The Gulf food market is expanding, with the GCC food sector valued at USD 100 billion in 2023 and projected to grow at a 6.5% CAGR through 2028. Spending patterns vary sharply across countries, from UAE consumers paying AED 50 billion for food in 2023 to Kuwait’s poultry intake reaching 120 kg per person in 2022. Follow the consumption indicators and production capacity data to see where demand accelerates and where it lags.
Key Takeaways
- GCC food market valued at USD 100 billion in 2023 with 6.5% CAGR projected to 2028
- GCC FDI in food sector USD 10 billion cumulative 2018-2023
- Saudi Arabia's food processing sector grew by 7.2% in 2022, reaching a value of SAR 120 billion with dairy products accounting for 28% of output
- GCC food waste 30% of production, 10 million tons annually in 2023
- GCC imports food worth USD 50 billion in 2023, 40% from EU
Gulf Food Industry statistics show steady growth in production and strong demand across key food categories.
Related reading
01 · Category
Consumption25 stats
01
GCC food market valued at USD 100 billion in 2023 with 6.5% CAGR projected to 2028
02
UAE consumers spent AED 50 billion on food in 2023, 25% on processed goods
03
Saudi Arabia per capita food spending SAR 12,000 in 2022, meat 30%
04
Qatar's household food expenditure 35% of budget in 2023 at QAR 15,000 avg
05
Oman's food consumption grew 5% to OMR 4 billion in 2023
06
Kuwaitis consumed 120 kg poultry per capita in 2022
07
Bahrain food retail sales hit BHD 1.2 billion in 2023, supermarkets 60%
08
UAE dairy consumption 180 liters per capita in 2023, milk 70%
09
Saudi soft drinks sales 5 billion liters in 2022
10
Qatar date consumption 20 kg per capita annually in 2023
11
Oman fish intake 35 kg per capita in 2022, highest in GCC
12
Kuwait bakery products consumption 80 kg per capita in 2023
13
Bahrain confectionery sales grew 8% to BHD 150 million in 2023
14
Saudi vegetable consumption 150 kg per capita in 2022, tomatoes 25%
15
UAE juice market consumption 50 liters per capita in 2023
16
Qatar meat consumption 70 kg per capita in 2022, lamb 40%
17
Oman bottled water sales 120 liters per capita in 2023
18
Kuwait edible oil use 25 liters per capita annually in 2022
19
Bahrain fruit consumption 90 kg per capita in 2023
20
Saudi snack food consumption 15 kg per capita in 2023
21
UAE ice cream sales 8 kg per capita in 2022
22
Qatar pasta consumption 12 kg per capita annually in 2023
23
Oman rice consumption 45 kg per capita in 2022, basmati 60%
24
Kuwait sugar intake 40 kg per capita in 2023
25
Bahrain soft drinks 60 liters per capita in 2022
Interpretation
Consumption Interpretation
Across the GCC, food consumption is expanding steadily while consumers are shifting toward specific categories, from a USD 100 billion market in 2023 projected to reach 6.5% CAGR by 2028 to the UAE spending AED 50 billion in 2023 with 25% on processed goods and Oman’s food consumption rising 5% to OMR 4 billion.
02 · Category
Investment25 stats
01
GCC FDI in food sector USD 10 billion cumulative 2018-2023
02
Saudi Arabia invested SAR 50 billion in food security projects by 2023
03
UAE food tech startups raised USD 500 million in 2022
04
Qatar sovereign fund allocated USD 2 billion to agri-food 2023
05
Oman privatized 20 food plants for OMR 300 million in 2022
06
Kuwait PIF invested USD 1 billion in dairy farming 2023
07
Bahrain food parks attracted BHD 500 million FDI 2018-2023
08
Saudi SFDA approved 100 new food factories with SAR 20 billion capex
09
UAE AgTech investments USD 300 million in hydroponics 2023
10
Qatar built 5 mega farms costing QAR 5 billion by 2023
11
Oman desalination for agri USD 400 million projects 2022
12
Kuwait vertical farms investment USD 200 million in 2023
13
Bahrain cold chain logistics BHD 200 million upgrade 2023
14
Saudi NEOM food city project USD 5 billion planned
15
UAE Expo 2020 legacy food innovation hub USD 100 million
16
Qatar World Cup stadium farms USD 150 million
17
Oman food processing zones OMR 1 billion by 2025
18
Kuwait dairy expansion SAR 800 million loans 2023
19
Bahrain halal certification center USD 50 million
20
Saudi Red Sea food resorts agri USD 2 billion
21
UAE Masdar clean food tech USD 400 million
22
Qatar Hassad Food group assets USD 3 billion 2023
23
Oman PDO food division OMR 100 million expansion
24
Kuwait Alghanim Industries food arm USD 500 million revenue invest
25
Bahrain GFH food portfolio USD 300 million
Interpretation
Investment Interpretation
Across the GCC, investment momentum in food is clearly accelerating with USD 10 billion in FDI from 2018 to 2023 alongside major country and fund moves such as Saudi’s SAR 50 billion food security push by 2023 and Qatar’s USD 2 billion agri food allocation in 2023.
