From fueling vibrant weekend brunches to stocking shelves with organic produce, the UAE's food and beverage industry is an economic powerhouse, projected to surge from a USD 25.6 billion market in 2022 to over USD 52 billion by 2030.
Key Takeaways
- The UAE food and beverage market was valued at USD 25.6 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.8% to reach USD 40.2 billion by 2028
- UAE F&B sector contributed 3.2% to the national GDP in 2023, with a market size expansion of 9.1% year-on-year
- The non-alcoholic beverages segment in UAE F&B grew by 12.4% in 2023, reaching USD 4.8 billion in revenue
- 65% of UAE consumers aged 18-34 prefer healthy F&B options daily
- 72% of UAE expatriates dine out weekly, driving F&B consumption
- Demand for plant-based alternatives rose 45% among UAE consumers in 2023
- UAE F&B production facilities numbered 1,200 in 2023, employing 150,000 workers
- Local dairy production in UAE reached 450,000 tonnes annually in 2023
- UAE food processing capacity utilization at 78% in 2023 for F&B firms
- UAE F&B exports reached USD 2.8 billion in 2023, up 12% YoY
- Food exports from UAE to GCC countries: USD 1.2 billion in 2023
- UAE re-exports of F&B products totaled USD 4.5 billion in 2023
- UAE F&B FDI inflows USD 1.2 billion for production in 2023
- Projected UAE F&B market CAGR 8.1% 2024-2030 to USD 52 billion
- UAE government invested AED 5 billion in food security projects 2023-2027
The UAE food and beverage market is large, rapidly growing, and fueled by diverse consumer trends.
Consumer Trends and Behavior
- 65% of UAE consumers aged 18-34 prefer healthy F&B options daily
- 72% of UAE expatriates dine out weekly, driving F&B consumption
- Demand for plant-based alternatives rose 45% among UAE consumers in 2023
- 58% of UAE shoppers prioritize sustainable packaging in F&B purchases
- Online grocery shopping for F&B increased to 42% penetration in UAE urban areas 2023
- 77% of UAE millennials seek low-sugar F&B products
- Home delivery F&B orders surged 55% YoY among UAE youth in 2023
- 61% of UAE consumers prefer local or halal-certified F&B brands
- Functional beverages consumption up 32% driven by health-conscious UAE consumers
- 49% of UAE women choose organic F&B products weekly
- Ready-to-eat meals demand grew 28% among working UAE professionals
- 83% of UAE tourists seek authentic Emirati F&B experiences
- Sugar reduction in F&B chosen by 67% of UAE parents for children
- Premium coffee consumption up 40% in UAE cafes among Gen Z
- 54% of UAE consumers avoid plastic-packaged F&B products
- Vegan F&B adoption rate 22% increase in UAE since 2021
- 70% of UAE shoppers use apps for F&B deals and discovery
- Health supplements in F&B consumed by 39% of UAE adults daily
- Street food popularity rose 35% among UAE youth post-2022
- 76% prefer dine-in F&B experiences over delivery in UAE weekends
- Gluten-free F&B demand up 25% due to awareness in UAE
- 62% of UAE consumers try new F&B flavors monthly
- Alcohol-free beer consumption tripled in UAE since 2020
- 51% prioritize F&B with clear nutrition labels in UAE supermarkets
- Superfoods like quinoa in UAE F&B diets up 48% usage
- 68% of UAE elderly prefer traditional F&B over trendy options
- Meal kit subscriptions grew 60% among UAE busy households
- 74% UAE consumers influenced by social media F&B recommendations
- Low-carb F&B products sales up 31% in UAE gyms vicinity
Consumer Trends and Behavior Interpretation
The UAE's food scene is now a high-stakes chessboard where the winning move is a locally sourced, sustainably packaged, health-forward option that can seamlessly pivot from a premium café latte to a viral-worthy street food delight, all while remembering to hold the sugar and the plastic.
