Middle East

Noodles is the smallest category within rice, pasta and noodles in retail volume terms, but it is seeing healthy growth in Saudi Arabia in 2023. These products have found appeal among busy consumers looking for a quick snack or meal option.…

Processed meat, seafood and alternatives to meat is witnessing healthy growth in current value and retail volume terms in 2023, continuing the pattern seen in 2022. This positive performance is mainly due to life getting back to normal with consumers…

Like many markets, consumers in the United Arab Emirates are becoming increasingly concerned about their health and wellness. As a result, the demand for processed meat that is lower in fat, salt, and additives or organic options that are free from…

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…

Saudi Arabia mainly imports its potatoes from Belgium, the Netherlands, and Egypt. However, during the second half of 2022 there were difficulties in importing potatoes from these countries as they experienced poor harvests due to unfavourable…

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…

Breakfast cereals is witnessing healthy growth in 2023 and this is mainly due to the normalisation of life in the Kingdom and the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions. The re-opening of schools and consumers returning to the workplace has had a…

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…

Bread remains a key area of staple foods in Saudi Arabia with it being the largest category in both retail volume and current value terms. Bread accompanies many meals and therefore sales are not generally significantly impacted by factors such as…

The United Arab Emirates is home to a highly dynamic retail environment, where a brand’s entry and exit can occur fairly rapidly compared to more mature markets. In 2023, several formerly standalone brands, some of which had previously exited the…

Nike, adidas, and lululemon are among leading global sportswear brands that are embracing localisation strategies by introducing hijab and modest sportswear to cater for residents in the United Arab Emirates. adidas stands out with its comprehensive…

Although Jordan’s tax burden is relatively low, limited economic freedom hinders private sector progress and state finances are stressed. Economic recovery is continuing and inflation is very low, but the foreign investment climate faces challenges…

In the United Arab Emirates, the category of menswear is notably larger in size than womenswear, both in terms of retail volume and value sales: this is contrary to the global trend where sales of womenswear tend to be much greater. This is due to…

The population of the United Arab Emirates is extremely young, with the majority comprising millennials or young professionals in this expat-driven market. As a consequence, jeans remain a popular fashion choice, and are often worn casually or for…

Non-sheer options dominate demand for hosiery in the United Arab Emirates, and continues to record stable growth rates. Demand is being driven by changing fashion preferences, especially among younger consumers, who increasingly choose bare legs or…

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…

In the past, luxury brands often imported their marketing strategies directly from their European headquarters to the United Arab Emirates. However, the pandemic underscored the significance of localising marketing efforts, as the consumer base…

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…

In the United Arab Emirates, items such as gloves, belts, scarves, hats/caps are widely popular because local consumers have a strong penchant for accessorising their outfits. Being a fashion-forward market, there is an abundance of choices for…

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…