03 · Category
Production30 stats
01
Saudi Arabia's food processing sector grew by 7.2% in 2022, reaching a value of SAR 120 billion with dairy products accounting for 28% of output
02
UAE's poultry production reached 450,000 tons in 2023, supported by 15 new farms adding 20% capacity increase
03
Qatar's date production hit 45,000 metric tons in 2022, with Al-Khur variety comprising 35% of total
04
Oman's fisheries output was 450,000 tons in 2023, with sardines making up 52% of catch value at OMR 120 million
05
Kuwait's bakery industry produced 1.2 million tons of bread annually in 2023, with 40% from automated plants
06
Bahrain's vegetable greenhouse production yielded 25,000 tons in 2022, increasing 15% via hydroponics
07
Saudi Arabia manufactured 2.8 million tons of bottled water in 2023, led by Aquafina at 18% market share
08
UAE's juice processing output was 300,000 tons in 2022, with 25% organic variants
09
Qatar processed 150,000 tons of red meat in 2023, importing 70% for local packing
10
Oman's dairy production reached 250,000 tons in 2023, with camel milk at 12% volume
11
Kuwait's confectionery output grew to 50,000 tons in 2022, chocolates 45% share
12
Bahrain produced 10,000 tons of pasta in 2023, 30% exported regionally
13
Saudi Arabia's edible oil refining capacity hit 3.5 million tons/year in 2023
14
UAE farmed 120,000 tons of fish in 2022 via aquaculture, tilapia 60%
15
Qatar's milling capacity processed 400,000 tons of flour in 2023
16
Oman's fruit processing output was 80,000 tons in 2023, dates dominant at 55%
17
Kuwait bottled 200 million liters of soft drinks in 2022
18
Bahrain's ice cream production reached 15,000 tons in 2023
19
Saudi Arabia's meat processing plants numbered 250 in 2023, capacity 1.5 million tons
20
UAE's snack food production was 150,000 tons in 2023, 20% growth YoY
21
Qatar's beverage industry output hit SAR 2 billion in 2022
22
Oman's canned goods production 40,000 tons in 2023, tuna 70%
23
Kuwait's frozen food output 30,000 tons in 2022, vegetables 40%
24
Bahrain's sauce and condiment production 8,000 tons in 2023
25
Saudi Arabia produced 1.1 million tons of sugar in 2023 via refineries
26
UAE's bakery products output 500,000 tons in 2023
27
Qatar's dairy processing 100,000 tons in 2022, yogurt 30%
28
Oman's poultry slaughter 200,000 tons in 2023
29
Kuwait's rice milling 150,000 tons annually in 2023
30
Bahrain's soft drink bottling 50 million liters in 2022
Interpretation
Production Interpretation
Across the Gulf’s production sector, output is expanding and diversifying at pace, from Saudi Arabia’s food processing growth of 7.2% to UAE poultry reaching 450,000 tons in 2023, while specialized segments such as Qatar’s dates at 45,000 metric tons and Bahrain’s hydroponic greenhouse rise to 25,000 tons in 2022 show how targeted production is driving value.
