The Ramadan economy: How UAE consumers are spending in 2026

The Ramadan economy: How UAE consumers are spending in 2026

Author: The National News February 25, 2026 Duration: 24:13
Ramadan is a time of self-reflection, generosity, community and family, but it is also a period of intense consumer spending. Even as people fast from morning until dusk, spending rises across food and retail. In 2026, how people spend is shifting, with more people staying home, ordering in, and buying not only products but experiences too. Yet a recent survey suggests UAE consumers still expect to spend more this Ramadan. Redseer Strategy Consultants estimates the UAE Ramadan economy will grow from about $15 billion in 2025 to $16.4 billion this year. In this episode of Business Extra, host Salim Essaid is joined by Sandeep Ganediwalla, managing partner at Redseer, to unpack what is changing in consumer behaviour a week into the holy month. They discuss why excitement to spend is higher this year, how the winter weather is shifting people towards more outings and experiences, what Gen Y is doing differently with planned purchases, and why pre-Ramadan stock-ups are declining as delivery and loyalty programmes reshape habits.

Tune into Business Extra for a clear-eyed look at the forces shaping commerce in the Middle East and beyond. Produced by The National News, this podcast moves past the headlines to deliver substantive conversations with the analysts, executives, and innovators driving change. Each episode leans on the deep regional expertise of our editors and reporters, who translate complex developments in markets, energy, and technology into accessible insights. You’ll hear grounded discussions that connect local trends to global patterns, offering a necessary perspective on one of the planet's most dynamic economic landscapes. Whether it's a shift in oil policy, a tech startup's rise, or a new trade agreement, this series provides the context often missing from daily news cycles. For anyone with a stake in understanding how business really works in this pivotal region, Business Extra is an essential listen, blending authoritative journalism with genuine curiosity. The result is a consistently informative podcast that feels less like a briefing and more like a series of insightful conversations with people who have their finger on the pulse.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Business Extra
Podcast Episodes
Gulf economies and the Iran-Israel conflict: What's next? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:50
Gulf leaders have been on alert for triggers on several fronts: for one, potential damage to nuclear sites, such as the Bushehr nuclear power plant in Iran, just across the pond that is the Arabian Gulf. The Gulf has als…
Oil up, stocks down: Market volatility amid Iran-Israel war [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:07
In the days since Israel started its offensive against Iran, oil prices have shot up and global markets dipped. Israel has struck nuclear sites and oil fields, and the aggression has left global markets wary of what’s to…
Middle East aviation takes off [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:11
“New” is the theme in the Middle East’s growing aviation sphere: new cities, new aircraft and new markets. The International Air Transport Association (Iata) says carriers in the region are expected to post the highest n…
Dubai real estate: Are we heading into market correction? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:59
In the UAE, where development is the name of the game, real estate is a big deal. There's a lot of growth in the UAE, and that means questions about property. The real estate sector in Dubai has been booming since Covid,…
Stargate UAE: What does it mean for the future of AI? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:28
Last week, some of the biggest names in tech announced a partnership with Abu Dhabi’s leading AI entity, G42 – a project called Stargate UAE. It’s part of a massive new AI campus set to come online in 2026 – a Gulf itera…
The UAE's race to 'make it' here [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:08
The UAE is in a race with itself to raise its manufacturing game. From machine parts to pasta, there is one goal: Make it in the Emirates. That also happens to be the name of an event taking place in Abu Dhabi this week,…
Why is Jordan burdened by external debt? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:05
The Jordanian government owed 44.8 billion dinars in public debt as of February this year. That’s more than $63 billion. It’s not $36 trillion dollars like the figure blinking on the US debt clock. But for a country like…
Recession fears evoke deja vu. The Middle East might be safe. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:21
It's been a time of tumult on Wall Street – at the hands of the White House. US President Donald Trump made his plans for tariffs known on the campaign trail, but their scale has taken the world by surprise. The sweeping…
Sanctions on Syria: a look back, a way forward [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:38
For more than a decade, Syria has been under international sanctions aimed at pressuring Bashar Al Assad’s regime. But there is a longer history of sanctions on the country and the broader Middle East. Sanctions can be u…