United Arab Emirates

As noted in many countries around the world, consumers in the United Arab Emirates experienced weakened purchasing power in 2022 due to the impact of inflation on goods and services. However, in 2023, unlike in many other markets, consumers’…

Personal luxury retail value sales rose by 7% in 2023 to total AED23.3 billion, with growth supported by leading brand owners, such as Richemont (Dubai) FZE. In 2023, retail value sales growth was boosted by consumers investing in luxury goods, such…

Retail value sales of luxury goods in the United Arab Emirates rose by 9% in 2023 in current terms to reach AED47.1 billion. Growth in sales was fuelled by several factors during the post-Coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown period. One significant driver…

In 2023, wound care is expected to see its strongest current value growth rate for many years, with product innovation being the strongest driver of growth. Innovations in wound closure techniques, such as adhesive tapes, sutures, or surgical…

Although multivitamins is set to maintain growth and remain the largest category within vitamins in current value terms in 2023, the trend towards personalisation in healthcare is also leading to an increase in sales of single vitamins. As…

The rise of new players in sports protein powder in the United Arab Emirates indicates a growing fitness and health culture, and provides consumers with a wider range of products from which to choose to align with their preferences. The explosion in…

Eye drops is the leading format for eye-related treatments in the United Arab Emirates, for several reasons. First, eye drops offer ease of application, allowing individuals to self-administer the treatment directly to the affected area. Second, they…

2023 is set to be a strong year for consumer health in the United Arab Emirates. Many categories are expected to see robust current value growth, underpinned by an increase in online distribution channels, as well as an increasingly savvy,…

In 2023, the United Arab Emirates has firmly established itself as a global travel hub, earning high rankings in international tourism competitiveness indexes. The remarkable growth of Emirati hotels has not only attracted millions of visitors, but…

With a very low tax burden and reforms aimed at the business landscape, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) enjoys economic freedom, although the state’s grip on society continues. Oil production cuts will moderate economic growth in the short term, but…

The average unit price of smartphones in the United Arab Emirates continues to increase in 2023. This can be attributed to multiple factors, including ongoing inflation and the premiumisation trend driven by leading players in the local market. For…

In the United Arab Emirates, many local consumers now value the energy-saving capabilities of dishwashers more than their average initial cost of AED2,762 (as of mid-2023). Their primary concern is the dishwasher's electricity and water consumption…

Recent inflation, the demand for premium indulgence and strong coffee traditions are shaping the category in a way that offers sufficient products within each price segment. Premium coffee options in multiple blends and flavours are offered by…

Across carbonates, reduced sugar options are gaining popularity in the United Arab Emirates. This trend is being widely supported by advertising and promotions. Hypermarkets and forecourt retailers are introducing floor and shelf banners advertising…

In terms of retail volume sales in the United Arab Emirates, men's footwear traditionally holds larger share compared to the women's segment, primarily due to demographics. However, women's footwear is experiencing faster growth in both retail volume…

Dietary supplements has witnessed a surge in products targeting beauty and anti-ageing, which reflects consumers’ growing desire for holistic wellness solutions and the “beauty from within” trend. Supplements such as co-enzyme Q10, which is known for…

Emirates Airlines has solidified its position in the United Arab Emirates with a remarkable turnaround, reporting soaring profits after a challenging period, and is set to extend its share in airlines in 2023. The airline’s success can be attributed…

The average unit price of home video in the United Arab Emirates, comprising LCD TVs and OLED TVs, continues on its upward trajectory as global inflation persists. Players are investing in innovation to enhance the value of their products, catering…

Demand for consumer electronics in the United Arab Emirates continues to grow, albeit at a marginally slower pace compared to the previous year. On the other hand, current value sales continue to record more dynamic growth in 2023, primarily due to…

The rising trend of more frequent dining out experiences, following the easing of pandemic restrictions, continued to propel demand for foodservice in 2023, subsequently driving sales of away-from-home tissue in the United Arab Emirates. With a surge…

Heated tobacco products in the United Arab Emirates recorded the most impressive growth rates within the local tobacco industry in 2023, followed by e-vapour products. Both tobacco heating devices and heated tobacco recorded double-digit retail…

Demand for air treatment products in the United Arab Emirates, in particular air conditioners, continues to grow strongly in 2023, driven by several factors. The region's hot weather is a significant catalyst, prompting a higher demand for cooling…

The local workforce has returned, with employees actively seeking convenience as they rebalance their professional and personal lives. Therefore, retail demand for ready meals and prepared salads continues to steadily rise in the United Arab Emirates…

Retail demand for cooking ingredients and meals continues to grow in the United Arab Emirates. The increase in the expatriate population and the boom in tourism since the easing of pandemic restrictions, are positively impacting retail volume growth…

The vast majority of consumers typically consume dairy products, but as the health and wellness trend spreads throughout the country, a niche segment of the population has shown an increasing preference for plant-based foods. Hence, plant-based…

