Consumer Analysis: As we approach Eid Al Adha 2025, expected to begin on June 6th, retailers and marketers across the MENA region are gearing up for one of the year’s most significant shopping seasons. Understanding consumer behavior during this blessed period isn’t just about tradition; it’s about recognising patterns that drive billions in regional spending.
The Big Picture: A Growing Market
The GCC retail market is experiencing unprecedented growth, with spending projected to reach $300 billion by 2028 – a 37% increase from 2022 levels. This surge isn’t just numbers on a spreadsheet; it reflects the region’s evolving consumer confidence and spending power. The UAE alone saw consumer spending rise by 13% in 2023, setting the stage for what we’re seeing this Eid season.
GCC Retail Market Growth Projection
$300B ┤ ╭──
│ ╭───╯
$250B ┤ ╭───╯
│ ╭───╯
$200B ┤ ╭───╯
│ ╭───╯
$150B ┤ ╭───╯
│ ╭───╯
$100B ┤ ╭───╯
│╭───╯
$50B ┤╯
└┬─────┬─────┬─────┬─────┬─────┬─────
2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028(Source: PwC Middle East Economic Outlook)
What makes this particularly interesting is how these numbers translate during religious holidays. Unlike the often-overlooked Hajj season (where UAE shopping increased 4% and electronics surged 10%), Eid Al Adha captures mainstream attention, making it a critical period for businesses to understand and capitalize on.
Shopping Patterns: When and How Consumers Spend
Timing is everything during Eid Al Adha. Historical data shows that 26% of Middle Eastern Muslim consumers prefer shopping in mid-April for Eid celebrations, but Al Adha follows different patterns. The proximity to summer vacation season creates a unique dynamic, families are preparing for both religious celebrations and holiday travels.
Digital Shopping Adoption Trends
Online Shopping Frequency (Heavy Users)
2024: ████████████████████████████████████████ 37%
2025: ████████████████████████████████████████████ 41%
Tech Enthusiasm: First-to-Buy Cutting-Edge Technology
MENA: ██████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████ 67%
Global: ████████████████████████████████████████████████ 48%(Source: Statista MENA Shopping Behavior Analysis)
The digital shift continues to reshape shopping behaviors. Online shopping frequency has jumped significantly, with heavy online shoppers (those shopping daily or multiple times weekly) increasing from 37% in 2024 to 41% in 2025. This trend is particularly pronounced in the GCC, where tech adoption rates are among the world’s highest.
Interestingly, 67% of Middle Eastern consumers want to be first to buy cutting-edge technology, significantly higher than the global average of 48%. This tech enthusiasm extends to Eid shopping, where electronics and gadgets become popular gift categories alongside traditional items.
What’s in the Shopping Cart?
Clothing remains the cornerstone of Eid Al Adha spending across the Middle East. This isn’t surprising, new clothes for Eid is a cherished tradition that drives significant retail activity. Middle Eastern designers strategically time their best collections and sales around the holiday season, both in physical stores and online platforms.
Eid Al Adha Shopping Categories Breakdown
Clothing & Fashion ████████████████████████████████████████ 45%
Food & Hospitality ███████████████████████████████ 32%
Electronics & Tech ████████████████████ 23%
Home & Lifestyle ███████████████ 18%
Gifts & Accessories ████████████ 15%
Travel & Tourism ████████ 10%(Estimated distribution based on MENA consumer spending patterns)
However, the spending categories are expanding. The rise in household item purchases, evidenced by UAE’s Q2 2024 consumer spending patterns, suggests families are using Eid as an opportunity for home upgrades and renovations. This reflects growing disposable income and consumer confidence in the region.
Food and hospitality spending also peaks during this period, though specific Eid Al Adha data shows different patterns compared to Eid Al Fitr. The focus on family gatherings and traditional meals creates opportunities in premium grocery, catering, and restaurant sectors.
Regional Variations: GCC Leading the Charge
The GCC states, particularly the UAE and Qatar, are setting spending trends for the broader MENA region. Qatar’s announcement of a 5-day Eid Al Adha holiday for 2025 signals the importance placed on this celebration and its economic impact.
Consumer Confidence by GCC Country
UAE ████████████████████████████████████████████ 85%
Qatar ██████████████████████████████████████████ 82%
Kuwait ████████████████████████████████████████ 78%
Bahrain ██████████████████████████████████████ 76%
Oman ████████████████████████████████████ 74%
KSA ██████████████████████████████████ 72%(Consumer Confidence Index (2024-2025 average)
Dubai continues to lead regional retail growth, benefiting from both local spending and international visitors. The emirate saw 53% of international visitors from Western Europe, South Asia, and other GCC countries, with Chinese visitors increasing by 287%, a trend that influences Eid shopping patterns as these visitors often participate in local celebrations.
This international dimension adds complexity to Eid Al Adha consumer behavior. Retailers must cater not just to local traditions but to diverse cultural preferences of the region’s expatriate communities.
Technology and Convenience: The New Shopping Reality
The pandemic accelerated digital adoption, and this shift has permanently altered Eid shopping patterns. Convenience has become king, with consumers expecting seamless online-to-offline experiences. The rise in tech spending reflects this broader digitalization trend.
Mobile commerce and social shopping are particularly relevant during Eid periods, where last-minute purchases and gift-giving create demand for immediate, convenient shopping solutions. The integration of traditional celebration needs with modern shopping convenience defines the current market landscape.
Looking Ahead: What This Means for 2025
As Eid Al Adha 2025 approaches, several trends are worth watching. The extended holiday period (potentially 4-5 days across GCC countries) creates extended shopping opportunities. The summer timing means potential overlap with vacation spending, possibly increasing overall consumer expenditure.
Eid Spending Timeline: Peak Shopping Days
Pre-Eid Shopping Activity
Week 3 ██████████████████████████████████████ 72%
Week 2 █████████████████████████████████████████████████████ 89%
Week 1 ███████████████████████████████████████████████████████████████ 95%
Eid Days ████████████████████████████████ 65%
Post-Eid ██████████████████████ 32%(Based on historical MENA shopping patterns)
The continued growth in non-oil sectors across the GCC, projected to expand by 4.2% in 2025, supports sustained consumer confidence. This economic backdrop, combined with rising disposable incomes, suggests Eid Al Adha 2025 could see record spending levels.
For marketers and retailers, the key is understanding that today’s Eid Al Adha consumers are more digitally savvy, convenience-focused, and internationally influenced than ever before. Success requires balancing respect for tradition with modern shopping expectations.
The data is clear: Eid Al Adha remains a cornerstone of MENA consumer calendar, but the ways people celebrate and shop continue to evolve. Smart businesses will adapt their strategies to meet consumers where they are – both digitally and culturally.
Sources: Sila Insights’ proprietary social understanding solutions, PwC Middle East Economic Outlook, Khaleej Times Consumer Reports, UAE Retail Performance Data, Statista MENA Shopping Behavior Analysis
