Middle East

Technological advances in 2024 will continue to reshape consumer behaviour. This annual report explores the top five digital shopper trends that will redefine commerce the most in the year ahead. Some of the trends included in this report’s edition…

This report examines inflation levels and drivers globally and in key countries in Q4 2023 and 2024. Global inflation is moderating, although divergence remains among the key economies. Higher volatility in the energy markets and disruption of…

Rising costs of living pose challenges globally, but companies can find opportunities in several categories, essential and discretionary, especially in underpenetrated fast-growing markets. By considering category adjacencies and focusing on value,…

In the upcoming years, consumers and businesses face an array of challenges, with rising income inequality being among the key ones. Nevertheless, addressing the income inequality through catering to the Bottom of the Pyramid and the Middle Class…

The global economy is facing weaker growth and increasing fragmentation, as a result of rising geopolitical tensions, especially due to the war in Ukraine and the US-China strategic rivalry. Protectionism, industrial policy and a focus on resilience…

Electronic wearables is the winning category in Saudi Arabia in 2023, with double-digit volume growth. This is thanks to the success of smartwatches, which dominate activity-monitoring technology, as consumers value the analysis connected to health…

Smart wearables is set to be the most dynamic performer within wearable electronics in volume growth terms in 2023. Mainly represented by smartwatches, the category has continued to benefit from increasing appreciation for the convenience,…

E-readers continue to struggle as demand is practically non-existent. The device fails to gain consumer’s interest over the popularity of ubiquitous smartphones and tablets, through which consumers can also access e-books. Added to which, the…

In keeping with its results throughout the review period, wireless speakers is set to be by far the most dynamic category within portable players in volume growth terms in 2023. It continues to benefit from the increasing consumer preference for…

Smartphone sales in Saudi Arabia have been facing a dip in the post-pandemic landscape, after the boost to electronics sales seen during the era of COVID-19. The top brands in the country, namely Samsung (from United Matbouli Group in KSA) which is…

Despite stubbornly high inflation and a slowdown in the Israeli economy, smartphones is poised to record a modestly improved performance in volume sales terms in 2023. The category has been somewhat insulated from more cautious attitudes to spending…

In-car entertainment is seeing structural declines, as separate navigation systems become defunct. In current times, most new cars, including non-luxury vehicles, come equipped with voice-enabled in-car GPS. Owing to the need for navigation, this…

In-car entertainment in Israel has continued to contract in volume terms in 2023, with all categories set to register negative results in this respect. Demand for these products is in long-term decline, mainly because new mid- and higher-priced cars…

Growth for digital cameras and camcorders continues its downward trajectory, owing to the mass consumer preference for smartphone cameras, coupled with continuous technology upgrades in the newer models of digital cameras pushing up prices.…

Sales of imaging devices in Israel have continued to fall sharply in 2023, with the digital cameras and digital camcorders categories both poised to register double-digit declines in volume terms. Demand for these product types has been shrinking for…

Players appear to be focussing on OLED TVs, with a number of launches from well-known names in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, including from brands Samsung, LG, and Haier. Samsung (represented by United Matbouli Group in the KSA) is the leading brand…

While volume sales of televisions in Israel have continued to increase in 2023, growth looks set to be slightly lower than that recorded in 2022. This is partly explained by maturity, comparatively long replacement cycles and the fact that many…

Home cinema and speaker systems are increasingly incorporating wireless technology, as this allows users to connect their devices without the need for cords and cables, thus making it more convenient, flexible, and user-friendly. Such a move is in…

All home audio and cinema categories in Israel are set to post negative performances in volume sales terms in 2023, continuing the downward trajectory witnessed throughout the review period. Demand for these products has been falling steadily for…

Headphones is another category enjoying volume growth in Saudi Arabia in 2023, albeit at a lower rate than seen with wearable electronics. The increasing adoption of headphones and earphones in Saudi Arabia, especially for use while exercising and…