Middle East

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…

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…

Given the high dependence on imports, along with the impact of the pandemic and disruption to supply chains, most grocery retailers in the United Arab Emirates, especially hypermarkets, are looking to support local produce, including fruits and…

Rising disposable incomes in the United Arab Emirates are empowering consumers to opt for higher-quality, longer-lasting home products. Concerns surrounding inflation and economic uncertainty are encouraging consumers to choose more durable goods…

Beauty specialists in the United Arab Emirates, exemplified by the likes of Sephora, continued to place a strong emphasis on fostering a sense of community and rewards in 2023. Loyalty initiatives, such as the Sephora Beauty Pass, help unite a…

Variety stores in the United Arab Emirates continued to experience significant growth in 2023, outperforming department stores, the other main channel in general merchandise stores. This was not only due to the affordable prices offered by these…

Viva discounters have become popular in the United Arab Emirates due to their affordability, quality products, exclusive offerings, and convenient locations, catering for a wide range of consumers looking for budget-friendly shopping options. Viva's…

Market saturation in the United Arab Emirates, featuring prominent brands across diverse retail channels, poses a hurdle in persuading consumers to choose direct selling. To navigate this competitive landscape, direct selling players must distinguish…

Despite the considerable growth of hypermarkets and supermarkets, and the increasing use of online ordering for groceries, the active and social lifestyles of consumers in the United Arab Emirates continue to support sustainable demand for…

Consumers in the United Arab Emirates are increasingly seeking appliances and electronics with smart features and connectivity, driving growth of products such as smart TVs, AI-powered washing machines, and connected refrigerators. Local consumers…

In 2023, value sales of apparel and footwear specialists in the United Arab Emirates continued to recover from the significant impact of the pandemic, when the channel recorded a double-digit decline in 2020. A return to in-store shopping (despite…

Street stalls/kiosks in the United Arab Emirates, severely impacted by the pandemic and related restrictions in 2020, continued to recover across all indicators in 2023. As the United Arab Emirates eased all COVID-19 restrictions in September 2022,…

The COVID-19 crisis had a very strong negative impact on the performance of street stalls/kiosks in Saudi Arabia. Both chained and independent street stalls/kiosks recorded big declines in foodservice value sales and the number of transactions as…

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 self-service cafeterias category is expected to achieve a full recovery to a pre-pandemic level of value sales in 2023 and is expected to maintain healthy growth over the forecast period due to the growing number of expats entering the kingdom,…

Value sales, outlet numbers and number of transactions via limited-service restaurants in the United Arab Emirates all fell significantly in 2020, seeing double-digit declines due to the impact of COVID-19. However, the channel recorded a strong…

Vision 2030 is making Saudi Arabia one of the most attractive markets for investors worldwide. The goals of Vision 2030 are to increase the appeal of Saudi Arabia, not least in terms of entertainments like consumer foodservice. Prior to the COVID-19…

In 2023, value sales of full-service restaurants in the United Arab Emirates fully recovered to pre-pandemic levels, despite a lag in terms of transaction and outlet numbers. However, an increase in unit prices drove higher spend per transaction. In…

In 2019, there was no 15% VAT (value-added tax) implementation, expats’ families were not liable for dependence fees, and inflation and the cost of utilities like electricity, as well as tuition fees, were significantly lower. Therefore, consumers…

In 2023, consumer foodservice in the United Arab Emirates experienced robust growth across all three indicators (outlets, transactions, and value sales), propelled by an array of factors contributing to a favourable business environment. The first…

The Saudi Arabian consumer foodservice market is expected to witness a full recovery to pre-pandemic levels in value terms in 2023. The market has seen growing consumption and the opening of new outlets, involving both new brands entering the market…

Value sales of consumer foodservice through travel in the United Arab Emirates fully recovered to pre-pandemic levels in 2023. This location benefited from the reopening of borders and the resumption of travel and tourism the previous year, with some…

Stand-alone maintained its dominant position in the Saudi Arabian consumer foodservice market in 2023. The strength of stand-alone locations is largely to do with the convenience and easy access they provide to consumers. There is a growing trend…

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…

Cafés/bars was one of the categories in the consumer foodservice industry to be hit hardest by the COVID-19 crisis. The pandemic led to the closure of many outlets, especially cafés located in shopping centres, as those were extremely severely…

Demand for home care generally remains under pressure due to the falling population of Lebanon, the result of the high rate of emigration, and the reluctance of cash-strapped consumers to spend money on products that are seen as non-essential. Within…

