Every summer, particularly around Ramadan, visitors from Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries flock to London to escape the heat and almost more importantly, shop. “Last year, spending by Arabic shoppers was up 43% for the period,” says Gordon Clark, of Global Blue, a UK commerce consultancy. “And as retailers and hotels improve their services to accommodate them, by bringing in Arabic-speaking staff and learning their culture’s customs, the UK is becoming an increasingly appealing shopping destination and we expect spend growth to remain strong.”
