DHL’s online shopper survey reveals online shopping attitudes for MENA in 2023: Middle East and North African online shoppers are most likely to buy cross-border, according to DHL eCommerce’s first global online shopper survey. MENA shoppers place a high emphasis on delivery with respondents saying that they would abandon a purchase if they do not receive the delivery option they want, the report notes.

Other key findings from the report:

  • 81% of MENA respondents insist on knowing the delivery company prior to making a purchase.
  • 69% of respondents note they want next-day delivery at no cost.
  • MENA shoppers are also the most demanding in terms of no cost returns, with 58% only purchasing from sites that offer no cost returns.
  • 67% of shoppers in MENA make cross-border purchases, the highest among all regions surveyed with 35% of Emirati shoppers buying cross-border everyday.
  • 48% of shoppers cite ‘better quality’ as a reason for cross-border purchases.
  • 85% of regional shoppers are satisfied with local deliveries, tying with North America as the lowest performers in that category.
  • 43% of MENA shoppers have a subscription service.

China leads global and MENA cross-border purchases: The report shows a clear global pattern for cross-border shopping, with Chinese products representing 48% of cross-border purchases and US products representing 37%, the report says. UAE shoppers prefer the US at 45%, with China and the United Kingdom both tied at second place with 28% of UAE cross-border purchases each. Moroccan buyers prefer China at 57%, with the US and France following at 39% and 38%.

Why do MENA shoppers turn abroad? 36% of UAE respondents and 32% of Moroccans surveyed say they turn abroad because they can’t find the product or brand they are looking for locally. Lower prices are also a moving factor for Moroccan shoppers at 56%. Faster delivery is the least important determinant in both countries, coming in at 25% for the UAE and 15% for Morocco.

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