← Analytics
Analytics10 Aug 2026 · 7 min read · explainer

UAE Ramadan & DSF Commerce Statistics 2026

Verified UAE Ramadan, Eid, and Dubai Shopping Festival commerce statistics for 2026, covering spend timing, retail, delivery, and media.

This reference was compiled from the supplied, pre-verified research dataset on 10 August 2026. Transaction networks, merchant platforms, mall operators, and consumer surveys measure different parts of Ramadan and Dubai's retail calendar. Every figure retains its comparison period and source.

Key statistics

  • The share of UAE card transactions occurring from 10pm to 4am rose from 15.9% in a regular month to 26.9% during Ramadan 2024. Source: Visa Business and Economic Insights, VisaNet data from 11 March to 9 April 2024, published March 2025.
  • In the final 10 days of Ramadan 2024, UAE luxury merchants recorded 2.41x a normal 10-day transaction count, department stores 2.25x, and clothing and apparel 1.86x. Source: Visa Business and Economic Insights, published March 2025.
  • UAE restaurant evening revenue ran 30% to 40% above normal during Ramadan 2026 while total order volume was approximately 39% lower. Source: Syrve MENA data via Zawya, 1,638,465 Ramadan orders versus 2,692,641 non-Ramadan orders.
  • The 9pm hour produced 208,468 UAE restaurant orders during Ramadan 2026, versus 126,000 to 150,000 in non-Ramadan periods. Source: Syrve MENA data via Zawya, Ramadan 2026.
  • Ramadan 2026 in the UAE began on Wednesday 18 February 2026; Eid Al Fitr was expected from Friday 20 March 2026. Source: Gulf News reporting the UAE Presidential Court, published 17 February 2026.
  • Ramadan 2027 is expected to begin Monday 8 February 2027 and Eid Al Fitr around Wednesday 10 March 2027, subject to crescent sighting. Source: Gulf News citing astronomical calculations, published 4 August 2026; forecast dates.
  • talabat mart UAE recorded a 21% week-on-week increase in orders on the first day of Ramadan 2026, with average basket size up 3% and peak orders from 2pm to 5pm. Source: talabat press release via Zawya, footnoted as of 20 February 2026.
  • Al-Futtaim's UAE malls reported an 8% year-on-year sales uplift across Ramadan and Eid Al Fitr 2026, while Dubai Festival City Mall recorded 12% sales growth and 5% footfall growth. Source: Al-Futtaim Real Estate, published 27 March 2026.
  • DFRE reported a 144% average increase in spending across its 2025 retail campaigns, involving 1,300+ brands and 4,000+ outlets, with 86% satisfaction and 80% awareness. Source: Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment via Zawya, published 19 February 2026; organiser-reported campaign results with no published baseline.
  • The 30th Dubai Shopping Festival ran 38 days, 295+ raffles and promotions worth AED 50 million, and awarded 1,115 winners across 3,500+ outlets, 850+ brands, and 100+ malls. Source: DFRE via Zawya, covering 6 December 2024 to 12 January 2025.
  • Dubai Summer Surprises 2025 reported a 110% increase in average consumer spending across 1,050+ brands at 3,800+ outlets, while the Great Dubai Summer Sale generated more than AED 150 million. Source: DFRE via Zawya, published 19 February 2026.
  • 37% of surveyed UAE residents typically used TikTok from 7pm to 10pm during Ramadan, while 24% of mobile engagement occurred from 2am to 4am. Source: YouGov and MEmob figures reported by Gulf News, published 17 January 2026; YouGov n≈1,060, fieldwork December 2025.

