Some 48 percent of GCC residents prefer to shop online, with 33 percent of respondents stating that online shopping is just as safe as offline shopping, a recent survey commissioned by Seamless Middle East 2017 – the region's most extensive technology and solution exhibition for the payments, e-commerce and retail industry – revealed. The Arab Federation for e-Commerce (AFEC) said last month that the region's current share of the e-commerce market only represents one percent of the global market. However, the survey results highlight the increasing opportunity for e-commerce in the region. "The existing appetite for online shopping in the Middle East poses a promising opportunity for international and regional investors in the e-commerce sector. The Arab Federation of e-commerce will play a central role in supporting and advising the public and private sectors in the Arab states to ensure continuous growth and further development of e-commerce in the region, as we strive to capture a fair share of the global digital industry," said Dr. Eng. Ali Al Khouri, First Deputy Chairman of the Arab E-commerce Union, and Chairman for the Supreme Committee. Amna Lootah, Assistant Director General, Finance and Commercial at Dubai Airport Freezone Authority (DAFZA), said: «At DAFZA, we provide vibrant support to businesses across all sectors operating within the Freezone, including the necessary support system for the e-commerce sector, which is now booming due to the growing popularity of online shopping in Dubai, the UAE, the entire region, and the rest of the world. This also complements the Dubai Plan 2021 to become a leading smart city and to diversify the economy. We will continuously work to contribute to the local sector's strength to ensure that it keeps pace with the ever-evolving international developments and trends." Despite the willingness of GCC residents to fully embrace e-commerce, 34 percent of survey respondents claimed that a lack of confidence in payment security deters them from shopping online. 29 percent of UAE respondents still feel that offline shopping is more secure, with only 31 percent considering online shopping equally as safe. Commenting on payment security in the region, Eric Claudel, Senior Vice President Banking & Payment Solutions for the CISMEA region at Gemalto, the world leader in digital technology, said: "The current and projected growth of e-commerce in the region has facilitated and encouraged accelerated development of digital payment experiences. The demand for optimized payments experience – in terms of speed, convenience and multi-channel accessibility but most importantly in terms of security – is growing at a fast pace. The key to ensuring customer satisfaction is delivering a seamless experience through secure, frictionless and innovative payment solutions." Joseph Ridley, General Manager of Seamless Middle East at Terrapinn, said: "E-commerce is a hot topic globally and key players in the industry are showing increased interest in the Middle East – the Souq.com acquisition by Amazon is a prime example. Seamless Middle East provides a platform for e-commerce, payments and retail industry professionals to explore the potential of the market through knowledge sharing, as well as showcasing new products and technologies to key stakeholders within the region." Seamless Middle East builds on 18 years of experience and will return on May 1-2, 2017 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre. The conference, to be held under the patronage of Lt. Gen. Sheikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, is the largest in the Middle East, bringing together 10,000 attendees as well as 350 exhibitors from the world's leading technology and solution providers from across the payments, e-commerce and retail industries. —SG
