Pakistanis not among UAE's top spenders

UAE overall market spends has seen a 10 per cent increase in the first three quarters of 2015


Web Desk November 13, 2015
PHOTO: AFP

Pakistanis living in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) outnumber the indigenous Emiratis in at least three of seven states, yet they did not make it to a list of the top spenders in the UAE.

A report based on credit and debit card transactions in the UAE found that among various nationalities spending and investing in the states, Pakistan did not even make it to the top three.

Pakistanis living in Dubai, Sharjah, and Ajman make up 12 per cent of the combined population of these three emirates, which is 3 per cent higher than the Emirati population.

Pakistanis outnumber Emiratis in three UAE states

Spending in UAE's overall market has seen a 10 per cent increase in the first three quarters of 2015, compared with the same time last year, a report by Network International revealed.

It would have been expected that Pakistan would land a top spot on the list, however, the United States, Saudi Arabia and United Kingdom took the lead; having increased their spending by 15 per cent, 29 per cent and 17 per cent respectively.

Further, the report revealed that growth in tourist spends for 2015 against 2014 turned positive for the first time in the third quarter of this year, boosted by an increase in spending by the above mentioned top overall spenders.

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Despite the growth in spending however, a decline was observed in the spending of Russia (-57%) and China (-20%); which was in turn balanced by a 67 percent growth in Qatari and 38 per cent growth in Nigerian spends.

“The Q3 data indicates a major trend for local retailers – domestic and GCC spends, specifically Saudis and Qataris, have gained influence in the UAE markets displacing traditional top spenders such as the Chinese and Russians," David Mountain, Chief Commercial Officer for Network International said.

The hotel industry has seen major growth according to the report which revealed that the hospitality sector registered strong year-on-year growth, however the luxury sector has seen a fall in consumer spending in 2015 due to their significant reliance on Chinese and Russians, eho accounted for more than 25 per cent of the overall tourist spend in 2014.

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The food and beverage sector has seen staggering year-on-year growth according to the report; 30 per cent in absolute numbers. Growth in this sector is attributed to almost all nationalities but mostly to the top five; Saudi Arabia, UK, US, Kuwait and Qatar.

This article originally appeared on Emirates247

COMMENTS (4)

Shakil Ahmed Khan | 8 years ago | Reply well Pakistani may be more in numbers, but how many actually have same purchasing power compared to Saudis, Americans or Brits? How many Brits, Suadis and Americans work in blue collar jobs like Pakistanis and other south asians? How many US/UK/KSA are paid equally to Pakistanis working in Dubai in similar jobs? absurd comparison!
Ibs | 8 years ago | Reply @SNKN Indians don't spend. They just hoard.
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