The Voice-Enabled Home: Arabic Voice Technology is Transforming Saudi and UAE Households
New research reveals the growing influence of voice assistants in KSA and UAE, with approximately more than half a billion interactions
Voice technology has become an essential element in Saudi and UAE homes, according to new research commissioned by Amazon Alexa. The study reveals 85% of surveyed residents have welcomed voice assistants into their living spaces, with 43% making them part of their regular daily routines.
This integration is reflected in Alexa usage data, which shows smart home control leading all Alexa interactions with 175 million commands in 2025 so far. Lighting control alone accounted for over 30 million Alexa requests – a 25% increase from the previous year – as residents increasingly prefer voice commands for managing their living environments.
The Connected Saudi and UAE Home
“What moves me most about these findings is seeing how families across the region are weaving voice technology into the fabric of their everyday lives,” said Dr. Raf Fatani, Regional General Manager, Alexa MENA. “Behind every statistic is a real moment – a parent turning down lights while holding a sleeping child, an elder managing his schedule, or a family creating new traditions through technology that respects their language and culture. These human connections are what truly inspire our work.”
The data reveals how Alexa is becoming central to home operations. Saudi residences have particularly strong engagement with Alexa automated routines, with 9% more routine users than in UAE, though UAE families execute more routines per dwelling.
Creating Cultural Environments Through Voice
Beyond practical control, Alexa is shaping domestic atmospheres through audio experiences, which account for 106 million Alexa interactions including 34 million audio tracks played. The data highlights distinct preferences in how residents use Alexa to create cultural environments within their living spaces.
In Saudi Arabian homes, after children’s content, Khaliji music ranks as the most requested genre through Alexa, followed by Iraqi music and funk. UAE residences have greater diversity in musical tastes, with Hindi music ranking second behind children’s content, followed by funk and pop.
These audio choices reflect the multicultural nature of modern living in both countries, with Alexa adapting to and enhancing local domestic patterns. Additionally, ambient sounds are increasingly popular, with rain sounds requested through Alexa over 500,000 times in 2025, followed by white noise, indicating how voice technology is being used to create comfortable environments.
The Family-Centered Experience
The data reflects how Alexa supports family-centered living, with children’s music and nursery rhymes ranking as the top genre in both countries. Popular children’s songs like “Baby Shark,” “هالصيصان شو حلوين,” and “ماما جابت بيبي” dominate Alexa requests, showing how voice interfaces are becoming part of family entertainment.
A recent survey by Alexa revealed that half of survey respondents (50%) believe that Arabic voice assistants help younger family members maintain or improve their Arabic language skills. Additionally, 48% noted that voice assistants encourage older family members to engage with technology more confidently, creating more inclusive domestic environments.
The Spiritual Dimension
Alexa is also supporting spiritual practices within Saudi and UAE families. Users have requested morning and evening Athkar through Alexa more than 400,000 times in 2025, with Surat Albaqara, Alkahf, and Al Mulk being the most requested Quranic content. These interactions show how voice technology is respectfully integrating with the spiritual dimension of daily life.
The findings clearly illustrate that the integration of Arabic voice technology into Saudi and UAE residences is not merely a convenience, but a profound cultural shift. From automating environments and curating multicultural audio experiences to supporting spiritual practices and bridging generational technology gaps, voice assistants like Alexa are proving to be an indispensable tool for the modern, family-centered home in the region.
Future-ready lineup
Amazon has launched the new Echo Show 8, Echo Show 11, and Echo Studio devices in KSA and UAE, featuring Omnisense technology that can detect presence and temperature changes to automatically trigger routines. This new capability allows customers to create even more sophisticated home automations that respond to their environment without requiring voice commands.
The all-new Echo Dot Max, now available in both countries, enhances these audio experiences with its most powerful sound system to date. With advanced spatial audio and adaptive audio technology that adjusts to the acoustics of any room, the Echo Dot Max delivers richer bass and clearer vocals, making it ideal for enjoying the diverse music preferences across Saudi and UAE homes.
Pricing and availability of newly launched devices:
| Device | Country | Price | Link |
| Echo Dot Max | KSA | SAR 479.99 | amazon.sa/echodotmax |
| UAE | AED 449.99 | amazon.ae/echodotmax | |
| Echo Studio | KSA | SAR 999.99 | amazon.sa/echostudio |
| UAE | AED 949.99 | amazon.ae/echostudio | |
| Echo Show 8 | KSA | SAR 849.99 | amazon.sa/echoshow8 |
| UAE | AED 799.99 | amazon.ae/echoshow8 | |
| Echo Show 11 | KSA | SAR 999.99 | amazon.sa/echoshow11 |
| UAE | AED 949.99 | amazon.ae/echoshow11 | |
| Echo Show 8/11 stand | KSA | SAR 159.99 | Amazon.sa/echoshowstand |
| UAE | AED 149.99 | Amazon.ae/echoshowstand |
