The landscape of holiday gift-shopping is undergoing a radical transformation through artificial intelligence, with UAE consumers leading the adoption of AI-assisted purchasing solutions. Recent data from YouGov reveals compelling statistics: 29% of UAE shoppers express desire for AI to handle their holiday shopping, while 72% plan to utilize AI assistance during major sales events like the Dubai Shopping Festival. Notably, 34% of residents would entrust AI to select and purchase gifts for loved ones.
This technological shift coincides with significant developments in the luxury retail sector. The appointment of Jonathan Anderson as Dior’s creative director has generated substantial social media engagement, with his Spring/Summer 2026 collection capturing the largest share of user-generated content during Paris fashion shows. The brand’s Lady Dior Art initiative, celebrating its tenth anniversary, features collaborations with international artists including Kuwait’s Alymamah Rashed, whose designs incorporate Kuwait’s natural landscapes and archaeological heritage through exquisite embroidery and three-dimensional floral motifs.
The emergence of ‘Agentic Commerce’ represents the next evolutionary stage in retail technology. This paradigm enables AI agents to autonomously source products, compare prices, execute orders, and manage returns on behalf of consumers. Shopping-related queries on generative AI platforms witnessed an extraordinary 4,700% growth between 2024 and 2025, with ChatGPT alone accounting for 16% of Zara’s inbound referral traffic during summer 2025.
Despite technological advancements, consumer sentiment reveals intriguing contradictions. While embracing AI’s practical benefits, 69% of UAE respondents believe algorithm-selected gifts lack the personal meaning of manually chosen presents. This dichotomy highlights the enduring value of personalized, artistically significant gifts that transcend algorithmic recommendations—exemplified by limited-edition creations that incorporate hidden poetic elements visible only to the owner.
As Dubai Shopping Festival continues through January 11th, with Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr approaching subsequently, retailers are increasingly optimizing their large language models to engage an AI-literate consumer base. The convergence of technological convenience and artistic authenticity is redefining modern gifting culture in the region.