Lulu Retail Online Sales Jump 53% in Q3
Lulu Retail Holdings reported third-quarter 2026 revenue of $1.9 billion, a 2% year-on-year increase, as digital sales surged.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Retail
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Lulu Retail Holdings, listed on the Abu Dhabi exchange, reported revenue of $1.9 billion for the third quarter of 2026, up 2% year on year, with online sales rising 53% over the same period. The quarter ended September 30, 2026.
Why it matters
Growth in digital channels is reshaping how grocery and retail chains compete across the Gulf Cooperation Council region. Higher input costs and limited ability to pass them on to customers weighed on gross margins.
Lulu recorded profit of $444 million, EBITDA of $175 million and net income of $29 million for the three months ended September 30, 2026. Online sales made up 9.7% of total retail sales, and the company opened five stores in the quarter.
The players
Lulu Retail Holdings
A major grocery and retail chain operating across the Gulf Cooperation Council region and listed on the Abu Dhabi exchange.
The details
Sales through Lulu's own digital platform more than doubled year on year, outpacing growth through third-party delivery services. The redesigned app now has more than one million monthly active users, and the Happiness loyalty programme reached 10 million members across the GCC. Food sales grew in each month of the quarter, while non-food categories were hit by weaker consumer sentiment.
Timeline
Q3 2026 (July–September): Revenue rose 2%, online sales rose 53%, and five stores opened.
September 30, 2026: End of the reported three-month period.
2027 to 2031: Planned store expansion period across GCC markets.
Market Landscape
Lulu's online growth shows how Gulf grocers are shifting sales toward owned digital platforms rather than relying on third-party delivery apps. The planned expansion, with roughly one-third of new stores in the UAE and one-third in Saudi Arabia, positions the company to capture growth in the region's two largest retail markets.
Shoppers in the GCC are likely to see more ways to buy groceries online through Lulu's own app and loyalty programme. Planned store openings through 2031 may bring new locations, especially smaller Express and Mini Market formats, closer to residents.
The takeaway
Digital channels are becoming a core growth engine for regional grocers, so shoppers who use loyalty programmes and apps may find more convenient options over time. Watching how margins hold as input costs rise will show whether that growth is sustainable.
Further reading
Explore more Retail coverage for context on how grocery chains are adapting to digital shopping.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Khaleej Times.
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