United Arab Emirates’ Consumer Spending Surges as COVID-19 Restrictions Ease

September 02, 2020

Consumer spending in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has risen by 63% in August 2020, compared to March 2020, in line with the easing of COVID-19 restrictions and resumption of economic activity, according to local media reports.

Hotels, restaurants, as well as the apparel industry were the main beneficiaries of the relaxed restrictions. According to statistics from UAE’s Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Authority (FCSA), hotel spending increased by 29%, restaurant spending by 75% and apparel spending by 78% in August 2020 as compared to March 2020, when the lockdown was at its peak. However, spending on food supplies and medicines decreased by 32% within the same comparison period, according to FCSA data.