GCC loyalty market reaches $648.9m, forecast to nearly double
Key takeaways
- MarketsandMarkets' August 2026 report values GCC loyalty management at USD 648.9 million in 2025 and forecasts USD 1,253.2 million by 2030, a 14.1% CAGR.
- Published Saudi estimates for the same year range from USD 286 million (6Wresearch) to US$842.5 million (an earlier PayNXT360 edition), because publishers define the market differently and revise often.
- Growth is linked to digital transformation, payment-linked and wallet-based rewards, co-branded cards and consumers who say tangible perks drive loyalty, with Dragonpass finding 82% in 2026.
According to MarketsandMarkets' report published in August 2026, the GCC loyalty management market was worth USD 648.9 million in 2025 and is forecast to reach USD 1,253.2 million by 2030, a 14.1% compound annual growth rate. Other publishers define the market differently and give very different numbers.
The gap is large. For Saudi Arabia alone, Grand View Research's January 2026 report puts loyalty management at USD 330.3 million in 2026, while PayNXT360's Q2 2026 databook, listed by ResearchAndMarkets, puts the wider loyalty market at US$533.1 million for the same year. No single figure should be quoted without its publisher, edition and definition.
The drivers are easier to agree on than the totals. Analysts point to mobile payments, wallets, co-branded cards, AI-led personalisation and government-backed digital policy. On the demand side, Dragonpass's 2026 GCC Loyalty Index found that 82% of consumers say perks matter in deciding whether to join a programme. This article sets out the numbers, explains why they differ and draws out what programme teams should do.
Key figures
- USD 648.9 million GCC loyalty management market, 2025 (MarketsandMarkets, published August 2026) (marketsandmarkets.com)
- USD 1,253.2 million Forecast GCC loyalty management market, 2030 (MarketsandMarkets) (marketsandmarkets.com)
- 14.1% Forecast GCC loyalty management CAGR, 2025 to 2030, against a global rate of 9.6% (MarketsandMarkets) (marketsandmarkets.com)
- 10.3 million Majid Al Futtaim SHARE members, 2025, as reported in ResearchAndMarkets' UAE databook (globenewswire.com)
- 82% GCC consumers saying perks play an important role in joining a loyalty programme (Dragonpass GCC Loyalty Index, 2026) (rihlattravelnews.com)
MELA's view
The sources agree that the GCC loyalty market is growing at double-digit rates, but they do not agree on its size, because publishers define and revise the market differently.
For programme teams, this means board papers should show a range with named publishers, not one headline number.
The consumer evidence points toward visible, usable value, clear terms and personalisation, and the technology evidence points toward wallets, payments and co-brand cards as the delivery channels.
The harder questions for leaders sit below the market totals: who funds the points, how much is redeemed, how partners settle and whether members have consented to the data use that personalisation needs.
Questions and answers
How big is the loyalty market in the GCC?
According to MarketsandMarkets' August 2026 report, the GCC loyalty management market was worth USD 648.9 million in 2025 and is forecast to reach USD 1,253.2 million by 2030. Other publishers use different definitions, so their figures are not directly comparable.
How fast is the GCC loyalty market growing?
MarketsandMarkets forecasts a 14.1% compound annual growth rate for GCC loyalty management from 2025 to 2030, against a global rate of 9.6%. Saudi forecasts vary by publisher, from 3.9% (6Wresearch) to 14.3% (PayNXT360).
How big is the loyalty market in Saudi Arabia?
It depends on the publisher. Grand View Research's January 2026 report gives USD 330.3 million for loyalty management in 2026, while PayNXT360's Q2 2026 databook gives US$533.1 million for the broader loyalty market in 2026. 6Wresearch estimates USD 286 million for 2025.
Which is the largest loyalty programme in the GCC by members?
Emirates said in 2024 that Emirates Skywards had more than 30 million members worldwide, and Growth Market Reports' 2026 analysis cites more than 37 million in September 2025. These are worldwide counts. Majid Al Futtaim's SHARE had 10.3 million members in 2025 and Alshaya's Aura has 8.3 million, so the programmes are not directly comparable.
What do GCC consumers want from loyalty programmes?
Dragonpass's 2026 GCC Loyalty Index found that 82% of consumers say perks play an important role in engaging with a programme, and 34% name transactional rewards as their main loyalty language. Gulf Business's report of the Index says 82.6% would switch brands for better perks.
What regulation affects loyalty programmes in the GCC?
A 2025 ResearchAndMarkets report says loyalty programmes linked to financial services and digital payments must comply with government rules, citing the UAE Central Bank and the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority. It does not name specific regulations or dates.
Is there a market size for UAE loyalty?
ResearchAndMarkets' Q2 2026 UAE databook carries a headline forecast of US$733.8 million by 2030. Grand View Research says the UAE is projected to lead Middle East and Africa loyalty management by revenue in 2033 but gives no UAE amount.
