United Arab Emirates

Although foodservice outlets were closed or only offering limited services when COVID-19 hit the United Arab Emirates in 2020, local consumers had more time on their hands due to lockdowns or home seclusion, enabling them to prepare meals themselves.…

Demand for refrigeration appliances in the United Arab Emirates continues to recover in 2023, driven by ongoing efforts in product innovation, continuous development of new products, and the integration of valuable enhancements. Factors such as the…

2023 witnessed an uptick in volume and value sales of retail adult incontinence in the United Arab Emirates, with sales of both light and moderate/heavy formats performing well. This growth was primarily fuelled by increasing awareness of…

The e-commerce landscape in the United Arab Emirates presents a competitive environment, yet it remains receptive to novel entrants equipped with innovative concepts or specialised propositions. Notably, the shift in consumer behaviour towards an…

In 2023, retail sales in the United Arab Emirates continued to grow at a reasonably positive level, although growth rates were marginally slower compared to the previous year. This slowdown was indicative of stability in retail’s performance after a…

In 2023, the prevailing trend was sustained high inflation, ensuring that value growth of retail tissue in the United Arab Emirates remained higher than volume growth, although demand also continued to rise, particularly for paper towels, toilet…

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…

Price per litre, RTD coffee is the most expensive category within soft drinks in the United Arab Emirates, followed by energy drinks. Its high price is driven by the premium nature of the product, a relatively small bottle size and the domination of…

RTD tea in the United Arab Emirates is among three categories within soft drinks demonstrating double-digit growth rates in 2023. Its success is partly being driven by its novelty factor in the local market, in line with the continuing success of RTD…

In line with global trends, most RTDs available in the United Arab Emirates are spirit-based. The presence of wine-based or malt-based RTDs is marginal in the local market. This is because of a cultural background of mixed expatriates, most of whom…

Local consumers are becoming increasingly focused on health and wellness trends, resulting in an increase in demand for sauces with healthy claims. Health-conscious consumers are selecting alternatives to traditional high-calorie sauces, as well as…

Glass jars remained a major pack type in sauces, dips and condiments in 2022 for a number of reasons. Glass is an inert material that does not interact chemically with the product content, ensuring that the flavour and quality of the sauces, dips or…

There was a general trend in the United Arab Emirates of the arrival of COVID-19 and the consequent lockdowns forcing people to stay at home benefitting the consumption of sauces, dressings, and condiments in 2020, followed by an easing of COVID-19…

Vegetable chips continue to gain in popularity in the United Arab Emirates as an alternative to traditional potato chips, as they are made from ingredients such as kale, sweet potatoes, or beets. Vegetable chips also tend to be baked or dehydrated…

Self-service cafeterias in the United Arab Emirates witnessed growth across value sales, transactions and outlet numbers in 2023. The population of the United Arab Emirates increased over the review period supported by a significant rate of natural…

The term “longevity” gained popularity in 2023 and evolved into a rapidly growing space with significant implications for beauty and wellness in the United Arab Emirates. This trend reflects the consumer desire to lead healthier, longer lives and…

Increasing awareness of sleep health is a significant trend set to drive the solid current value growth of sleep aids in the United Arab Emirates in 2023. As people are becoming more conscious of the vital role sleep plays in maintaining physical and…

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…

While large supermarkets and hypermarkets continued to dominate grocery retailers in value terms in 2023, small local grocers in the United Arab Emirates experienced a resurgence towards the end of the review period. Operators of small local grocers…

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…