Middle East

The Middle East and Africa remains one of the smallest food and beverage-producing regions globally, registering turnover of USD442 billion in 2020. Furthermore, the region remains highly dependent on imports. Nevertheless, expanding populations,…

After experiencing robust growth during the COVID-19 pandemic, which spurred increased physical activity and demand for activewear, footwear sales in Israel faced deceleration amidst economic challenges in 2023. The economic environment, marked by…

Trends seen in sportswear are also influencing footwear, as the sports-inspired and athleisure trends continue. Sporting activities are a large part of the Saudi Vision 2030, and we are seeing this influence trends in sportswear and sports-inspired…

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…

Fragrances registered double-digit current value growth in 2023. Prices continued to rise during the year, as inflation remained high. As manufacturers and retailers struggled to maintain profit margins, there were fewer discounts and promotions…

Fragrances is seeing modest growth in the Middle East and Africa, albeit undermined by economic slowdown in core markets. However, demand for fragrances in the region has grown, in accordance with an overall positive trend in personal grooming,…

Beauty and personal care in Saudi Arabia continues to be led by well-established regional and international luxury brands. This includes leading local players in fragrances, such as Abdul Samad Al Quraishi, Arabian Oud, and Al-Majed for Oud. The…

Fragrance in the United Arab Emirates holds significant cultural and traditional importance to local consumers, cementing the nation's reputation as a hub for exquisite scents. Emiratis are renowned for their lavish spending on premium fragrances,…

Demand for fresh food continues to grow across different categories in the United Arab Emirates. The nation is comprised of a diverse population whereby fresh food represents an important component of numerous dishes. With a growing population in the…

Consumption of fresh fruits continues to rise in the United Arab Emirates. The population is growing due to the increasing arrival of expatriates, facilitated by visa programmes. Many people consider moving to the United Arab Emirates due to…

Full-service restaurants did not avoid the significant wave of price rises seen throughout the consumer foodservice industry at the end of the review period. Restaurants again saw significant price rises in 2023, as the price of dairy continued to…

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…

Full-service restaurants in the Middle East experienced a significant decline during the pandemic, due to their relatively high price and the nature of the category, that relies on dine-in experience. The post-pandemic recovery is accelerating every…

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…

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…