Middle East

Recent inflation, the demand for premium indulgence and strong coffee traditions are shaping the category in a way that offers sufficient products within each price segment. Premium coffee options in multiple blends and flavours are offered by…

Saudi Coffee Co was established by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) in 2022 with the aim of developing the Kingdom’s national coffee industry and increasing its coffee production from 300 to 2,500 tons annually by 2028. In 2023 the…

Although foodservice sales saw a major decline during 2020, hit by closures in this channel due to Coronavirus (COVID-19), retail sales continued to record healthy growth. Not only were foodservice consumption occasions moving into people’s homes,…

In 2023, prices have continued to rise in the packaged food and beverages market, and this has impacted coffee as well. This has largely been due to the high rate of inflation, with rising costs of transportation, energy and raw materials, and…

The briefing introduces the Cities Households Necessities Spending Index. The index ranks 1,075 cities by household expenditure on non-discretionary items, namely food, housing, and clothing and footwear. This analysis focuses on 160 major cities.…

Sustainability has become a prominent theme in the 21st century, especially in light of rising urbanisation, which is putting more pressure on infrastructure and quality of life. The report analyses sustainability across seven key areas: water,…

After cigarettes, pipe tobacco in the United Arab Emirates remains the most popular category in the local industry, which is determined by the historical significance of shisha, the traditional Middle Eastern pipe device. Shisha tobacco comprises the…

In Saudi Arabia in 2023, volume sales in cigars, cigarillos and smoking tobacco declined while current value sales saw an only marginal rise. Consumers continued to shift from cigars and cigarillos towards vapes and heated tobacco products. Such…

Cigars and cigarillos saw volume sales rise in Israel in 2023, while smoking tobacco also saw volumes increase. Smoking tobacco dominates category retail volume sales in Israel, with fine cut tobacco remaining a popular, more affordable alternative…

Despite the huge success of e-vapour products and heated tobacco products, cigarettes in the United Arab Emirates continued to record healthy growth in 2023. The smoking tradition is very strong in Arabic culture, and both locals and expatriates…

Consumption and sales of cigarettes in Saudia Arabia in 2023 remained severely impacted by the growing consumer shift from cigarettes to e-vapour products and heated tobacco. The number of consumers quitting smoking cigarettes has been increasing,…

Cigarettes saw a significant increase in volume sales in Israel in 2023. The outbreak of the Israel-Hamas War in October 2023 led to an increase in smoking, with more than one survey seeing a notable increase in the frequency of smoking amongst…

After a year of strong growth in 2021, cigarette sales recorded a slight unit volume decline in Middle East and Africa in 2022. With disposable incomes under pressure in a lot of countries, illicit trade remains a problem in many of them. E-vaping…

Among other alcoholic drinks categories, the price of cider/perry in the United Arab Emirates tends to be discounted in off-trade channels during December and January due to the festive season in Dubai. These are the months when many expatriates…

Cider/perry saw volume sales fall in Israel in 2023. As the cocktail trend grew in the local market, the RTD trend grew as well. Local consumers who want to have a lighter drink typically opt for RTDs as the market is growing and becoming more…

Demand for chocolate confectionery in the United Arab Emirates continues to rise. In the local market, a rising number of health-conscious consumers are driving increasing demand for healthy snacks, significantly transforming perceptions around diet…

Following a three-year period of stagnation, the retail market for chocolate confectionery in Saudi Arabia is expected to see an improved performance in current value terms in 2024. This is consistent with a more positive economic outlook, thanks to…