INFOGRAPHIC
Spotlight on GCC consumer confidence
Consumers in the GCC are among the world ’ s most optimistic when considering a post-COVID future according to the Inaugural Ding Global Prepaid Index ( GPI ). The bi-annual global study commissioned by Ding , a global mobile top-up service , examines the views of 7,000 respondents across KSA , UAE , Qatar , US , UK , France , Brazil , Philippines and Indonesia .
cConsumer attitudes towards
the pandemic
Despite the difficulties imposed by the pandemic , consumers in the Gulf are among the most positive when it comes to their current and future situation . The overall consumer confidence rate stood at 63 , far higher than the Global Consumer Confidence Index at 52.1 .
Diving deeper into the data , KSA consumer confidence is at 68 , UAE at 62 and Qatar , which only recently restored diplomatic ties with the rest of the GCC , is at 58 . This positivity is also felt towards the economy with 71 % in the GCC stating that they have an optimistic economic outlook and 66 % feeling optimistic about their future work prospects .
There is a direct correlation between consumer confidence and perceived government handling of the COVID crisis ( and the death rate ) and again , GCC countries scored highly . Saudi Arabia had the highest approval rating for its government with 82 % stating that the government is doing all it can to deal with the crisis . In the UAE this stands at 79 % while in Qatar it is at 72 %.
This is in stark contrast to the West where just 34 % in the US agree the government is doing all it can to handle the crisis and 47 % in both France and UK .
Mark Roden , Founder and Chief Executive , Ding said : “ The GCC ’ s swift response to the COVID-19 pandemic has been in contrast to many other countries around the world and may be reflected in the consumer confidence of the region – globally , the pandemic has devastated people and businesses , but it is interesting that consumers in the GCC are feeling more confidence and optimism about their future than many others around the world .”
Choice or necessity ?
The report also shows that consumers in the GCC are among the world ’ s most avid users of prepaid mobile phone contracts – and that there is significant appetite for other prepaid products .
Prepaid mobile is favoured by a whopping 81 % in Qatar , 76 % in KSA and 70 % of those surveyed in the UAE . Overall in the GCC , prepaid mobile is the preferred option for 76 % of the respondents – but why ?
Roden noted : “ The Global Prepaid Index has revealed the importance of prepaid products for GCC
22 INTELLIGENTCIO AFRICA www . intelligentcio . com