Food and beverages market in the United Arab Emirates - statistics & facts

By 2025, the real total consumer spending on food worldwide was expected to reach around 8.85 trillion U.S. dollars. Shifting consumer lifestyles and preferences, rising demand for organic food products, and evolving consumption patterns are the key trends in the global market. In the Middle East and North Africa region, the United Arab Emirates ranked sixth in total consumer spending on food and non-alcoholic beverages. The United Arab Emirates continues to lead the food and beverage (F&B) market in the Middle East region, supported by an increasing number of tourists. The country aims at attracting international and home-grown F&B brands.

The UAE F&B sector outlook

Like other countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council region, the UAE has a young and growing population and high GDP. These factors support the demand for dairy products, juices, and other food and beverages. By 2025, consumer spending on food and non-alcoholic beverages was forecasted to exceed 3,900 dollars per capita. The F&B sector is reported to be booming in the country because of high disposable incomes, a diverse palate, and new cultural outlets. As economic conditions are becoming more favorable, the government’s focus on diversification and food sufficiency is expected to be the driving force for the growth of the F&B sector over the coming years. In 2021, the UAE ranked fourth in the MENA region in food security performance.

Foodservice sector

The increasing number of restaurants, fast-food chains, and food delivery provide better customer experience and options to consumers, leading to strong growth in the food and beverage industry. By 2025, the revenue from operations of food outlets in the United Arab Emirates was forecasted to reach around 8.9 billion U.S. dollars, up from 8.3 billion U.S. dollars. The UAE's expat population is diverse and consists of various ethnic and linguistic groups from Asia, Europe, and America. The increasing number of Asian migrants has contributed to the transformation of the food landscape of the country, especially in the major cities. This has created a growing demand for South Asian cuisine in the UAE foodservice market.
This text provides general information. Statista assumes no liability for the information given being complete or correct. Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date data than referenced in the text.
Published by Statista Research Department, Aug 31, 2023

Key insights

Food retail sales in the UAE
33.2bn USD
Value of dairy products imports to the UAE
1.4bn USD
Value of food products imports from the EU
2.2bn USD
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