UAE Shoppers Quickly Embrace AI Smartphones and Laptops

UAE Consumers Embrace AI-Enabled Smartphones and Laptops Rapidly

Dubai: UAE consumers are rapidly adopting AI-powered gadgets, as evidenced by the increasing demand for AI-powered laptops and smartphones.

This trend is also seen in the laptop market, which was first seen in smartphones with cutting-edge AI features.

According to Vikas Chadha, CEO of Jumbo Electronics, a leading electronics retailer in the UAE, AI-ready laptops currently make up one in five of their total laptop sales across the country. “We estimate that AI laptops have achieved around 20% market penetration in the UAE, compared to a global average of approximately 15%-16%,” Chadha stated.

Willingness to Pay a Premium for AI Features

UAE consumers don’t seem to be discouraged by the higher prices of AI-integrated devices. Despite being 15%–20% more expensive than typical laptops, demand for AI-ready PCs has not decreased. “Tech-savvy consumers in the UAE are more than willing to pay extra for the added functionality and intelligence offered by AI devices,” stated Chadha. “In fact, we anticipate AI laptops could account for 50% of the market within the next three years.”

At first, analysts and retailers had projected a consistent increase in demand by September, when the new school year began. But the market’s reaction has been better than expected, with consumers demonstrating a desire to upgrade sooner than expected.

Samsung’s Galaxy S25: A Game Changer

Samsung’s Galaxy S25 is set to be launched today with the aim of setting new standards for AI integration in smartphones. According to industry experts, this launch will significantly accelerate the adoption of AI gadgets in the UAE market.

Samsung had previously introduced AI technologies in its Galaxy S24 model, and consumers responded well to it without raising the price. It gradually added AI functions after the release of the iPhone 16, but Apple also followed suit in its smartphone. Competitors such as Huawei and Honor have also launched AI-powered smartphones in the meantime, and the UAE market has seen considerable success with them.

One market expert pointed out that “Apple’s ongoing rollout of AI features with the iPhone 16 may have led to some delays in consumer upgrades.“However, with Apple’s insights fully accessible, we expect a significant increase in iPhone sales in the first half of 2025.

Evolving Consumer Expectations

Rapid changes have occurred in consumer expectations about AI features. According to a tech industry analyst, “having a ChatGPT-like feature was seen as a key AI capability in 2024.” “”However, in 2025, consumers will be looking for devices that act as comprehensive digital assistants rather than managing complex tasks.”
Parallels with the 5G Boom

Chadha compared the present trend in AI to the early days of the introduction of 5G smartphones. “Demand for 4G phones fell off almost immediately after 5G-enabled models were released,” he stated. “A similar trend is now evident, with consumers favoring AI-enabled devices over conventional models.”

Particularly with the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S25 and the expanding availability of AI-enhanced features across numerous brands, UAE consumers are ready to embrace AI technology like never before. Retailers and manufacturers hope this trend will further establish the UAE as a leading market for advanced technologies.