-Commerce Transactions, March 2021
- 8. Qatar
- Value of B2C E-Commerce Sales, in USD billion, and Year-on-Year Change, in %, 2017 - 2020e
- Value of B2C E-Commerce Sales, in USD billion, 2020e - 2025f
- Number of E-Commerce Websites Registered with Ministry of Transport & Communications, June 2020 & December 2020
- 9. Kuwait
- Value of B2C E-Commerce Sales, in USD billion, and Year-on-Year Change, in %, 2017 - 2020e
- Breakdown of Internet Traffic, by Device, in %, June 2021
- Share of Respondents Who are Less Likely to Use Cash on Delivery and Likely to Use Contactless Payment Methods More, in %, February 2021
- Share of Respondents Who Abandon Their Shopping Cart When Faced With a Delay/Authentication Error, in %, February 2021
- Top Drivers of Trust in Online Shopping, in % of Respondents, February 2021
- Top Reasons for Trusting Contactless Payments, in % of Respondents, February 2021
- Types of Frauds Experienced By Consumers, in % of Respondents, February 2021
- 10. Lebanon
- Breakdown of Internet Traffic, by Device, in %, June 2021
- Top 10 Mobile Shopping Apps in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, by Rank, July 2021
- 11. Jordan
- Breakdown of Internet Traffic, by Device, in %, June 2021
- Volume of Transactions Made via Mobile Payment Systems, in millions, March 2020 - December 2020
- Share of Transactions via Mobile Payment Systems, by Type, in % of Total Transactions, 2020
- Year-on-Year Change of the Transaction Volume Via Mobile Payment Systems, in %, January 2020 - December 2020
- B2C E-Commerce Market Overview and COVID-19’s Impact, July 2021
- Breakdown of Institutions Issuing Cards, by Type, and Share of Cards Types Issued, in %, 2020
- Value of Payments Executed via Payment Cards Issued by Banks Operating in Jordan, in JOD billion, and Volume, in millions, 2019 & 2020
- Top 10 Mobile Shopping Apps in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, by Rank, July 2021
- 12. Bahrain
- Breakdown of Internet Traffic, by Device, in %, June 2021
- Top 10 Mobile Shopping Apps in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, by Rank, July 2021
- 13. Oman
- Breakdown of Internet Traffic, by Device, in %, June 2021
- Top 10 Mobile Shopping Apps in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, by Rank, July 2021
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