UAE Crypto App Downloads Surge 41% in 2024

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has witnessed a significant surge in cryptocurrency app downloads, with a 41% increase in 2024 compared to the previous year. This growth can be attributed to a combination of political shifts and aggressive marketing campaigns, as highlighted by data from AppsFlyer.

The UAE's appetite for cryptocurrency has been evident in the exponential increase in app downloads. In 2023, the top 49 crypto apps were downloaded a total of 6.2 million times, which soared to 15 million in 2024. The second half of 2024 was particularly successful, with monthly installs regularly surpassing 1 million in the last quarter, culminating in 2.8 million downloads in December.

Political events, such as the U.S. presidential election, have played a significant role in driving this surge. Donald Trump's vocal support of cryptocurrency and his vow to make the U.S. the crypto capital of the world contributed to the UAE's crypto market momentum. His launch of a memecoin in January 2024 also drove a flock of fresh investors to crypto apps, leading to increased downloads in the U.S.

However, the story is not without its complications. Chainalysis revealed that some 813,000 crypto wallets that bought Trump's memecoin subsequently lost a total of $2 billion, illustrating the dangers of investing in speculative assets and the importance of responsible investing.

Aggressive marketing efforts have also significantly contributed to crypto app downloads, with marketing campaigns driving 60% of traffic for crypto apps in 2024. However, user retention remains a major challenge, with engagement trend data on Android devices showing that 1 in 5 crypto apps are uninstalled within 30 days. Crypto app developers must focus on offering a compelling user experience to retain users in the long term.

Despite retention issues, prospects for crypto apps in the UAE appear positive. In January 2025 alone, there were ~3.5 million crypto app installs, accounting for more than half of the total installs recorded in 2023. With 2025 on track to be a record-setting year, prudent crypto app marketers must use every tool in their arsenal to gain and retain market share.

The UAE crypto