Middle East

Natural increase will drive brisk population expansion in Iraq in 2021-2040. Falling fertility and birth rates will drive an acceleration in ageing, however the median age will remain youthful in a global context. Faster growth in the working age…

Incomes in the UAE remain among the highest in the region, supported by robust economic development, a favourable business environment, digitalisation, and government initiatives aimed at attracting investments and skilled labour. The middle-aged…

Incomes in the UAE remain among the highest in the region, supported by robust economic development, a favourable business environment, digitalisation, and government initiatives aimed at attracting investments and skilled labour. The middle-aged…

Consumer health is registering healthy growth rates in Oman in 2023. Growth is being driven by the increasing presence of OTC brands, increasing consumer awareness, an expanding population and an increase in self-medication. Easing inflationary…

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 2022. This is because these containers are cost-effective to manufacture, making them an attractive…

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…

Metal food cans continue to be the leading pack type in shelf stable meat and seafood packaging. Metal food cans are excellent at preserving the freshness and quality of processed meat and seafood. They provide an effective barrier against light,…

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…

The global economy is facing weaker growth and increasing fragmentation, as a result of rising geopolitical tensions, especially due to the war in Ukraine and the US-China strategic rivalry. Protectionism, industrial policy and a focus on resilience…

Flexible aluminium/plastic was the dominant pack type in dry soup, which, given it is the biggest category in overall meals and soups, was therefore the dominant meals and soups packaging format. Flexible aluminium/plastic was also growing in 2022,…

The briefing examines how the furniture industry is performing globally and in the largest countries in terms of furniture output. The report also provides data for production, market size, imports, exports, industry costs, industry profitability and…

In 2022, PET bottles were gaining share in dairy products in the United Arab Emirates for a number of reasons. PET bottles are lightweight, which makes them cost-effective to transport. In the United Arab Emirates, where dairy products might need to…

After two years of declining sales, confectionery packaging recorded positive growth in its packaging unit volumes again in 2022. However, the growth was modest as rising awareness of the potential negative effects of consuming confectionery, such as…

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…

In 2022, construction grappled with rising interest rates and living costs, affecting residential, industrial and commercial sectors. Government commitments to infrastructure drove demand. Despite cost surges, solid demand allowed passing expenses to…

The global agriculture industry recorded moderate positive growth in 2022, mainly driven by high commodity prices and global food inflation. Climate change, natural disasters, rising labour shortages, geopolitical tensions, rising protectionism and…

Abu Dhabi and Al Ain are the UAE’s most economically vibrant cities. Meanwhile, Fujairah holds the highest potential for future economic growth, boosting incomes and expenditure growth for the city’s population. Going forward, cities in the United…

Saudi Arabia is projected to experience a moderate increase in the number of households between 2022 and 2027. Although couples with children will continue to be the leading household type, the most rapid growth is expected among single person…

The population in the United Arab Emirates is forecast to continue growing over the period to 2040, supported by natural increase. The consumer landscape will remain young and diverse, primarily composed of immigrant populations. By 2040, Generation…

The number of households is set to increase moderately in the United Arab Emirates over 2022-2027, with couples with children remaining the dominant household type. In 2022, inflation at 5% elevated living costs, impacting household spending. The…

Dammam and Jeddah stand as Saudi Arabia’s most economically vibrant cities, boasting the highest per capita GDP. Dammam has the highest per capita disposable incomes, while Jeddah takes the lead in productivity levels. Additionally, Jubail emerges as…

Low taxation adds to Qatar’s economic freedom, but democracy is lacking and power is hereditary. Hydrocarbons are the mainstay of the economy, making the export base very undiversified, but inflation is falling and infrastructure is expected to be…

Through to 2040, the Saudi population is set to continue rising due to high fertility rates and longer life expectancy, with the average consumer being 37 years old. Generation Alpha will dominate, comprising over a quarter of the population. Income…

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…

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…

Retail current value sales of fine wines/champagne and spirits grew by 2% in 2023 to AED807 million, as a result of a consumer desire for indulgence after the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Socialising at home and in the on-trade channel remains a…

