Samsung, Apple, Xiaomi and Tecno are the leading smartphone brands in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region in Q4 2021, according to IDC report.
Mobile phone shipments to the Gulf region grew 8.3 percent quarter on quarter in Q4 2021 to 6.10 million units.

Smartphone shipments to the Gulf region rose 6.3 percent quarter on quarter in Q4 2021 to 5.39 million units.

Feature phone shipments to the Gulf region grew 26.8 percent quarter on quarter in Q4 2021 to 0.7 million units.

Smartphone revenue in the Gulf region increased 12.5 percent quarter on quarter to $2.17 billion in Q4 2021.

The feature phone revenue in the Gulf region increased 32.1 percent quarter on quarter to $15.07 million.

5G smartphones accounted for 37.6 percent of the Gulf smartphone market in Q4 2021, with shipments increasing 13.6 percent QoQ.

5G smartphones shipments will make up 79.1 percent of the Gulf smartphone market in 2026 as the 5G technology becomes standard in mid-tier price bands among Android smartphone vendors, says Ramazan Yavuz, senior research manager at IDC.

Saudi Arabia accounted for 56 percent of all smartphone shipments in the Gulf region in Q4 2021, with shipments to the country increasing 7.8 percent QoQ. Smartphone shipment in the UAE, the region’s second largest market, increased 7.2 percent QoQ in Q4 2021 to account for 22.6 percent of the region’s total.

Samsung is the leader in Gulf region’s smartphone market in terms of shipments in Q4 2021 with 45 percent share. Samsung posted 9.4 percent QoQ growth in shipments as supply improved, especially for key entry-level models.

Apple has 19 percent share in the Gulf region in Q4 2021. Apple’s smartphone shipments increased 8.6 percent QoQ on the back of strong demand for its new 13 series devices.

Xiaomi has 13.8 percent share in smartphone market in the Gulf region in Q4 2021. Xiaomi achieved 5.9 percent QoQ increase in shipments thanks to its midrange and mid-to-high-end smartphones.

The GCC smartphone market is forecast to decline 3.8 percent QoQ in Q1 2022, with consumer demand set to fall as inflation increases. While travel and tourism continues to normalize, the negative impact of supply shortages will prevent a significant pickup, IDC said.