Middle East

Thin wall plastic containers are the main pack type used in sweet spreads packaging and were also continuing to gain share in the overall category in 2023. Thin wall plastic containers are the dominant pack type in chocolate spreads in the United…

In the United Arab Emirates, sauces, dips and condiments packaging is seeing glass jars taking share from metal food cans. This change is being driven by a mix of factors. Environmentally, glass jars are more recyclable and have a smaller carbon…

Flexible plastic, which is the dominant pack type for frozen processed meat and seafood in the United Arab Emirates, continued to record positive growth in this category in 2023. It has excellent barrier properties, protecting the meat or seafood…

With shelf stable products dominating processed fruit and vegetables in packaging unit volume terms, metal food cans continued to be the dominant pack type in the overall processed fruit and vegetables category in 2023. While shelf stable fruit and…

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

Flexible aluminium/plastic is the dominant pack type in dry soup, which, given it is the biggest category in overall meals and soups, means that it is also therefore the dominant meals and soups packaging format. Flexible aluminium/plastic was also…

In December 2022, Almarai successfully conducted a commercial trial utilising 10% post-consumer recycled PET plastic in its Zabadi cups. This initiative, launched officially in 2023, aims to drive demand for post-consumer recycled material, thereby…

In 2023, flexible plastic not only continued to dominate confectionery packaging unit volumes, but also gained more pack type share. Flexible plastic often includes multiple layers that provide an effective barrier against moisture, air and light.…

With milk formula accounting for almost half of total 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…

Bar soap – one of the biggest categories in the beauty and personal care market in the United Arab Emirates –has flexible plastic and folding cartons as its main packaging formats. There has been a discernible shift towards more sustainable packaging…

HDPE bottles, which are the most popular pack type for hair care in Saudi Arabia, continued to record unit volume growth in 2023. HDPE bottles have a high strength-to-density ratio, making them durable and therefore easy to transport, store and…

HDPE bottles continued to gain share in laundry detergent packaging in 2023, with more consumers opting for automatic washing machines over hand washing. These bottles are ideal for the liquid detergents used in these machines, providing durable and…

As the world opened up again post-pandemic in 2022, home care packaging saw a decline due to a reduced focus on cleaning and disinfecting frequently in consumers’ homes, with people reverting to their pre-pandemic cleaning habits. There had also…

After a couple of years of decline, total sweet spreads packaging in Saudi Arabia returned to growth in 2023. Most categories saw a rise in packaging volumes, with the exception of honey. Nevertheless, within this category, PET bottles saw growth in…

After a couple of years of decline, total sauces, dips and condiments packaging volumes in Saudi Arabia returned to growth in 2023. This was also the pattern of growth seen by mayonnaise. PET bottles continued to be the dominant pack type for…

Total processed meat and seafood packaging volumes in Saudi Arabia maintained solid growth in 2023. These products are seen as convenient, time-saving meal options, especially with the substantial increase in the number of women entering the Saudi…

Total processed fruit and vegetables packaging volumes saw growth in Saudi Arabia in 2023. Frozen processed fruit and vegetables saw a strong increase in this year, and flexible plastic was the only notable pack type used for such products, which can…

As consumers are seeking healthier and more sustainable food options, sales of plant-based dairy products increased in Saudi Arabia in 2023, as a perceived healthier alternative to traditional dairy products, which drove up the associated packaging…

Total meals and soups packaging volumes continued to rise in Saudi Arabia in 2023. Demand for ready meals surged during the pandemic as foodservice closures and fears around food delivery drove home-cooking occasions; ready meals presented a more…

Total dairy packaging volumes in Saudi Arabia continued to fall in 2023. However, drinking milk products, including milk, returned to growth in packaging volumes in this year. Milk is packaged mainly in brick liquid cartons in the country, although…

Total confectionery packaging volumes in Saudi Arabia continued to rise in 2023, although were still unable to return to anywhere near the pre-pandemic level. In Saudi Arabia, growth in packaging volumes for chocolate confectionery improved strongly…

Following a decline in packaging volumes in 2022, total baby food packaging continued to see declining volumes in Saudi Arabia in 2023. Milk formula accounts for the most significant share of packaging volumes in baby food, and continued to decline…

The introduction of the excise tax on sugar-sweetened beverages in Saudi Arabia, which came into force on 1 December 2019, has had a notable influence on beverage companies' packaging strategies, particularly evident in the sizes of packs utilised by…

The increasing popularity of the other metal pack type in the Saudi Arabian hot drinks market can be attributed to several factors. One significant driver is the increasing adoption of fresh ground coffee pods, boosted by the growing presence of…

Sustainability is becoming a key focus for both manufacturers and consumers in soft drinks in the United Arab Emirates. Recycled bottles and reduced waste are core topics within the industry. Following global trends, players have started to launch…

The launch of Davidoff’s new fresh ground coffee pods in 2023 featured thin wall plastic containers with aluminium lids as closures. The choice of aluminium lids was due to their excellent sealing properties, ensuring freshness and preserving the…

In the United Arab Emirates, the packaging landscape has been seeing notable developments in 2022 across various product categories. PET bottles have gained popularity in the dairy category due to their lightweight, durable and transparent nature,…

In 2022, PET bottles remained the preferred choice for cooking and table sauce packaging in Saudi Arabia due to their cost-effectiveness, durability, lightweight properties and affordability in production and transportation. In chocolate…

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…

Since alcohol consumption is prohibited in Saudi Arabia under Sharia law, the alcoholic drinks packaging industry is entirely represented by non-alcoholic beverages, and non-alcoholic beer in particular. These malt-based beverages come in a variety…

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…

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.…