Rising urbanisation and the increased stability of the United Arab Emirates’ economy helped drive higher levels of purchasing power among local consumers in 2022. In addition, the possession rate for washing machines continued to rise in 2022. These…

Although the pandemic is now a distant memory, consumers are still motivated to focus on their health and wellness. The demand for drinking yoghurt products that include a “protein” claim, in addition to advantages such as “probiotics”, and “gut…

In an effort to promote a healthier population and support the wellbeing of the local community, the government of the United Arab Emirates is actively encouraging smokers to quit. This includes the establishment of smoking cessation clinics at…

Personal care appliances in the United Arab Emirates is evolving in line with shifts in consumer spending habits, with a notable uptick in demand for innovative personal care devices such as smart hair stylers, facial cleansing devices, and electric…

Traditionally in the United Arab Emirates, other hot drinks are represented mainly by chocolate-based flavoured powder drinks and malt-based hot drinks. Share of other formats were extremely low with no brands emerging to drive up their share.…

Retail demand for frozen processed vegetables continues to rise in 2023, driven by consumer perceptions that this format offers convenience and is an easy-to-prepare alternative to fresh vegetables. It takes less preparation time, since frozen…

The United Arab Emirates has been following a policy of economic diversification, and has continued to build the country as a tourism, retail, and lifestyle destination, which has contributed to the growth of health and wellness soft drinks. The…

Processed fruit and vegetables packaging was back recording positive growth in its unit volumes in 2022. This followed a year in which demand had slipped into decline in 2021, perhaps due to the spike in the growth rate seen in 2020 due to the…

The vast majority of consumers typically consume dairy products, but as the health and wellness trend spreads across the country, a niche segment of the population has shown an increasing preference for plant-based foods. Hence, plant-based dairy has…

With milk formula accounting for almost half of baby food packaging unit volumes, and metal tins the dominant pack type in milk formula, this packaging format therefore remains the leading one in overall baby food, given metal tins also has a…

Retail current value sales of premium and luxury cars increased by 8% to AED15.5 billion in 2023, due to demand from higher-income consumers, whose expenditure proved resilient in the face of macroeconomic headwinds. Demand for premium and luxury…

Many residents in the United Arab Emirates lead fast-paced lives, in which ready-to-drink shakes and meal replacement bars provide a quick and convenient way for people to manage their weight due to their pre-packaged format; this is set to drive…

The majority of the local population in the United Arab Emirates abstains from the consumption of alcohol as per the tenets of Islam. As a result, apart from local consumption of non-alcoholic offerings, mostly non-alcoholic beer, the nation’s…

One of Western Europe's leading home laundry appliance brands, Beko, has introduced an eco-friendly line to promote sustainable living to consumers. Aligned with the brand’s sustainability mission, the range claims to offer reliability, high…

Although there are many initiatives to reduce sugar consumption, demand for sugar and sweeteners continues to grow in the United Arab Emirates. Sweets and desserts are culturally important in the United Arab Emirates, as they are often associated…

Awareness of healthy eating is rising in the country, especially the need to reduce sugar intake. For instance, in December 2019, the United Arab Emirates adopted an excise tax of 50% on beverages with high sugar or sweetener content to improve the…

The increasing demand for multifunctional appliances in the United Arab Emirates is being driven by several key factors. Notably, the rising interest in health-conscious cooking, combined with the need to optimise limited kitchen space, is propelling…

Despite economic variables, such as inflation and fluctuations in the housing market, demand for food preparation appliances remains resilient. While these factors can influence consumer spending, innovative product offerings and changing consumer…

Apparel and footwear in the United Arab Emirates continues to record a strong performance in current value growth terms, building on the strong momentum it gained in 2022 when sales surged due to pent-up demand resulting from the pandemic. Amid…

Since the pandemic, a rise has been seen in the number of consumers seeking active and healthy lifestyles, amidst the hybrid work model. Consumers have become more aware of and conscious of their food intake, and many are willing to spend on organic…

Consumer preferences in the United Arab Emirates are shifting, presenting challenges for desktops as the latter continues to post declines. These devices are likely to experience a further drop in demand in the coming years, attributed to factors…

While retail volume growth of large cooking appliances is slowing in 2023, higher current value growth is primarily being influenced by surging commodity prices driven by high inflation rates. As a result, local consumers are either deferring their…

The United Arab Emirates continues its journey towards a cashless society, with the continued adoption of digital payment solutions, contactless cards, and the emergence of supplementary payment platforms or solutions in pre-paid cards that support…

The United Arab Emirates has banned the export and re-export of rice for four months starting from the end of July. However, the suspension could be automatically renewed. The suspension has been imposed on non-basmati white rice originating from…

The health and wellness industry continues to grow in importance post-pandemic as consumers become more aware of the negative health impact of processed foods, seeking healthier foods and beverages from a range of claims such as natural, organic,…