The smartphone market in the Middle East, excluding Turkey, saw excellent growth in Q4 2022 according to new data from Canalys.
Around 12.2 million smartphones shipped in the region in Q4, a 24% year-on-year increase. For the full year, shipments grew 11% to 42.5 million units.
Samsung maintained its lead but faces rising competition from Transsion, Xiaomi, and Apple who posted similar volumes in Q4 based on sales events.
The UAE experienced a healthy 22% growth thanks to promotions like the Dubai Shopping Festival. Xiaomi expanded its retail presence here with phones in 12 Sharaf DG stores.
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Iraq shipments jumped 86% with campaigns from Transsion and Xiaomi targeting younger buyers. Honor’s Magic series also performed well in Iraq and Saudi Arabia.
While not in the top 5, Motorola saw 49% MEA growth. It aims to expand to over 10 more countries this year.
Looking ahead, Canalys expects further growth in 2024 aided by the upcoming GCC tourist visa. Analysts predict a rise in tourism will spur demand for the latest devices and tech.