Top Arab Spenders At Heathrow

Visitors from Saudi Arabia are some of the biggest retail spenders in London’s Heathrow airport, according to a survey conducted by the airport last year.

The top spenders from the Middle East by average spend per person

1. Saudi Arabia – Dhs364

2. Jordan – Dhs251.8

3. UAE – Dhs241.4

4. Iran – Dhs219.9

5. Kuwait – Dhs142.3

6. Qatar – Dhs108.2

7. Lebanon – Dhs94.6

8. Oman – Dhs60.5

While Dubai is now the second busiest destination from Heathrow after JFK, New York, the Gulf as a whole is also the second biggest market for flights from the UK, said Simon Baugh, the director of media and publication relations at BAA, which operates Heathrow.

“Middle East nationals are also among the highest spenders at retail at Heathrow, and also the largest proportionate people who buy retail at the airport,” he told Gulf Business in an interview.

Overall, the survey found that visitors from Saudi Arabia spent more than Dhs55.9 million, while UAE travellers spent Dhs6.6 million in Heathrow airport’s retail section last year.