Retail current value sales of experiential luxury grew in 2021 and 2022, when restrictions related to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic were still impacting travel. There is also a desire amongst consumers to spend on experiences rather than…

Consumer health registered strong sales growth in Qatar in 2023 thanks to strong purchasing power and rising interest in leading healthy lifestyles. The country’s high obesity rate has combined with the sharpened focus on health and wellbeing that…

The harsh climatic conditions in Kuwait with extreme heat, rising pollution and large amounts of dust continue to play a key role in driving demand across key OTC categories, in particular analgesics and cough, cold and allergy (hay fever) remedies.…

In 2023, Qatar's dairy industry has witnessed significant developments. Local production has soared, surpassing consumption targets, with a growing surplus of milk and other dairy products. A surge in consumer awareness of healthy alternatives,…

Increasingly hectic lifestyles and growth in the number of working mothers is boosting demand for packaged dairy and baby food which is widely available via the country’s well-developed grocery retail channels. The government’s investment in…

Dairy has remained resilient despite Lebanon’s economic crisis, a reflection of its status as the backbone of Lebanon’s agriculture sector. In some regions, dairy production accounts for 60% of all economic activity and this has spurred international…

In 2023, dairy consumption remains high despite the many negative factors that are currently impacting the industry, such as inflation and Kuwaitisation, which has resulted in decreased population. Nonetheless, due to the industry’s essential nature,…

Dairy products continues to perform well in 2023 due to the pandemic coming to an end. Likewise, the return of tourists, more women in the workforce, and the expansion of chained supermarkets and hypermarkets will continue to drive growth. However,…

2023 saw dairy plagued by supply chain issues and low consumer confidence. The government responded with attempts to improve the stability of the Iraqi dinar and policies to promote local production as foreign brands tend to offer basic products made…

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…

The yoghurt and sour milk products category has shown healthy growth even within the tough economic situation and the slower growth of consumption as a result of the high rate of inflation. The category’s strong performance has mainly been due to its…

As prices of supervised milk rise, manufacturers of dairy products increase prices for all of their products. Following the September 2022 rise in supervised milk prices, the price of milk was set to rise by 16% in May 2023. However, days before the…

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…

Dairy products have established an important role in the diets of many Saudi Arabian consumers. However, in line with many markets around the world, Saudi Arabia is seeing a growing interest in plant-based alternatives that is being supported…

The demand for plant-based and dairy-free products continues to grow in Israel in 2023. This demand started with consumers who were allergic to lactose or had other health issues whereby they could not eat dairy. However, there has also been a…

Retail volume and current value growth of condensed and evaporated milk were positive in 2022, and this is set to continue in 2023, although volume growth has been moderate, and value growth has been higher due to rising inflation. Due to the full…

The re-opening of schools has had a major impact on the recovery of many packaged food categories, with other dairy products being amongst them. The return to schools was a major factor in the recovery of chilled dairy desserts, in particular, as…

In September 2022, supervised milk prices, including sweet and sour cream, increased strongly. Moreover, in May 2023, the price of milk was set to rise by 16%, but days before implementation the Minister of Finance and Minister of Agriculture agreed…

In 2022, the price of fresh milk increased significantly, and this has continued into 2023. This growth is primarily being driven by pressures of inflation at various levels, which is being seen globally as an impact of the pandemic and other…

Fresh milk is seeing a revival in volume sales in 2023 following a decline in the previous year due to the high rate of inflation and the increasing cost of living, which put pressure on consumers. In 2023, however, sales are witnessing healthy…

In September 2022, supervised milk prices saw a strong increase in Israel. Moreover, in May 2023, the price of milk was set to rise by 16%, but, days before the intended implementation of the increase, the Minister of Finance and Minister of…

In 2022, supply chain problems were seen, as global disruptions drove up the costs of raw materials, logistics and fuel. Overall, the United Arab Emirates and the region overall were affected in terms of rising costs and inflation. Cost-push…