{"id":67970,"date":"2026-02-23T10:01:28","date_gmt":"2026-02-23T10:01:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hashtagdubai.org\/?p=67970"},"modified":"2026-02-23T12:26:12","modified_gmt":"2026-02-23T12:26:12","slug":"ramadan-drives-increased-adoption-of-loyalty-initiatives-across-the-gcc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hashtagdubai.org\/index.php\/2026\/02\/23\/ramadan-drives-increased-adoption-of-loyalty-initiatives-across-the-gcc\/","title":{"rendered":"Ramadan Drives Increased Adoption of Loyalty Initiatives across the GCC"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ramadan Drives Increased Adoption of Loyalty Initiatives across the GCC<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

UAE, 23 February 2026:<\/strong>\u00a0Every year, Ramadan reshapes consumer behavior across the GCC, inspiring generosity, reflection, and deeper community engagement, while also accelerating spending, loyalty participation, and the adoption of innovative incentive strategies,<\/h3>\n

During Ramadan, loyalty programs across the Middle East capitalize on seasonal spending, with retail, travel, and banking poised for record engagement. Building on 2025\u20132026 market trends, programs that leverage digital adoption, personalized rewards, and coalition partnerships are expected to drive stronger customer retention and higher transaction volumes during the holy month.<\/h3>\n

Why Ramadan Matters for Loyalty and Incentives<\/strong>
\n<\/strong>Ramadan is more than a seasonal sales period; it is a cultural moment that drives intentional spending and generosity. Across the UAE and Saudi Arabia, mobile shopping peaks during Ramadan nights as families prepare for iftar and suhoor, while search interest for \u201coffers\u201d and \u201cdiscounts\u201d rises sharply in the final days of the month.<\/h3>\n

Loyalty initiatives, whether through gift cards, tiered rewards, points programs, experiences, or exclusive offers, become powerful tools to connect with consumers during this period.<\/h3>\n

\u201cRamadan isn\u2019t a one-month campaign; it\u2019s a strategic moment to reaffirm value with your most engaged customers,\u201d says\u00a0Gabi Kool, CEO of Loylogic<\/strong>. \u201cLoyalty performs best when integrated into a holistic incentive approach that respects cultural sentiment and rewards customer commitment with relevance and respect.\u201d<\/h3>\n

The Evolving Loyalty Landscape in the UAE & GCC<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The loyalty market across the Middle East continues to expand rapidly. It is projected to grow\u00a016.3% in 2025<\/strong>, reaching approximately\u00a0US $3.27 billion,<\/strong>\u00a0up from\u00a0US $2.81 billion<\/strong>\u00a0in 2024<\/strong>. In the\u00a0UAE\u00a0<\/strong>alone, loyalty programmes are expected to grow\u00a016.1% to about US $490.8 million in 2025<\/strong>\u00a0with strong gains expected through\u00a02028<\/strong>.<\/h3>\n

The regional loyalty market is forecast to maintain\u00a0double-digit growth<\/strong>,\u00a0of ~13.8% CACR through during 2029<\/strong>\u00a0as digital, coalition, and personalized models broaden customer engagement opportunities. Consumers increasingly seek experiences over transactional perks, particularly among younger segments such as Gen Z, with modern loyalty strategies blending points, exclusive experiences, cultural events, personalized offers, and meaningful partnerships.<\/h3>\n

Integrating Loyalty into a Broader Incentive Strategy<\/strong>
\nTo resonate during Ramadan, loyalty initiatives must form part of a broader incentive narrative:<\/h3>\n