A recent report has identified TikTok as the most favored mobile application among UAE residents in 2024. According to the Sensor Tower’s State of Mobile 2025 report, residents spent an average of approximately 2 hours daily on the app. The data reveals that the 11.2 million residents of the UAE collectively spent around 7.63 billion hours on TikTok throughout the year, which translates to about 700 hours per person.

University student Haleema Saud shared her experience with Khaleej Times, stating that on weekdays, she uses TikTok for three to four hours and spends around six hours on her smartphone overall. She mentioned that on her days off, her usage can extend to 12 hours, with about eight of those hours dedicated to watching various content such as cooking, baking, and educational videos on computer engineering.

Following TikTok, Telegram emerged as the second most popular app in the UAE, with residents averaging one hour of usage per day. Other notable apps in the region included WhatsApp Business, MX Player, Phone by Google, Google Maps, PLAYit, and Gmail. The report highlighted that UAE residents predominantly spend their online time engaging with social media platforms, AI chatbots, software utilities, and browsing for shopping.

TikTok’s success in the UAE is mirrored by its global popularity, although it has recently faced scrutiny in the United States over concerns related to data privacy. This led to U.S. President Donald Trump issuing an executive order to postpone a potential ban on the app for 75 days.

In addition to TikTok, the report noted that the buy-now-pay-later app Tabby was the most downloaded finance app in the UAE. In the shopping category, the Chinese e-commerce platform Temu was recognized as the most downloaded app, appealing to consumers looking for affordable products amidst rising inflation and economic uncertainty. The report emphasized that consumers are increasingly seeking platforms to shop across various sectors, with Temu utilizing a direct-from-factory model to offer competitive pricing.

Among the top five shopping apps downloaded in 2024 were Trendyol, Shein, Noon, and Amazon, showcasing the diverse preferences of consumers in the UAE.