UAE buyers start holiday shopping early

UAE RESIDENTS PLAN GIFTS WEEKS EARLY AS FAST DELIVERY EXPECTATIONS CHANGE HABITS

- BY JUSTIN VARGHESE Your Money Editor

AE shoppers are pulling holiday purchases forward this year, with more residents determined to avoid last-minute delivery stress as sales events stack up from Black Friday through 12.12 and into the New Year.

Many buyers now plan their gifting calendar around tight work and travel schedules, wary of bottlenecks that can hit couriers and retailers during peak season. The goal is simple: lock in gifts early so they arrive well before office parties, school breaks, and year-end trips.

A global holiday-shipping study by Blue Yonder shows 78 per cent of consumers buying gifts for people outside their household plan to shop at least three to four weeks in advance. “The shipping and logistics industry has faced a variety of challenges this year, and our 2025 Global Consumer Holiday Shipping Survey reveals how these disruptions are reshaping consumer behaviours,” said Ann Marie Jonkman, Vice-President, Global Industry Strategies, Blue Yonder.

“Consumers across regions and generations are entering the holiday season with higher expectations around speed, affordability and sustainability. These shifting priorities could have major impacts on retailers and logistics service providers as we enter peak season — with the potential to influence year-end sales performance significantly.”