RIYADH: Free shipping and quick websites are key to securing young shoppers in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, a survey has found. The study, carried out by financial services app Tabby, indicated that customers aged between 18 and 29 are twice as likely as other age groups to get frustrated over slow e-commerce processess. The research also showed that 29 percent of Saudi shoppers are upset when retailers do not provide them with free shipping, compared to 23 percent of those in the UAE. “For those hoping to attract Gen-Z shoppers, a good shopping experience is non-negotiable. It’s also worth noting that female shoppers prioritize affordability over quality more than male shoppers,” said Tabby in the press statement. According to the report, 82 percent of shoppers in Saudi Arabia and the UAE found at least one disappointing moment in the shopping process which includes website navigation, auto-payment options, and long checkout processes. Tabby surveyed over 7,500 shoppers across Saudi Arabia and the UAE on their retail habits and experiences, according to a press statement. The company further noted that 60 percent of buyers have abandoned a purchase due to payment issues, with young shoppers more cautious about sharing their banking details. “We have launched our Middle East shopping survey to help retailers gain deeper insights into the needs and preferences of shoppers across the region. With such data-driven insights, we can create an ecommerce ecosystem that has a shared goal of giving shoppers the best shopping experience possible,” said Hosman Arab, CEO and co-founder of Tabby. The survey found that 30 percent of shoppers are loyal to brands that offer them a good shipping experience. Tabby added that customer loyalty schemes fail to achieve repeat sales with only 7.7 percent of consumers saying that such schemes are one of the reasons they return to shop at the same brand again. According to the report, 78 percent of retail customers have opted to buy items online after seeing them in-store to compare prices between different sites. Earlier in January, a report released by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Commerce revealed that the number of e-commerce firms in the Kingdom increased by 24 percent in the fourth quarter of 2023 to 37,481, compared to the same period in the previous year.