Qataris are Mideast’s biggest luxury spenders

Qataris are the biggest luxury spenders in the Middle East, UAE daily 7Days reported on Tuesday citing research by credit card giant American Express.

Cardholders in the small country are chalking up bills of $5,000 a month compared to just $250 swiped by those in Oman and Jordan, the report added.

And people across the region are expected to increase spending on their cards between now and the end of the year - except in the UAE.

"Consumer attitudes towards spending have begun to improve significantly and there is a noticeable rise in spending on luxury goods and experiences across the country," 7Days quoted Mazin Khoury, CEO of American Express Middle East as saying.

UAE cardholders may not be increasing their balance but lead the region in automobile purchases, the report said.