Dubai — Dragonpass, a global leader in travel and lifestyle loyalty solutions, has unveiled new findings from its Loyalty Index, a global benchmarking study comparing consumer loyalty behaviours across key markets.
The data reveals a clear divergence in how loyalty is experienced globally, with the GCC emerging as one of the most dynamic markets, where consumers prioritise tangible value, everyday relevance, and seamless experiences – creating new opportunities for banks, fintechs and loyalty partners to differentiate through more customer-centric, value-led propositions.
Value Takes Centre Stage in the GCC
In the GCC, loyalty is firmly driven by clear and immediate value. More than 82% of consumers say perks play an important role in their decision to engage with a loyalty programme, reinforcing the importance of tangible, easy-to-use benefits.
While rewards remain important globally, consumers in the UK and Singapore place greater emphasis on trust, familiarity, and long-term relationships, highlighting a more balanced loyalty model compared to the GCC’s value-led approach. This shift presents an opportunity for brands in the region to move beyond traditional points-based systems and focus on delivering more relevant, real-time value.
“Consumers in the GCC are more engaged and active in evaluating loyalty programmes, creating a fast-moving and competitive environment for brands.”
By contrast, Singapore demonstrates more stable and habitual loyalty behaviours, with fewer consumers regularly switching. This positions the GCC as a market where brands must continuously deliver value to maintain engagement, but also one where those that do so effectively can gain a meaningful competitive advantage.
From Travel to Everyday Lifestyle
Loyalty in the GCC has expanded beyond travel into everyday life. Dining benefits are now the most commonly used perk, with around 50% of consumers redeeming dining-related offers in the past year.
Travel perks such as Fast Track, airport lounge access and hotel benefits remain important, but are now part of a broader ecosystem that includes wellness and daily lifestyle experiences.
In comparison, UK consumers tend to favour grocery discounts and cashback, while Singapore shows a stronger preference for financial and savings-related rewards. For brands and partners, this highlights the growing importance of embedding loyalty into everyday consumer journeys rather than limiting it to occasional transactions.
The findings also highlight a shift in how loyalty is perceived in financial services.
In the GCC, consumers increasingly evaluate banks based on the lifestyle value they provide, from dining and travel perks to exclusive experiences, reflecting rising expectations for banks to play a more active role in delivering everyday value.
In Singapore and the UK, loyalty remains more closely linked to security, reliability, and functionality, although lifestyle benefits are also gaining traction. This presents a clear opportunity for banks and fintechs in the GCC to differentiate by integrating lifestyle-led rewards into their core value proposition, rather than treating loyalty as a standalone feature.
“The Loyalty Index shows that loyalty is evolving at different speeds across markets,” said Andrew Harrison-Chinn, Chief Marketing Officer at Dragonpass. “In the GCC, we are seeing a highly engaged consumer base that is setting the pace for more value-driven, experience-led loyalty. For partners, this represents a significant opportunity to rethink how loyalty is delivered – not as a standalone programme, but as an integrated, everyday value proposition.”
The Dragonpass Loyalty Index is designed as an ongoing global benchmark, tracking how loyalty expectations continue to evolve across regions and industries.
Source: Tahawul Tech