United Arab Emirates

The changes in consumer behaviour brought about by the inflationary pressures that started in early 2022 resulted in a decline in retail volume sales of cheese in 2022, while current value sales remained positive. In 2023, although a return to retail…

Aligned with historical patterns, there is expected to be an ongoing decrease in the number of charge cards in circulation in the United Arab Emirates in 2023, even though transaction value is set to show growth across both the commercial and…

Demand for cat food is steadily growing in the United Arab Emirates. The increase in cat ownership, which is already considerably higher than that of dogs, is driving volume growth in the category. Cat ownership is preferred in the United Arab…

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 2023, cafés/bars in the United Arab Emirates gained further growth momentum following a full recovery to pre-pandemic value sales levels the previous year, benefiting both chained and independent operators. Specialist tea and coffee shops was one…

Due to inflationary pressures arising from global supply chain issues, recent price increases in retail have impacted dairy categories, and butter and spreads is no exception. Moreover, due to rising health awareness, some consumers are also veering…

The United Arab Emirates performs well in terms of economic freedom in the Middle East and Africa as well as by global comparison, owing to strong economic growth, a rapid rate of business sector liberalisation, government support for SMEs, developed…

Retail demand for breakfast cereals continues to grow in the United Arab Emirates. Since local consumers have resumed busy schedules, many of them find breakfast cereals a quick and convenient option. RTE cereals are easy to prepare, thereby saving…

With the emerging inflation and competitive landscape being reshaped, private label is starting to regain shelf space in many categories, including bottled water. Since water is considered a basic and affordable product in consumers’ minds, private…

The landscape of hotel bookings is undergoing a transformative shift, with direct bookings increasingly challenging the role of intermediaries and encouraging customers to choose a more personalised approach, particularly business travellers. This…

A noticeable shift in consumer demand is impacting bleach, with a transition from pandemic-driven preventive use to cleaning and whitening purposes. This shift has resulted in a slowdown in the category's retail volume growth compared to the surge in…

Sustainability issues are pushing forward a new chapter in how people get around in cities. From using shared mobility, to buying electric vehicles, urban mobility is a fast-changing industry. The briefing examines urban mobility trends, focusing on…

As a category that is mainly distributed by the off-trade channel, beer in the United Arab Emirates benefited the most from the recent removal of 30% retail sales tax in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Since Dubai sells greater volumes of beer than any other…

Hair care, which is one of the biggest beauty and personal care categories in terms of packaging unit volume sales in the United Arab Emirates, continued to see relatively dynamic growth in 2022. This benefited the usage of HDPE bottles, the main…

Demand for beauty and personal care in the United Arab Emirates remained strong in 2023. Despite the prevalence of global brands, some consumers, particularly younger generations, increasingly sought local brands such as Huda Beauty. Increased…

In 2023, one significant growth driver of bath and shower in the United Arab Emirates was the increasing interest among consumers in giving these products as gifts. Various products in the category, with their diverse scents, luxurious textures, and…

Demand for baked goods continues to grow in the United Arab Emirates. The local market is a major tourist destination, and the opening of society since the ending of pandemic-related restrictions means that tourism is booming. Events being held in…

The United Arab Emirates has been at the forefront of the travel industry’s recovery, and in 2023, there has been a significant development: the complete resurgence of international travel. This resurgence has led to increasing demand for luggage.…

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…

Inflationary pressures have been impacting baby food, a category that was already suffering from limited growth even prior to the pandemic. Although most families have now returned to the country, the socioeconomic revival in 2022 was met with rising…