E-commerce Statistics in the GCC Region
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In 2015, e-commerce contributed 0.4% to the GCC’s total GDP, amounting to $5.3 billion.
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By 2020, due to the impact of COVID-19 on the global economy, the GCC e-commerce market became one of the fastest-growing in the world, exceeding 35% growth. The market size was estimated at $24 billion, surpassing initial expectations of $21.6 billion.
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The percentage of households purchasing goods online rose from 2% to over 8%. In comparison, advanced economies like the United States, South Korea, and Germany have 16% to 25% of households shopping online. Projections indicate that the GCC will soon reach global benchmarks.
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Online shopping platforms saw a 50% increase in web traffic in 2020 compared to 2015, with the number of online shoppers rising from 3 million to 21 million users.
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E-commerce platforms and mobile shopping apps have tripled in number since 2015.
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Food and grocery delivery services are among the fastest-growing e-commerce sectors, experiencing 20% growth and reaching a market size of $3 billion in the GCC.
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Fashion and beauty products represent a major investment opportunity, growing at 18% annually and surpassing a market value of $5 billion.