OpenAI's ChatGPT has been ranked No 1 on Apple's list of the most downloaded free iPhone apps of 2025 in the UAE, highlighting the rapidly growing adoption of generative artificial intelligence on mobile devices.
ChatGPT wrested the top spot from Chinese shopping platform Temu, which slid to seventh in this year's ranking, California-based Apple said in its year-end App Store assessment.
Google's Gemini was the only other AI app in the top 10, at sixth, with the main Google app clocking in at ninth.
The list remained dominated by social media platforms, including WhatsApp, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat.
Among paid apps, Shadowrocket, a proxy client service similar to a virtual private network, was No 1.
On Saturday, current top apps data on iOS - which among other factors considers app downloads, earnings, engagement, reviews and search term relevance - showed that ChatGPT was the fourth top app in the UAE, trailing Dubai Police, Google Gemini and delivery platform Keeta.
Several Arabic apps made it to the most downloaded iPhone apps of the year lists. Salatuk, an Islamic prayer timing service, was the sixth most-downloaded paid app, while trivia game Tarbaa was also No 6 among paid games.
On the iPad, ChatGPT was also the most downloaded free app in 2025, while Tarbaa was the 10th in paid games.
Apps have played a key role in Apple's strategy. They are part of its services unit that has been a steady revenue stream and complements its hardware sales, especially its flagship iPhone.
A big part of Apple's app ecosystem is its developer base, with industry estimates pegging its registered developers at about 30 million globally. The App Store churned an estimated $1.3 trillion in developer billings and sales in 2024, according to the latest Apple data.
The company also sees the Middle East as a high-potential market for developers, believing it will continue to hone more talent and contribute to the growth of start-ups and entrepreneurship, Apple vice president for environment, policy and social initiatives Lisa Jackson told The National.
And with the rise of generative AI, smartphone manufacturers have scrambled to incorporate the latest technologies to entice a wider consumer base. Apple teamed up with ChatGPT maker OpenAI last year and eventually launched Apple Intelligence, throwing its hat into the generative AI arena.
Earlier this month, Apple announced the 17 winners of its 2025 App Store Awards, with Tiimo, a task and planning assistant, named the iPhone's top app for the year.
