UAE tops world in AI-powered shopping use

June 10, 2026 / 8:17 PM

Sharjah 24 – WAM: A new report from Checkout.com, a leading global digital payments company, highlights a growing gap between rising consumer demand for AI-driven shopping and the trust, control, and infrastructure required to support agentic commerce.

UAE consumers lead global adoption of AI shopping

According to Checkout.com’s report Agentic Commerce 2026: The State of Consumer Demand and Merchant Readiness, the UAE is outpacing all surveyed regions in the adoption of AI shopping technologies. Consumers in the UAE who are not yet using AI shopping tools expect agentic commerce to handle 10% or more of their online purchases within just 12 months.

The study found that 79% of UAE consumers are comfortable allowing AI to complete purchases on their behalf, while only 2% said they would not be motivated to use such tools.

High trust in AI and shifting consumer behaviour

The research revealed a significant shift in consumer trust, with 64% of UAE respondents stating they trust an AI shopping agent more than their own family members for making purchases. A similar proportion believe AI tools can choose clothing that better suits them than they could select themselves.

This trust extends into sensitive financial areas, as nearly a quarter of consumers (24%) are comfortable sharing salary and bank balance data with AI, while 19% would allow access to personal calendars.

Additionally, 71% of UAE shoppers would allow AI agents to switch brands or substitute products for better value, reflecting a growing willingness to delegate decision-making. However, 24% said their confidence would increase if AI tools only purchased from pre-approved brands.

Expanding use cases and trust challenges

UAE consumers are also showing openness to using AI across complex categories, with 22% willing to delegate financial services and insurance decisions to AI. Meanwhile, 72% would use AI agents to bypass queues for festival or event tickets, and 62% admitted they would allow AI to make purchases without informing others.

The study also found shifting expectations around accountability, with 17% of UAE consumers believing payment providers or banks should be responsible for correcting AI-related purchasing errors.

Rory O’Neill, CMO at Checkout.com, said agentic commerce is rapidly evolving from concept to reality, but emphasized that trust, security, and clear financial controls remain essential for wider adoption as infrastructure continues to develop.