Cellular app downloads within the UAE grew by 23 per cent yearly within the first half of 2022 as smartphone use elevated as a result of coronavirus pandemic.
Finance-related apps registered a surge in demand, with downloads leaping 183 per cent in the course of the six-month interval, the newest information from AppsFlyer reveals.
Downloads of journey, leisure, social and food-related apps additionally grew by 36 per cent, 31 per cent, 30 per cent and 15 per cent, respectively, in the course of the interval.
Nonetheless, retail app downloads dropped 9 per cent as extra folks visited bodily shops after the UAE eased pandemic-related restrictions amid a decrease variety of infections.
“It’s clear that as we emerge into the post-pandemic world, the accelerated momentum in the direction of cellular that we’ve got witnessed over the past two years has now created a mobile-first mindset amongst customers and companies,” mentioned Samer Saad, Center East supervisor at AppsFlyer.
“Our findings point out a rising desire for cellular apps as the first engagement channel. Whereas that is ushering in a brand new period of comfort for customers, it has tremendously elevated the competitiveness of the house.”
As demand for cellular apps grows, companies should now search “modern and measurable technique of enhancing person experiences and growing engagement on their cellular apps”, he mentioned.
The most recent information comes at a time when shopper spending continues to rise within the UAE because the financial system recovers from the pandemic.
Spending on retail gadgets grew 16 per cent, 12 months on 12 months, within the first six months of 2022, whereas spending on non-retail items rose 31 per cent in the identical interval, mall operator Majid Al Futtaim mentioned in its State of the UAE Retail Economic system report this month.
The UAE financial system is ready to submit its strongest annual growth since 2011 after it grew by 8.2 per cent within the first three months of this 12 months on larger oil costs and measures to mitigate the influence of the pandemic, in accordance the UAE Central Financial institution.
The Arab world’s second-largest financial system, which expanded 3.8 per cent in 2021, is anticipated to develop by 5.4 per cent and 4.2 per cent in 2022 and 2023, respectively, based on the newest projections by the regulator.
The Worldwide Financial Fund projectsthat the UAE financial system will develop 4.2 per cent this 12 months whereas Emirates NBD forecasts a development fee of 5.7 per cent and Abu Dhabi Industrial Financial institution expects a 6 per cent growth, supported by a pointy rise within the oil sector.
The AppsFlyer examine reveals that shopper spending on cellular apps can also be rising.
Over the one-year interval between March 2021 and February 2022, in-app purchases elevated 9 per cent, with finance app purchases recording a threefold soar whereas spending by e-commerce apps rose 41 per cent.
“Whereas there clearly seems to be a rising desire amongst UAE customers to have interaction with companies by way of apps, the truth that 9 out of 10 UAE organisations as we speak provide a cellular app makes this a extremely aggressive house,” the examine mentioned.
“Because of this, cellular app entrepreneurs have a key function to play in driving the success of their organisations’ mobile-first methods.”
Remarketing, the tactic of specializing in customers who’ve proven some curiosity within the model, particularly, has additionally confirmed to be “extremely efficient” with UAE customers, with conversions from this exercise rising 43 per cent within the first half of 2022, in contrast with the primary half of 2021, the examine mentioned.
“In as we speak’s mobile-first world, rising app installs and growing purchases made by way of cellular apps are two sides of the identical coin,” Mr Saad mentioned.
“To attain what at the moment are enterprise imperatives requires a multifaceted method, combining a deal with distinctive cellular person expertise and extremely strategic advertising efforts.”
Up to date: August 24, 2022, 10:42 AM