When COVID-19 first swept the world, many industries were forced to slow down. But one industry didn’t just survive.
It grew.
The web development and web design industry became one of the fastest-expanding sectors in the UAE, KSA, and USA.

With physical stores closing and people staying home, the internet became the main place where:

  • We shop
    • We learn
    • We communicate
    • We run businesses

This sudden shift didn’t just increase demand for websites.
It changed how websites are built, what users expect, and how brands show up online.

1. Digital Presence Became a Necessity, Not a Choice

Before COVID, many businesses viewed websites as “nice to have.”
But during lockdowns, everyone realized:

No website = No business.

Restaurants needed online ordering.
Clinics needed online booking.
Gyms needed online classes.
Shops needed e-commerce fast.

This created a massive surge in demand for:

  • Web Design
    • Online Store Setup
    • Payment Integration
    • Mobile-First Design

Businesses in UAE and KSA especially rushed to modernize, because customers in the region are highly digital and quick to switch to better online experiences.

2. Rise of AI-Powered Website Design

COVID accelerated automation.

Companies wanted websites fast, without long development cycles.

So AI website builders and website design AI tools became mainstream:

  • Generate layout ideas
    • Create website copy
    • Suggest colors and themes
    • Create templates that adapt to business type

AI didn’t remove designers.
It made designers faster.

The skill shifted from:
“coding everything from scratch”
to
“guiding AI + refining design creatively”.

3. Growth of Website Design Templates and Free Tools

Because budgets tightened during the pandemic, many brands started with:

  • Free website design templates
    • Low-cost themes
    • Drag-and-drop builders

Then customized them later.

This launched a trend we still see today:
Start quickly. Improve continuously.

Speed became more important than perfection.

4. Remote Web Development Became Normal

The web development office… moved online.

Teams in Dubai started working with developers in Egypt.
Companies in Riyadh hired UX designers in Turkey.
Startups in the USA built remote-only digital agencies.

This made web development:

  • More global
    • More competitive
    • More collaborative

And it opened doors for thousands of freelancers who now work fully online.

5. User Expectations Got Higher

Since everyone was online more hours per day, they became more sensitive to bad design.

Users now expect websites to be:

  • Clean and modern
    • Fast and responsive
    • Easy to navigate
    • Mobile-friendly
    • Personalized

This is where AI personalization grew rapidly.
Websites began adapting to:

  • Device type
    • Location (UAE / KSA / USA)
    • Language (Arabic / English)
    • Behavior patterns

Websites are no longer static.
They respond to the user.

6. Businesses Realized Branding Matters

During COVID, competition moved online.
Everyone was fighting for attention in the same digital space.

This made brand identity and unique website design ideas more valuable than ever:

  • Custom visuals
    • Emotional storytelling
    • Clear value communication

People didn’t just want a website.
They wanted a website that feels like the brand.

7. E-Commerce Became the New Standard

If your business sells anything physical, people expect to buy it online.

COVID didn’t just boost online shopping.
It changed consumer habits permanently.

Even after restrictions ended…
People stayed online.

This pushed a wave of:

  • Faster checkout systems
    • Better product page design
    • Local delivery integrations
    • Digital payment adoption in UAE & KSA

The result:
E-commerce is now the default business model, not the alternative