Online Shopping Surges in Morocco and Middle East Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

Since the appearance of the first active cases, consumers have adopted this payment method for their essential needs, including data recharges, clothing, food, banking services and healthcare. These segments have seen the strongest growth, the same source specifies.

For Mastercard, more than 70% of consumers in the Middle East and Africa have bought more data recharges online, 63% of clothing and more than 52% of grocery items online. This proximity of consumers to the digital world has increased during the pandemic period. 66% of respondents said they had started doing their banking online, compared to 56% who say they are managing their health needs online.

More than half of consumers say that a secure checkout was essential for a better shopping experience, the same study notes. Mastercard also says it is "an essential priority." For the American payment system company, it is striving to reduce online fraud and protect retailers against data breaches, while ensuring that consumers continue to enjoy a convenient and hassle-free payment experience.

Very recently, Mastercard has extended its patented token technology across the region to support this upward trend.