A qualitative boom in the retail sector during 2025

The CEO of Community Relations at Union Coop, Dr. Suhail Al Bastaki, expected that the retail sector will witness a major positive transformation and qualitative boom during the year 2025, compared to previous years, due to current trends that carry with them broad potential that enables companies to reach their customers in smarter ways. And innovation, in addition to providing personalized and modern shopping experiences that precisely meet their needs.

He added that companies and sales outlets in the retail sector are now using modern technologies such as artificial intelligence, augmented reality, and commerce via mobile devices, to improve the customer experience with them, in addition to becoming committed to sustainability standards and promoting local products to increase their competitive strength, which makes the year 2025 a starting point for opportunities. The retail sector is unlimited, despite the challenges it may face, as this year will be a real opportunity to adopt new and innovative solutions that enhance the sector’s ability to grow and prosper.

Al Bastaki explained that these positive expectations are based on several factors, the most important of which are: increasing population growth, increasing purchasing power, and continued business confidence, in addition to the economic initiatives that are being launched by companies in the retail sector that focus on economic diversification, expansion and deliberate spread, indicating that The Emirate of Dubai witnessed during the past year 2024 a noticeable increase in consumer spending, which contributed to an increase in the gross domestic product, according to recent market studies.

He also expected that e-commerce in the retail sector will witness significant growth in 2025, exceeding the rates it achieved over the past years, as it has become an essential part of the shopping experience, as online shopping has become the first choice for many consumers, especially in emerging markets that are witnessing an expansion in infrastructure. Internet infrastructure, pointing out that it is also expected that reliance on Internet platforms will increase in many markets, prompting companies to keep pace with this transformation by launching more digital solutions, due to consumers’ increasing reliance on digital shopping platforms, mobile phone applications, and payment systems. Advanced, which enhances digital transformation in the sector.

He pointed to the services that sales outlets in the retail sector began to provide, which have become one of the most important solutions for consumers to purchase, such as “Buy now and pay later,” as this service provided consumers with attractive options for purchasing, which contributed to facilitating purchasing decisions, pointing out that social networking sites It has become one of the most important tools used for digital marketing of products and goods and to enhance sales.

Al Bastaki stated that one of the most important things that is at the forefront of providing unique and immersive shopping experiences to consumers is the intense competition on retail websites and promotional offers, which sometimes reaches 90%, indicating that the retail sector will be greatly affected by technological developments and changes in consumer behavior, as it will There are great opportunities that allow companies to innovate and grow, and the ability to adapt to technological transformations, keep pace with them, meet increasing customer needs, and increase competition between companies are among the most important key factors for the development of the retail sector in the future.