The Tech Talent Race: Powering MENA’s E-Commerce Boom
Author Name: Zain Imran
The explosive growth of e-commerce in the MENA region has shifted the commercial landscape dramatically. This surge in digital commerce is not just challenging traditional retail norms, but it’s creating a hyper-competitive arena between the burgeoning e-commerce sector and the escalating demand for top-tier tech talent in the MENA region.
With the region’s increasing reliance on digital platforms, companies are locked in a race to secure the best minds to navigate this digital revolution.
Rapid Growth In Digital Commerce
The MENA region has emerged as one of the most vibrant and dynamic areas for e-commerce, with Checkout.com’s report indicating that the MENA e-commerce sector has grown faster than any other part of the world. During the pandemic, 209 million customers in MENA and Pakistan began to shop online, and this trend has continued even after the lifting of restrictions. According to the third annual Digital Transformation Report in MENA, 91% of respondents now shop online regularly, with over half of consumers (52%) shopping online at least once a month.
Expectations For Future Growth
Consumers in the MENA region have embraced e-commerce and expect to continue doing so in the future. In the next 12 months, half of the consumers surveyed expect to be shopping online even more. 9% of consumers in the GCC sub-region spend money online at least once a day, a 50% rise over the previous 12 months. According to the most recent projections from Redseer, the MENA region’s entire e-commerce business will be worth US$100 billion by 2023. In fact, in just Dubai, United Arab Emirates, the Freezone DMCC and the Dubai Government have launched the DMCC E-Commerce Ecosystem to accelerate the growth of the e-commerce sector across the MENA region, which is currently valued at $32bn and is expected to reach $50bn by 2025.
Adapting To Meet Consumer Demands
Local retailers have responded positively to the growth of digital commerce and the changing demands of their customers. In a poll conducted by Checkout.com of merchants in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, over two-thirds have integrated payments into their online offerings already, and three-quarters want to do so within the next 12 to 24 months. Moreover, by 2024, a fifth of local merchants plan to accept cryptocurrency payments at their online checkouts. This backing for cryptocurrencies is a reaction to MENA people’s rising acceptance of digital money.
The Luxury Sector Goes Online
Even the luxury sector, long thought to be immune to digitization, is now experiencing an online shopping resurgence. 15% of high-income earners claim to have increased their luxury online spending in the last 12 months. Moreover, the highest earners in the region are increasing their digital spending in the travel sector which is up 40%. Online event ticket sales are up 20% as well!
The Rise Of Digital Payments
Digital payments have increased in tandem with e-commerce, with 70% of consumers in the MENA region choosing a digital payment method as their preferred way of payment. Of these, 16% of consumers use digital wallets primarily, representing a 60% growth in the past 24 months. With 80% of consumers in the sub-region choosing digital payments as their preferred method, the Gulf leads the regional digital payments revolution thanks to its highly developed digital infrastructure. The use of cash on delivery has sharply decreased by 40% over the last 24 months in MENA, where usage is still declining. Less than 20% of people prefer cash in nations like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, now.
The Need For E-Commerce Talent
The rapid growth of e-commerce in the region has created a surge in demand for various e-commerce roles, including e-commerce managers, digital marketing experts, UX/UI designers, data analysts, and supply chain specialists, among others. E-commerce companies need highly skilled professionals who understand the nuances of the online marketplace, can adapt to changing consumer demands, and can drive business growth through digital channels.
Our commitment to excellence and our extensive network of top technology talent worldwide makes us the go-to recruitment partner for e-commerce companies in the MENA region. Our expertise in identifying and recruiting highly skilled e-commerce professionals empowers businesses to meet the increasing demand for digital commerce and stay ahead of the competition in the fast-evolving e-commerce landscape.
Partner With AIQU To Power E-Commerce Growth Across The MENA Region
The MENA region is experiencing unprecedented growth in e-commerce, with expectations for further expansion in the future. As local retailers and businesses adapt to meet changing consumer demands, the need for e-commerce talent has increased significantly.
AIQU, the first recruitment agency in the UAE dedicated purely to technology hiring, is well-equipped to cater to this demand and help companies in MENA hire the best e-commerce talent through our industry expertise and bespoke approach to recruitment across 6 specializations.
Talk to our IT recruitment experts now.