The average unit price of toilet care in Israel continued to increase in 2023. Players blamed the price increases on the rising cost of raw materials, gas and electricity. In the context of the broader increase in the cost of living, this has led to…

Like many home care categories in Israel, surface care witnessed another year of price increases by leading players such as Kimberly-Clark Israel Ltd, due to supply issues and the rising cost of materials and production, in addition to import taxes.…

Demand for polishes was already declining prior to the pandemic in Israel, driven by changing lifestyles and a priority in terms of purchasing products considered more essential. In 2023, local consumers continued to lead busy lifestyles, especially…

Laundry care witnessed a second consecutive year of strong price rises in 2023, which notably dampened the purchase rate of these products by local consumers. On 1 November 2022, multinational player Unilever raised the prices of its products,…

Demand for home insecticides in Israel continued to decline in 2023, in line with its review period performance as a whole. This was mainly driven by the dominant format of spray/aerosol home insecticides, despite its affordability, as these products…

Qatar saw continued retail volume growth in home care sales in 2023. Growth was fuelled by an increase in the number of households and an enhanced focus on the need for hygiene in the home, thanks to the continuation of a trend that developed as a…

Despite inflation, fuel shortages, and the consequent economic backlash from the pandemic, demand for home care products performed relatively well in Oman. Home care products are widely available and affordable for the majority of consumers. In 2023,…

Kuwait is an affluent country largely populated by people with cultural and religious imperatives to adhere to strict hygiene practices, thus presenting significant opportunities for home care brands. In line with this, home care saw steady gains in…

In 2023, home care in Jordan has experienced growth in both current value and volume sales, primarily attributed to the surge in on-trade sales rather than retail transactions. Notably, retail home care product prices have witnessed a slight decline,…

Home care in Israel experienced a weak performance in terms of retail volume sales in 2023, while current value sales continued to record dynamic growth rates. These trends were driven by a second consecutive year of significant price rises, with the…

Demand rose across all home care categories in 2023 as population growth, urbanisation and long-term economic development all contributed to a broadly positive performance, other favourable factors included the accelerating pace of life, the shift…

On 1 November 2021, a considerable tax was placed on disposable plasticware: NIS11 per kg of single-use plastic plates and utensils. This tax nearly doubled the price of single-use plasticware overnight, as the Israeli government sought to reduce the…

The pandemic resulted in a surge in demand for bleach, as local consumers rushed to purchase home care products associated with the elimination of dirt, viruses and bacteria as part of heightened hygiene concerns.

While overall retail volume sales of air care continued to decline in 2023, this trend was mostly driven by the larger spray/aerosol format, as an increasing number of consumers are moving away from these products due to concerns over the impact of…

Toilet liquids/foam is the leading format of toilet care in the United Arab Emirates, primarily due to its user-friendly nature and versatility. With strong competition in this category, players are prioritising promotional offers and price…

Among the many formats of toilet care products, toilet liquids/foam remained the most in demand in Saudia Arabia at the end of the review period, due to its perceived convenience in easy-glide application. Local consumers appreciate toilet care…

Amidst changing consumer preferences for home care in the United Arab Emirates, including surface care, there is a clear shift driven by the quest for better value for money. As households contend with rising living expenses, a noticeable trend is…

Despite a decline in value sales due to falling unit price driven by price promotions, demand for surface care remains elevated in relation to pre-pandemic levels, and continued to rise in 2023. Products in surface care claiming to kill 99.99%…

In 2023, furniture polish in the United Arab Emirates remained the strongest performer in overall polishes, both in terms of retail and volume growth. Its performance was significantly influenced by the surging demand for premium and luxurious…

Demand for polish continued to rise in 2023, following the retail volume declines of 2020 due to pandemic-induced home seclusion. The latter resulted in waning interest in polishing one’s footwear, for instance, with the latter experiencing the…

Laundry care in the United Arab Emirates continued to experience substantial growth in 2023, primarily attributed to rising consumer awareness of the wide variety of products available. Key category players, such as Binzagr Lever Ltd (Unilever…

Despite a further drop in value sales in 2023, in line with a weakening average unit price, laundry care remained the largest category in home care in Saudi Arabia. Within laundry care, laundry detergents remained the dominant category with powder…

In home insecticides, specific trends in the United Arab Emirates significantly impact demand. Electric insecticides, after a period of decline, show potential for recovery. This resurgence is being driven by the increasing demand for efficient and…

Rising urbanisation and busier lifestyles, along with extremely hot and humid weather for long periods of 2023, supported the significant growth of crawling bugs, ants and cockroaches in Saudi Arabia. This helped drive up demand for home…