Middle East

Although demand for sun care in the United Arab Emirates continued to improve in 2023, the category’s overall penetration of the local market remained fairly low. This is due to the rise of the “skinification” trend, stemming from consumers' desire…

There is limited demand for sun care in Saudi Arabia, with sun protection accounting for the bulk of retail volume sales. While the local climate is very hot and the sun is strong – the Tropic of Cancer passes through the middle of the Kingdom –…

Sun care recorded current value growth in 2023. While having tanned skin is considered desirable amongst local consumers, the increasing awareness of the negative effects of exposure to the sun on skin has led to growing demand for self-tanning…

Indulgence serves as the primary growth driver for sugar confectionery in the United Arab Emirates, reflecting evolving consumer preferences and lifestyles. Local consumers are inclined to treat themselves with confectionery that offers moments of…

Sugar confectionery in Saudi Arabia continues to register healthy growth in retail volume and current value terms. In addition to economic factors, including an easing inflation rate and an increase in the rate of employment, sales are being driven…

Sugar confectionery is expected to see current value growth in 2024. In 2023, the price of sugar globally increased significantly. This inevitably had a direct impact on the sugar confectionery category, as one of the main ingredients in products in…

Although there are many initiatives to reduce sugar consumption, demand for sugar and sweeteners continues to grow in the United Arab Emirates. Sweets and desserts are culturally important in the United Arab Emirates, as they are often associated…

The briefing explores structural drivers of inflation and their impact on the global economy and business environment. Factors such as demographics changes, globalisation reset, decarbonisation, AI revolution and higher debt levels would add to the…

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…

The number of street stalls/kiosks outlets in Israel has significantly increased since 2021. , re:bar and B Fresh have enjoyed significant growth in recent years, due to the health and wellness trend, which received a notable boost from the…

Store cards remained non-existent in Israel in 2021. No retailers have expressed a strong interest in offering these types of financial cards. Moreover, there is currently no indication that store cards will emerge in the country at any point during…

The United Arab Emirates has a very diverse population, whereby potatoes are an important ingredient used in numerous dishes. Potatoes are the most consumed form of starchy roots in both retail and foodservice. Supported by a growing population in…

As noted in many countries around the world, consumers in the United Arab Emirates experienced weakened purchasing power in 2022 due to the impact of inflation on goods and services. However, in 2023, unlike in many other markets, consumers’…