What products sell well in the Middle East market?

2025-02-26 15:03

The per capita GDP of six Middle Eastern countries (the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, and Kuwait) all exceeds $50,000, which is far higher than the world average. They are among the richest emerging markets globally. With the booming Middle Eastern market, what products sell the best? Let's take a detailed look at the list of best-selling products in the Middle East together.

Tengdao Customs Data Query Platform

The priority considerations for Middle Eastern consumers when shopping online:

Product quality (55%) > Delivery speed (37%) > Complete after-sales service (37%) > Quick payment (36%) > Good shopping experience (31%) > Convenient return (26%).

Consumption Trends in Middle Eastern Countries

1. The Rise of Social E-commerce: 45% of Middle Eastern consumers choose to shop through social media platforms. Among them, Saudi consumers prefer Snapchat and TikTok, while consumers in the United Arab Emirates are more inclined to the recommendations on Instagram and Facebook. Middle Eastern consumers have high standards for product quality, and the average order value is as high as $40, which far exceeds that of mature markets in Europe and the United States, reflecting the strong consumption potential of this region and the preference for high-end products.

2. Religious Holidays like Ramadan Drive Sales Peaks: As the most influential religious festival in the Middle East, during Ramadan in 2024, the number of e-commerce transactions in the Middle East surged by 23%, becoming the annual sales peak, demonstrating the strong driving force of religious festivals for cross-border e-commerce.

3. The Increasing Proportion of Online Shopping through Social Media: In the Middle East, social media has almost permeated everyone's daily life. Especially in Qatar, almost all residents use at least one social media platform. Taking the United Arab Emirates as an example, 79% of consumers will refer to the recommendations of KOLs when purchasing goods, and in the past year, 59% of people in the United Arab Emirates have completed shopping on social media, which is much higher than the global average.

4. The Rise of the Female Economy: The consumption preferences of consumers in the Middle East have strong regional characteristics, and the main user profile is young women with strong purchasing power. With the improvement of women's social status and economic ability in the Middle East, women have gradually become the main force in online shopping. They pay more attention to the fashion sense and appearance of products when purchasing and are not sensitive to product prices.

The Middle Eastern Market

Middle Eastern Cross-border E-commerce Platforms

1. Souq (Amazon Middle East Station): The first e-commerce platform in the Middle East, with 25.9 million users, a monthly traffic of up to 76 million, and monthly sales of 600,000 products. Best-selling categories: electronics, digital 3C products, home supplies, and baby products. Currently, it has four sites in the Middle East: Egypt (51.72%), the United Arab Emirates (13.48%), Saudi Arabia (34.36%), and Kuwait. Among them, the first three markets have relatively high traffic, and overseas sellers can consider entering.

2. Noon: The second largest e-commerce platform in the Middle East, with local overseas warehouses in the Middle East, 25.9 million users, and a monthly traffic of 20.78 million. Best-selling categories: fashion clothing and cosmetics. There are platform commissions and fixed fees for entry. The countries with higher traffic are Saudi Arabia (51.44%), Egypt (19.22%), and the United Arab Emirates (17.67%), and overseas sellers can consider entering.

3. AliExpress: With the advantages of semi-entrusted operation and the supply chain, the number of mobile app users reaches 8.18 million, and the monthly traffic reaches 61.86 million. Best-selling categories: clothing and cosmetics.

4. Temu: The overseas version of "Pinduoduo". In August last year, Temu officially launched its Israel site and entered the Middle Eastern market. Temu also continues its low-price promotion strategy in the Middle East.

5. TikTok: The average user stickiness of the live streaming social e-commerce TikTok in the Gulf countries reaches 12%, and more than 70% of users will search for relevant content during Ramadan.

6. Namshi: An e-commerce platform in the Middle East focusing on fashion, mainly serving Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and other countries in the region.

7. Mumzworld: A well-known vertical e-commerce platform for mother and baby products in the Middle East, focusing on providing various mother and baby products for newborns to children aged 12.

Best-selling Categories in the Middle East

1. Consumer Electronics and Accessories: Constantly Popular

There is a strong demand for portable and multifunctional electronic products in the Middle Eastern market. Smartwatches, wireless earphones, power banks, and smart home devices continue to sell well, and sellers should pay special attention.

2. Fashion Apparel: High-speed Growth and High Conversion Rate

Bags, clothing, shoes, boots, watches, and clocks have shown rapid growth. Yoga pants, sunglasses, children's roller skates, and men's sports socks have a leading growth rate; laptop bags, men's watches, and sun hats have a high conversion rate.

