Visa cardholders in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) spent close to $4 billion during the month of Ramadan and Eid this year, a new report reveals.

Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic lunar calendar, and is characterised by obligatory daily fasting in Islam. Ramadan ends with a day long celebration known as Eid.

And according to Visa's Ramadan and Eid Spend Report for 2014, MENA cardholders spent $3.98 billion across their credit, debit and prepaid cards during the holy month.

The global payments technology company said this is represents a 16% increase in spend on Visa cards over the same period in 2013.

The Visa report analysed spend data across key MENA markets, which include Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt and Morocco.

In a statement Visa said it analysed domestic and cross-border data spend across 32 merchant sectors including fashion and electronics retail, travel and hospitality, telecoms, hospitals and financial institutions.

The data has revealed that shoppers spent big at the supermarket in the UAE, KSA, Egypt, Bahrain, Lebanon, Jordan, Qatar, Oman and Kuwait, with a 9% increase over last year, the statement reads.

Ihab Ayoub, general manager MENA at Visa explained,“Visa’s Ramadan and Eid Spend Report for 2014 has shown that consumers in our region are increasingly shifting towards an electronic payment culture… .We saw a growth in spend in key every day categories meaning both residents and visitors see the value in using their Visa card at the point of purchase.”

Ayoub adds, “As more people move from paper-based to electronic payments in the region supported by government initiatives to ‘electronify’ the payments services, we are confident that there is an opportunity for Visa to encourage more people to use their Visa cards.”