The report is based on survey findings from 29,000 online shoppers and 5,800 e-commerce businesses across 29 countries
AI could soon choose what we buy, sustainability has shifted from nice-to-have to non-negotiable, and second-hand shopping is rapidly becoming mainstream, according to new DHL eCommerce research.
The eCommerce Trends Report 2026, based on survey findings from 29,000 online shoppers and 5,800 e-commerce businesses across 29 countries including the United Arab Emirates, highlights the biggest shifts retailers need to prepare for in the coming years and how best to respond to the changing e-commerce landscape.
“For retailers in the UAE, local relevance and the ability to serve both domestic demand and cross-border opportunities will be key as e-commerce continues to evolve,” stated AbdulAziz Busbate, CEO, Middle East and North Africa, DHL Express.
Evolving digital commerce habits
The DHL eCommerce Trends Report 2026 shows that the UAE is among the markets where digital commerce habits are evolving particularly quickly. In the next five years, 52% of UAE shoppers expect to browse and buy more through retailer websites, 51% through online marketplaces, 47% through apps and 37% through AI-powered chat or virtual assistants.
On the business side, UAE companies are also preparing for continued channel expansion, with 68% expecting more customer activity through social media, 65% through apps, 64% through online marketplaces and 59% through AI-powered chat or virtual assistants.
The global e-commerce market is also experiencing rapid behavioral shifts, widening an expectation gap between what modern shoppers demand and what online businesses are prepared to deliver.
Transforming buyer habits
AI is transforming buyer habits and accelerating innovation across the e-commerce ecosystem. In doing so, it is beginning to upend traditional formats and could even lead to the disappearance of virtual storefronts.
“For those of us powering the delivery infrastructure behind e‑commerce, AI enables new levels of speed, flexibility, and precision. In this new era, the winners will be those who move fastest – and translate that speed into superior customer experiences,” commented Pablo Ciano, CEO, DHL eCommerce.
The next online shopper may not be human
Almost a third (29%) of shoppers (rising to 33% of Gen Z and 36% of millennials) say they would be happy to hand over control of their shopping to AI and let it make shopping decisions or purchases for them in the next five years, with almost two thirds (59%) of businesses expecting shoppers to browse and buy through virtual assistants in the future.
Out-of-home delivery becomes the new standard
For consumers, the desire for delivery innovation comes from a continued need for convenience and flexibility, with a fifth (20%) of shoppers stating that faster delivery would encourage them to complete their purchase, and three in ten now looking to OOH delivery locations to meet the needs of their busy lives.
The home will become a sustainable side hustle
The line between shopper and seller continues to blur as second-hand consumer-to-consumer (C2C) shopping is set to go mainstream. One in two (52%) consumers have sold an item on an online marketplace, rising to 62% amongst Millennials and 58% amongst Gen Z, although Baby Boomers trail behind on 35%.
