A recent study has highlighted that UAE residents are among the world’s biggest spenders on Valentine’s Day, with an average expenditure of AED 348.93 ($95) on gifts. The research, conducted by UAE-based gifting marketplace Flowwow and marketing platform Admitad, also revealed that Kuwait leads the MENA region in average order value (AOV) for Valentine’s purchases, with Kuwaitis spending AED 462.79 ($126) on average.
Other high-spending nations in the region include Qatar (AED 271.8 or $74), Egypt (AED 209.3 or $57), and Saudi Arabia (AED 106.5 or $49). The study also showed that flower sales skyrocket during the season, increasing by 550%, while revenue from floral gifts surges by 635%. Flowers remain the most popular Valentine’s gift in the UAE, accounting for 93% of purchases, with an average bouquet costing AED 275 ($74.8).
The trend of gifting sweets and baked goods is also growing in the region, with confectionery making up 56% of all Valentine’s purchases. Mobile shopping continues to rise, contributing to over 37% of total sales, with Saudi Arabia seeing more than half of its transactions made via mobile devices and the UAE recording 41%.
Globally, Valentine’s Day spending is expected to hit a record $27.5 billion, according to the National Retail Federation. In the MENA region, fashion, home and garden items, and electronics are among the top gift choices, with beauty products, car accessories, and tools following closely.
An interesting shift was noted in Saudi Arabia, where men received more Valentine’s gifts than ever, particularly sports gear, tools, and car-related accessories, which saw the highest sales growth. Meanwhile, gifts for young mothers accounted for 9% of purchases, and men were found to be 1.5 times more likely to receive electronics and car accessories.