More related reading
04 · Category
Sustainability24 stats
01
GCC food waste 30% of production, 10 million tons annually in 2023
02
Saudi water use in agri 85% of total, recycling at 20% in 2023
03
UAE 50% food self-sufficiency goal by 2050, vertical farms key
04
Qatar reduced import dependency 10% via local production 2023
05
Oman organic farming area 5,000 hectares in 2022, 15% growth
06
Kuwait desalination plants supply 70% agri water sustainably 2023
07
Bahrain zero-waste food initiative recycled 40% scraps in 2023
08
Saudi Vision 2030 cut food imports 50% target with renewables
09
UAE solar-powered farms 100MW capacity in 2023
10
Qatar carbon footprint of food sector down 8% since 2019
11
Oman fisheries sustainable quota 80% compliance 2023
12
Kuwait banned single-use plastics in food packaging 2022
13
Bahrain mangrove agri projects restored 500 hectares 2023
14
Saudi halal supply chain 95% certified sustainable 2023
15
UAE lab-grown meat trials reduced emissions 90% pilots 2023
16
Oman date palm conservation 10 million trees protected 2022
17
Kuwait precision irrigation saved 30% water in farms 2023
18
Bahrain hydroponics used 90% less water vs traditional 2023
19
Saudi regenerative agri 1 million hectares by 2025 plan
20
UAE plastic-free packaging 60% food brands 2023
21
Qatar energy-efficient cold storage 20% savings 2023
22
Oman biodiversity in farms 25% increase via agroforestry 2022
23
Kuwait EV delivery fleets for food 500 trucks by 2023
24
Bahrain circular economy food loop 30% materials recycled
Interpretation
Sustainability Interpretation
Sustainability for Gulf Food Industry is being driven by a clear focus on cutting resource pressure, with GCC food waste at 30% of production and major water-efficiency efforts like Saudi agriculture using 85% of total water while only 20% is recycled in 2023.
05 · Category
Trade25 stats
01
GCC imports food worth USD 50 billion in 2023, 40% from EU
02
UAE exported USD 2.5 billion food products in 2023, dates 25%
03
Saudi Arabia imported USD 20 billion agri-food in 2022, poultry 15%
04
Qatar food imports reached USD 5 billion in 2023, dairy 20%
05
Oman exported 150,000 tons fish in 2022 worth USD 500 million
06
Kuwait imported 90% of food needs, USD 4 billion in 2023
07
Bahrain re-exported USD 1 billion food in 2023 via ports
08
Saudi non-oil food exports grew 12% to USD 3 billion in 2023
09
UAE poultry imports 400,000 tons in 2022 from Brazil
10
Qatar vegetable imports USD 800 million in 2023, 60% from Jordan
11
Oman date exports 30,000 tons in 2022 to India
12
Kuwait rice imports 250,000 tons annually, USD 300 million
13
Bahrain meat imports USD 500 million in 2023, Australia 40%
14
Saudi dairy imports fell 5% to USD 2 billion in 2022
15
UAE fruit exports USD 400 million in 2023
16
Qatar beverage imports USD 600 million in 2022
17
Oman seafood exports to EU USD 100 million in 2023
18
Kuwait sugar imports 200,000 tons in 2022
19
Bahrain bakery exports USD 50 million regionally in 2023
20
Saudi edible oil imports USD 1.5 billion in 2023
21
UAE confectionery exports grew 10% to USD 200 million in 2022
22
Qatar frozen food imports USD 400 million in 2023
23
Oman canned tuna exports 20,000 tons in 2022
24
Kuwait soft drinks imports minimal, local 80%, USD 100 million
25
Bahrain pasta imports 5,000 tons in 2023
Interpretation
Trade Interpretation
Trade across the Gulf is heavily shaped by international sourcing and specialization, with GCC food imports hitting USD 50 billion in 2023 and 40% coming from the EU, alongside major country-level shares such as Qatar’s USD 5 billion dairy imports and Saudi Arabia’s USD 20 billion agri-food imports in 2022 with poultry making up 15%.
report visual · Key figures
Gulf Food Sector Outlook & Consumer Spend
Growth in the GCC food market and rising consumer outlays are paired with high shares for processed and staple categories.
6.5%
GCC food market valued at USD 100 billion in 2023 with 6.5% CAGR projected to 2028
25%
UAE consumers spent AED 50 billion on food in 2023, 25% on processed goods
35%
Qatar's household food expenditure 35% of budget in 2023 at QAR 15,000 avg
30%
Saudi Arabia per capita food spending SAR 12,000 in 2022, meat 30%
5%
Oman's food consumption grew 5% to OMR 4 billion in 2023
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Min-ji Park. (2026, February 13). Gulf Food Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/gulf-food-industry-statistics
MLA
Min-ji Park. "Gulf Food Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/gulf-food-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Min-ji Park. 2026. "Gulf Food Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/gulf-food-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
96 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level