Half of UAE residents keen on home improvements this year

Dubai - Majority of UAE residents plan to spend up to Dh5,000 for home improvements

Nearly 50 per cent of UAE residents plan to spend up to Dh5,000 for home improvements this year, according to survey findings of home improvement store Al Futtaim ACE.

Almost all respondents are ready to pay a small premium for energy-efficient light bulbs, the survey said.

"At Al-Futtaim ACE, we believe consumer insights are fundamental to the way we retail today and in the future. The customer is at the centre of everything we do and this is part and parcel of our DNA," said Wayne Cohen, general manager of Al-Futtaim ACE.

Cohen added: "With the help of data derived from the survey, we hope to have a better understanding of customers and their purchasing habits. This information, in turn, helps us tailor our product mix and improve our services."

The survey which was conducted online gathered responses from 755 UAE residents across various nationalities over a five-week period between March and April 2016.

The survey looked at five key areas of home improvement, including garden, do-it-yourself (DIY), paint, outdoor and indoor improvement and hand and power tools.

"One of the key highlights from our survey this year is the willingness of UAE residents to live in a more sustainable manner. Ninety-five per cent of UAE residents are ready to pay a small premium for energy-efficient light bulbs, highlighting the growing green trend in the country," Cohen said.

Key findings
Seventy-five per cent of the respondents prefer to do home improvements themselves versus hiring someone to do it for them.

In an emerging trend, 38 per cent (vs 21 per cent last year) of respondents said they research online for ideas on home improvement, followed by 31 per cent in store and 22 per cent use social media.

Forty-eight per cent of respondents plan to spend between Dh1,000 to Dh5,000 to make home improvements this year while 17 per cent said they would spend between Dh5,001 to Dh10,000.

While planning outdoor improvements, adding new furniture is a clear priority for 60 per cent of the respondents, followed by adding accessories such as barbecues (38 per cent), etc.

Fifty per cent of respondents want to update their kitchen appliances, followed by 47 per cent who would like to change their kitchen doors, knobs, sinks, etc.

Al-Futtaim ACE also launched on Sunday its home improvement guide (HIG) - a 68-page booklet of tips, ideas and inspiration across the DIY, paint, home and garden categories. The annual HIG features over 300 products with prices valid through to August 31, 2016. Over 85,700 guides will be delivered across Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Al Ain.

This year, the HIG is also available as an interactive catalogue online where customers can view, select and purchase products.

- abdulbasit@khaleejtimes.com