Spending windows, food, and delivery

  • Ramadan late-night transaction share reached 38.2% in Kuwait and 35.0% in Saudi Arabia, compared with 26.9% in the UAE, from regular-month baselines of 17.1%, 17.6%, and 15.9%. Source: Visa Business and Economic Insights, Ramadan 2024 VisaNet data.
  • Fortis reported UAE merchant average order value up around 10% in Ramadan 2026, with the strongest peak from 9pm to 11pm and a secondary peak from 12pm to 2pm. Source: Fortis merchant-network data via Zawya; no sample size disclosed.
  • During Ramadan 2026, Syrve counted only 1,000 to 3,000 restaurant orders per hour from 5am to 11am, while the highest average checks occurred from 5pm to 6pm and quick-service checks fell about 15% after 7pm. Source: Syrve MENA data via Zawya.
  • Dubai Festival City Mall reported 93% trading occupancy, Festival Plaza about 15% growth in essential categories, and Arabian Center 26% growth in Ramadan and Eid Souk participation. Source: Al-Futtaim Real Estate, Ramadan and Eid 2026.

Consumer intent, content, and retail events

  • 68% of surveyed UAE consumers planned to spend more in Ramadan 2026, down from 77% in 2025, while online-only shopping intent rose from 13% to 23%. Source: Redseer Strategy Consultants, published 3 March 2026; no sample size or fieldwork dates published.
  • MENA producers released 244 original series across 17 Arab countries for Ramadan 2026, up 68%, while first-day viewership rose 32% versus the prior week and peaked from 8pm to 2am. Source: DICM report via ContentAsia, published 4 May 2026; regional, not UAE-only.
  • Dubai Charity Association planned more than 9,900 projects for over 2.5 million beneficiaries in the UAE and 31 countries during Ramadan 2026, including 1 million domestic iftar meals. Source: Gulf Today, 17 January 2026.
  • Dar Al Ber Society budgeted Dh10 million for 1.7 million beneficiaries across the UAE and 24 countries in Ramadan 2026, including 11,600 meals daily across 27 locations. Source: Gulf News, 20 January 2026.
  • IAB MENA measured full-year 2025 digital ad spend at US$8.185 billion, up 17.8%, with social video up 23.6%, connected TV up 31%, and retail media up to 40.5%. Source: IAB MENA, published 8 June 2026; annual regional context, not Ramadan-specific ad pricing.
  • The 31st Dubai Shopping Festival ran from 5 December 2025 to 11 January 2026 and opened with 1,000+ drones, including 100 pyro drones, plus a daily Nissan and AED 100,000 prize. Source: Government of Dubai Media Office, published 5 December 2025; full-season performance results were not available by 10 August 2026.

Data gaps and conflicts

No named primary source publishes UAE Ramadan CPM inflation, channel-level seasonal ad costs, total retail spend, e-commerce GMV, conversion rate, or a DSF sales total. Merchant and platform disclosures cover their own networks, not the whole market. DFRE's 144% and 110% uplifts lack a published baseline, and consumer intent is not recorded spending. Compare Ramadan by Hijri dates because it moves roughly 10 to 11 days earlier each Gregorian year.

Cite this page

Shabang (2026), UAE Ramadan & DSF Commerce Statistics 2026, Shabang, last updated 10 August 2026, https://shabang.ae/guides/analytics/uae-ramadan-dsf-commerce-statistics/. Credit the original publisher named beside any figure and Shabang as the compilation.

Sources

  1. Visa Business and Economic Insights, Ramadan night-time economy, March 2025.
  2. Syrve MENA Ramadan restaurant data via Zawya, Ramadan 2026.
  3. talabat mart UAE Ramadan data via Zawya, February 2026.
  4. Al-Futtaim Real Estate, Ramadan and Eid mall performance, 27 March 2026.
  5. DFRE full-year 2025 results via Zawya, 19 February 2026.
  6. Gulf News, confirmed UAE Ramadan 2026 start, 17 February 2026.
  7. Gulf News, Ramadan 2027 astronomical dates, 4 August 2026.
  8. Gulf News, shopping and screen-time findings, 17 January 2026.
  9. Redseer, UAE Ramadan 2026 consumer research, 3 March 2026.
  10. Government of Dubai Media Office, 31st Dubai Shopping Festival, 5 December 2025.
  11. IAB MENA, MENA Digital Adspend 2025, 8 June 2026.

Continue learning

analyticsUAE Social Commerce Statistics 2026analyticsGCC Digital Ad Spend Statistics 2026analyticsUAE SME Marketing Statistics 2026analyticsUAE Real Estate Marketing Statistics 2026