The UAE is seeing a surge in cross-border gifting on the back of rising expat population in the country, according to market research.
The top destinations for cross-border gifts were the UK (13 per cent), Spain (12 per cent), Turkey (10 per cent), Russia (8 per cent) and the US (7 per cent) in the first three quarters of 2024, the market analysis by Flowwow, a UAE-based gifting marketplace, said.
The research also revealed a 22 per cent jump in overall gift purchases during the period, with over 20 per cent of the gifts being sent abroad.
This is a sharp jump from the 11 per cent gifts sent overseas in 2023, Flowwow said.
This upward trend in cross-border gifting highlights the UAE’s role as a global economic, financial and innovation hub and reflects broader patterns across the MENA region, where international connectivity is increasingly vital, it said.
Since 2020, about 400,000 people have been estimated to have relocated to the UAE, taking the number of expats in the country to 9.99 million, it said.
“This growing expat community, representing over 200 nationalities, is driving the demand for cross-border e-gifting as residents seek to stay connected with loved ones worldwide,” the study said.
UAE’s key gifting occasions were birthdays, anniversaries, and promotions as well as key national and international holidays such as Ramadan, Eid Al Fitr, Eid Al Adha, St. Valentine, Christmas, and Mother’s Day.
The leading destination for international gift deliveries was the United Kingdom, which comprised 13 per cent of international sales, with an impressive average spend of AED 505.
Spain followed closely, accounting for 12 per cent of total orders and featuring a notable average spend of AED 252.
Turkey secured the third position with 10 per cent of all international transactions, followed by Russia and the US, the study said.
Slava Bogdan, CEO of Flowwow, said the rising cross-border gifting trend illustrates that people want to be close to their loved ones despite the distance.
“I believe our business will keep on growing as long as people will keep on loving each other and finding ways to show their feelings to those they appreciate,” she said.
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