Arabian Business · 12 Oct, 23:45 · Finance briefing

UAE ‘couch economy’: Online payments reach 55% as food delivery app use surges

Online payments in the UAE now account for 55% of transactions, driven by a surge in food delivery app usage.

What it means for you ↓ Courses for this story

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The briefing

The story
in brief.

What happened, who it affects, and why it landed on our intelligence desk — in plain English, sixty seconds or less.

Online payments in the UAE now account for 55% of transactions, driven by a surge in food delivery app usage. This shift highlights the rapid growth of the 'couch economy', where digital platforms facilitate essential services. The data indicates a structural change in consumer behaviour, moving away from cash towards seamless digital transactions. For professionals, this underscores the accelerating digital transformation within the region’s service sector, particularly in logistics, fintech, and e-commerce, requiring agile adaptation to new market dynamics.

Employer demand for Digital Marketing skills — indexed growth since 2019
Indicative index of skill mentions in professional job postings for the field this story moves (2019 = 1)

Your move

What this means
for your career.

Every headline redistributes opportunity. Here is who this one rewards — and how to be on the right side of it.

This shift demands that you prioritise digital literacy and data-driven decision-making. Roles in digital marketing, supply chain logistics, and fintech are gaining critical mass. You should focus on understanding consumer behaviour in digital spaces and mastering analytics tools to interpret transaction data. Upskill in areas like conversion optimisation or CRM analytics to stay relevant. If you work in traditional retail or hospitality, pivot towards digital integration strategies. A smart professional would immediately audit their current skills against these emerging demands, seeking certifications in digital strategy or data analysis to leverage this growing market trend effectively.

For this story, the fields that convert it into pay are Digital Marketing, Supply Chain, Data Science and AI in E-Commerce — exactly the programmes matched below. The chart shows the indicative salary uplift certified professionals report in each of those fields; every one of them is a click away, from £79, finishing in as few as 20 days.

Indicative salary uplift in the fields matched to this story
Indicative ranges from published continuing-education salary studies, by field — each field is a recommended course below

Matched to this story

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to benefit.

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