Dubai, UAE — Artificial intelligence has become a mainstream shopping tool in the UAE, with 85% of consumers using AI-powered services to compare prices, research products and discover gift ideas, according to Visa’s latest Stay Secure study released on Tuesday.
The survey, conducted by Wakefield Research, found that consumers are increasingly integrating AI into online purchasing decisions as digital commerce evolves across the region.
While shoppers broadly welcomed AI’s role in improving convenience, many remained reluctant to allow the technology to complete purchases independently. Only 32% of respondents said they would trust AI agents to carry out checkout on their behalf.
The study also highlighted the rapid rise of social commerce, with 69% of UAE consumers reporting purchases made directly through social media platforms.
At the same time, fraud remains a major concern. Forty-six percent of respondents said they had experienced a financial scam during the past 12 months, while 38% of those incidents occurred through social media channels.
Consumers increasingly see technology as part of the solution, with 85% believing AI will play a critical role in protecting people from fraud in the future.
The survey found that respondents placed primary responsibility for fraud prevention on banks, regulators and payment providers rather than on individual consumers.