3. Beauty and Personal Care: The Female Economy

Women account for 90% of beauty consumption. Hair removal devices, razors, and Led makeup mirrors sell well; hair care essential oils, curling irons, and nail polish markets are growing rapidly.

4. Luxury Goods: Hot-selling with Middle Eastern Characteristics

Luxury goods such as jewelry and accessories, and designer handbags are deeply loved by Middle Eastern consumers due to their unique designs and excellent craftsmanship.

5. Mother and Baby Products: Stable Demand

Middle Eastern families pay high attention to children's products, and there is a stable demand for mother and baby products such as strollers, crawling mats, and baby walkers.

6. Pet Supplies: Newly Popular

The pet culture is prevalent in the Middle East. Pet supplies such as pet toys, training pads, water dispensers, and cat trees have become new favorites, and innovative products are more popular.

Best-selling Products in Different Countries

1. Saudi Arabia:

Fashion products (33.9%) > Electronics (26.9%) > Food and personal care (23.0%) > Toys, hobbies, and DIY (9.2%) > Furniture and appliances (7.0%).

Best-selling Product 1 in the Middle East

In 2023, the total online consumption of Saudi consumers was $10.1 billion, of which online spending on fashion products and electronics accounted for more than 60% of the total amount. The average Saudi consumer spends $210.5 on beauty and personal care products each year.

2. The United Arab Emirates:

Fashion (35%) > Electronics (22.9%) > Furniture and home (18.0%) > Personal care (11.8%)

Best-selling Product 2 in the Middle East

The beauty products category in the UAE has the fastest growth rate. Sellers entering the UAE e-commerce market can give priority to the beauty product track.

3. Qatar:

Fashion > Electronics > Food > Eyewear > Beauty and personal care > Toys and DIY

Best-selling Product 3 in the Middle East

4. Oman:

Food > Fashion products > Electronics > Beauty and personal care > Home supplies

Best-selling Product 4 in the Middle East

5. Kuwait:

Food > Fashion products > Electronics > Eyewear > Beauty and personal care products

Best-selling Product 5 in the Middle East

6. Bahrain:

Fashion products > Food > Electronics > Beauty and personal care > Home > Toys

Best-selling Product 6 in the Middle East

Best-selling Product Selections for Middle Eastern Festivals

1. Ramadan

Time: From the end of March to the end of April each year, the specific date changes according to the lunar calendar.

Product Selection Suggestions:

In terms of religious culture: Headscarves, prayer rugs, robes, and Ramadan lamps have huge sales as essential items for prayer.

Food and beverages: During Ramadan, Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset, so the demand for high-energy snacks, dried fruits, and ready-to-eat foods increases significantly.

Home supplies: During Ramadan, people have more time to stay at home, so the sales of home decoration lights, aroma diffusers, humidifiers, and other products increase.

Clothing and accessories: Clothing series that combine tradition and modernity are popular, including clothing, accessories, and footwear with Islamic cultural elements.

2. Eid al-Adha

Time: Between July and September each year, the specific date is determined according to the lunar calendar.

Product Selection Suggestions:

Gifts and packaging: Eid al-Adha is a time for family reunions and sharing. The demand for gift packaging services, combined product sets, etc. is strong, such as wrapping paper and gift boxes with elements like crescents, stars, and mosques.

Home supplies: During the festival, people will decorate their homes to celebrate, so the sales of home decorations, tableware, carpets, and other products increase.

Food: During the festival, a large amount of food is prepared and shared, so traditional foods, special pastries, dried fruits, and other products sell well.

3. White Friday

Time: The fourth Friday of November each year, that is, the first day after Thanksgiving.

Product Selection Suggestions:

Electronics: White Friday is a shopping carnival in the Middle East. The sales of electronic products such as smartphones, tablets, TVs, and game consoles increase significantly.

Fashion apparel: Fashion clothing, shoes, and accessories are also hot-selling products.

Home supplies: Home decorations, kitchen utensils, home appliances, and other products also have good sales.

4. National Day of Middle Eastern Countries

Time: The independence day of each country or the day to celebrate peace.

Product Selection Suggestions:

National flags and products in national flag colors: Products that match the color scheme of each country's national flag, such as clothing, accessories, home supplies, etc.

Special souvenirs: Such as handicrafts, cultural derivatives, etc.

5. Double Eleven

Suitable for marketing of all product categories. Among them, electronics are the main best-selling category in the Middle Eastern e-commerce industry.