Many UAE consumers have said goodbye to trips to the grocery store as they embrace online shopping as a result of Covid-19, according to a new analysis by Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The research based on data from Google Trends shows restrictions that were introduced due to the Covid-19 pandemic have led consumers to favor online grocery shopping. It became the new norm for many in the UAE between March and May 2020, with online searches for the category having peaked during the lockdown period in April.
MasterCard had already revealed that online card payments for groceries in the UAE witnessed 99% y-o-y growth in February, 252% y-o-y growth in March and 316% y-o-y growth in April.
It’s not the only trend to have peaked, however, as the Dubai Chamber findings revealed searches for “online courses” surged in April as UAE consumers looked to e-learning to help them improve their skills.
Another hike in interest took place in the telecommuting sector in March, as many businesses adopted work from home protocols, and the number of searches for “work from home in Dubai” rose.
The shift also drove a higher frequency of online searches for furniture, in line with consumers’ need of home office workspaces.
Staycations became popular too, with residents turning to domestic holidays and hotel stays over Eid and the summer period to make up for their lack of ability to fly internationally.
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