Ramadan 2025 Consumer Trends Every Merchant in MENA Should Know

Ramadan is a time of reflection, generosity, and community. It is also one of the biggest shopping periods of the year in MENA. Consumer spending increases across categories, from food and fashion to gifting and entertainment. Shopping habits shift throughout the day, creating specific windows of opportunity for businesses.

The MENA region hosts merchants from around the world, many of whom may not be aware of Ramadan’s impact on consumer behavior. From shifting peak hours to seasonal promotions, understanding these changes is key to staying competitive. We prepared this guide to help these merchants navigate Ramadan successfully.

In it we will answer the following:

- How to manage demand fluctuations during Ramadan?
- What is the role of digital payments in increasing sales?
- How to engage customers with special Ramadan promotions?

Ramadan 2025 is a Major Opportunity for Merchants in MENA

Ramadan starts in early March 2025, bringing cooler weather and more foot traffic to malls, restaurants, and entertainment venues. Community gatherings, gifting, and higher spending make this a key time for businesses to connect with customers and drive growth. Merchants that align with consumer trends and optimize their payment experiences can maximize sales during this peak shopping period.

A Day in the Life of a Ramadan Shopper

Consumer behavior shifts dramatically throughout the day, creating specific windows of opportunity for businesses to engage customers.

Early Morning Shopping before Suhoor (3AM - 5AM)

Before fasting begins, people look for nutritious and hydrating food.

- Fast checkout options like digital wallets improve conversions.
- Food delivery sees a 15-20% rise in demand for protein-rich meals.
- Online grocery orders increase by 30% between 2:00 AM - 5:00 AM.

Daytime Slowdown with a Rise in Online Shopping (6AM - 4PM)

With shorter work hours, in-store traffic drops, but online shopping grows.

- Ramadan promotions peak between 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM.
- eCommerce sales for clothing, electronics, and home decor rose by 25-40%, specially at the end of Ramadan as consumers prepare for Eid.

Pre-Iftar Rush in Supermarkets and Food Delivery (4PM - 6:30PM)

Shoppers stock up on groceries and last-minute essentials.

- Online grocery apps report a 35-50% rise in last-minute orders.
- Grocery store visits peak at 5:00 PM, with fresh produce and bakery items seeing a 50% demand increase.

Evening Shopping after Iftar (6:30PM - 9PM)

After breaking the fast, families engage in entertainment, shopping, and dining.

- Social media engagement rises, making interactive campaigns more effective.
- Food delivery orders jump 60-80% post-Iftar.
- TV viewership peaks at 8:00 PM, ideal for brand advertising.

Late-Night Shopping Surge (9PM - 2AM)

Malls and online stores experience a surge in sales.

- "Midnight Sales" and instant checkout options boost impulse buys.
- eCommerce sees a 60-75% rise in late-night purchases.
- Mall foot traffic increases by 45% post-9:00 PM.

Ramadan’s Impact on Consumer Behavior

• Food delivery orders peak between 8:00 PM - 11:00 PM.
• 53% of UAE and Saudi consumers prefer shopping online after Iftar.
• Google reports a 110% increase in shopping-related searches during nighttime.

Special Ramadan Events & Gifting Trends

Ramadan is also a time of cultural traditions and gifting, offering businesses a chance to create relevant promotions.

Hag Al-Layla (Pre-Ramadan Tradition): In the UAE, children go door-to-door collecting sweets, making it a great time for confectionery brands to launch special events and packaging for their products.

Gerga’aan (Mid-Ramadan Gifting): Celebrated in Kuwait, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia, families exchange festive sweet bags, an opportunity for retailers to offer pre-packaged gift kits.

Nagsa: A Gulf tradition of sharing meals and small gifts before Iftar, fostering community spirit and increasing sales in food and gifting categories.

Laylat al-Qadr: Businesses can support charitable giving by donating a portion of sales or offering zakat-friendly purchases.

Eid al-Fitr: A time for feasting and gifting. Retailers benefit from selling money envelopes, gift cards, and Eid-themed products. Clothing sales also peak as people shop for new outfits.

