Agency: The Middle East smartphone market is expected to decline by 19% in Q2 2026, with manufacturers placing greater emphasis on profitability.

According to Omdia's latest research, smartphone shipments in the Middle East are expected to decline by 19% year-on-year in the second quarter of 2026, dropping to 10.6 million units, marking the largest quarterly drop since the fourth quarter of 2025. Rising prices, supply constraints, and geopolitical uncertainties have led manufacturers to focus more on enhancing product value and profitability rather than simply pursuing shipment growth. Meanwhile, as consumer confidence weakens, retailers in the Middle East are also adopting a more cautious inventory management strategy.