How Merchants Can Maximize Sales This Ramadan

Why Digital Payments Are Essential

Customers expect secure, fast, and flexible payment options when shopping during Ramadan. Businesses that provide seamless payment experiences will see fewer abandoned carts and higher conversions.

Offer Local and Global Payment Methods!

- Shoppers in MENA need flexible payment options. They want to use their preferred local methods such as mada in Saudi Arabia, KNET in Kuwait, Benefit in Bahrain, alongside global options like Visa and Mastercard, plus Apple Pay, Google Pay, and PayPal to make cross-border payments easy.

Faster Checkout Means More Sales

- One click payments and contactless transactions help reduce and cart abandonment.
- QR-based payments allow for a smooth in-store experience.

Mobile Shopping is Growing in MENA

- More than half of all online purchases happen on mobile devices.
- An optimized mobile checkout experience is essential for converting shoppers.

Flexible Payments Drive Larger Purchases

- More shoppers prefer to split payments for gifts and Eid purchases.
- Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) services like Tabby, give customers more ways to pay.

Fraud Prevention Protects Customers and Businesses

- Ramadan sees an increase in fraud attempts, making security a priority.
- Partnering with a payment provider that is fully optimized and PCI-compliant is essential.

Gift Cards and Digital Wallets Are in High Demand

- More consumers are choosing digital gift cards for convenience.
- Payment links provide an easy way to collect payments without a website.

How to Manage Ramadan’s High Demand

Merchants face challenges in balancing inventory, staffing, and customer expectations during Ramadan.

Stock and Inventory Management

- Supermarkets and food delivery platforms must adjust inventory to meet demand peaks before Suhoor and Iftar.
- Real-time stock updates prevent shortages during peak shopping hours.

Flexible Staffing for Late-Night Shopping

- Retailers and restaurants need to adjust shifts to match post-Iftar and midnight rush periods.
- Customer service teams should be available during peak online shopping hours.

Align Marketing with Consumer Behavior

- Traditional daytime advertising is less effective during Ramadan.
- Promotions should focus on late-night shopping habits and pre-Iftar purchasing decisions.

Optimize eCommerce and Delivery Operations

- Customers expect same-day delivery for last-minute Ramadan and Eid shopping.
- A well-structured logistics plan helps businesses meet consumer expectations.

How to Engage Customers with Ramadan Promotions

Discounts are effective, but strategic engagement builds lasting customer relationships.

Loyalty and Rewards Programs

- Offer double loyalty points on purchases made during peak shopping hours.
- Incentivize customers to shop through app-exclusive rewards.

Early Access Sales for VIP Customers

- Provide early access to Ramadan and Eid collections for loyal customers.
- Use email and SMS campaigns to create urgency.

Themed Subscription Boxes for Suhoor and Iftar

- Curated meal kits designed for Suhoor and Iftar increase customer engagement.
- Monthly subscription boxes with Ramadan essentials create repeat purchases.

Interactive Marketing and Gamification

- Introduce daily shopping challenges or digital scratch cards with special discounts.
- QR-based promotions encourage in-store and online engagement.

Influencer and Community Collaborations

- Work with local influencers to share meal-prep ideas, fashion trends, or Eid gifting recommendations.
- Launch community-driven campaigns that align with Ramadan values.

Charity-Linked Purchases

- Donate a percentage of Ramadan sales to charity, reinforcing the spirit of giving.
- Introduce zakat-friendly purchases to support charitable causes.

Ramadan 2025 Is an Opportunity to Grow Your Business

Ramadan is not only a time of reflection but also a period of increased consumer activity. Businesses that understand shifting shopping behaviors and adapt their strategies will see higher engagement and sales.

With the right payment products, fast checkout experiences, and well-planned marketing strategies, you can maximize revenue while building long-term customer loyalty.

At Tap Payments, we help businesses offer secure, flexible payment options that drive sales and create a smooth checkout experience.

Want to transform your payment strategy for Ramadan and beyond? Contact us at hello@tap.company or visit our website to explore the best payment products for your business.