Investments and Future Projections
- UAE F&B FDI inflows USD 1.2 billion for production in 2023
- Projected UAE F&B market CAGR 8.1% 2024-2030 to USD 52 billion
- UAE government invested AED 5 billion in food security projects 2023-2027
- Private equity deals in UAE F&B: USD 800 million in 2023
- Forecasted F&B job creation 50,000 positions by 2028 in UAE
- UAE Vision 2031 allocates 10% budget to agritech F&B investments
- Venture capital in UAE food delivery startups: USD 450 million 2023
- Projected non-alc beverages growth 11% CAGR to USD 7.5 billion by 2028
- AED 2 billion sovereign fund for UAE F&B localization by 2025
- F&B tech startups funding in UAE: 120 deals USD 300 million 2023
- Forecast UAE organic F&B market USD 1.2 billion by 2030 at 15% CAGR
- Dubai Industrial Strategy 2030 targets 25% F&B self-sufficiency
- Projected HORECA F&B expansion 12% annually to 2027 UAE
- UAE free zones F&B investments USD 1.5 billion new projects 2024-2026
- AI in F&B supply chain investments USD 200 million planned UAE 2024
- National Food Security Strategy 2051: AED 10 billion over 10 years
- UAE plant-based F&B market forecast USD 500 million by 2028, 25% CAGR
- Sustainability-linked F&B bonds issued USD 600 million UAE 2023
- Forecast e-commerce F&B sales USD 5 billion by 2027 UAE
- Abu Dhabi F&B cluster investments AED 3 billion by 2025
- UAE F&B IPOs raised USD 400 million on DFM/ADX 2023
- Projected cloud kitchen market USD 1 billion by 2026 UAE
- Government subsidies for F&B R&D: AED 500 million annually till 2030
- UAE halal F&B export hub investments USD 900 million planned
- Forecast premium F&B segment USD 12 billion by 2030 UAE
Investments and Future Projections Interpretation
The UAE isn't just building a buffet for the future; it's engineering a national pantry with serious venture capital forks, AI-powered supply chains, and enough fiscal seasoning to turn food security into a high-growth export industry.
Market Size and Growth
- The UAE food and beverage market was valued at USD 25.6 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.8% to reach USD 40.2 billion by 2028
- UAE F&B sector contributed 3.2% to the national GDP in 2023, with a market size expansion of 9.1% year-on-year
- The non-alcoholic beverages segment in UAE F&B grew by 12.4% in 2023, reaching USD 4.8 billion in revenue
- UAE packaged food market size stood at USD 10.5 billion in 2022, projected to hit USD 16.7 billion by 2030 at 6% CAGR
- Overall F&B retail sales in UAE increased by 11.2% in 2023 to AED 72 billion
- UAE hospitality F&B revenue surged 15.6% in 2023 post-COVID, totaling USD 8.9 billion
- F&B market in Dubai alone was valued at AED 50 billion in 2023, growing 10.3% YoY
- UAE organic food market within F&B reached USD 450 million in 2023, with 14% growth
- The UAE dairy products segment in F&B was worth USD 2.1 billion in 2022, CAGR 5.8% forecasted
- Total F&B imports value hit USD 18.7 billion in 2023, supporting market growth of 8.2%
- UAE F&B e-commerce sales grew 28% in 2023 to USD 2.3 billion
- Quick service restaurants in UAE F&B sector generated USD 3.4 billion in 2023, up 13%
- UAE confectionery market size was AED 4.2 billion in 2023, 7.5% growth
- F&B sector in Abu Dhabi expanded to USD 7.8 billion in 2023 at 9.4% CAGR since 2019
- UAE plant-based food market in F&B hit USD 180 million in 2023, 22% YoY growth
- Total F&B outlets in UAE reached 25,000 in 2023, driving 10% market expansion
- UAE baked goods segment valued at USD 1.9 billion in 2022, projected 6.2% CAGR
- F&B market growth fueled by tourism, with 8.5% CAGR expected till 2027
- UAE soft drinks market size USD 2.7 billion in 2023, 9% growth
- Overall F&B industry CAGR 7.2% from 2021-2026, reaching USD 35 billion
- UAE meat and poultry F&B segment USD 3.2 billion in 2023, 6.8% growth
- F&B cloud kitchen market in UAE grew 35% to USD 450 million in 2023
- UAE F&B market share of HORECA at 45% in 2023, valued USD 11.5 billion
- Snack food market in UAE F&B USD 1.6 billion in 2023, 11% YoY
- UAE F&B sector digital sales penetration reached 15% in 2023, boosting growth
- Fruit and vegetable processing F&B market USD 900 million in 2023, 8% CAGR
- UAE F&B premium segment grew 18% to USD 5.2 billion in 2023
- Total F&B market volume 12.5 million tonnes in 2023, up 4.2%
- UAE ice cream and frozen desserts market USD 650 million in 2023, 10.5% growth
- F&B industry in UAE projected 9.2% growth in 2024 to USD 28 billion
Market Size and Growth Interpretation
The UAE's food and beverage sector is on a high-calorie growth spree, where even the salads are booming, as it collectively chews through billions in revenue and GDP contributions, proving that the nation's appetite for culinary innovation and expansion is anything but a flash in the pan.
Production and Supply Chain
- UAE F&B production facilities numbered 1,200 in 2023, employing 150,000 workers
- Local dairy production in UAE reached 450,000 tonnes annually in 2023
- UAE food processing capacity utilization at 78% in 2023 for F&B firms
- Poultry production in UAE hit 220,000 tonnes in 2023, self-sufficiency 45%
- Number of F&B manufacturing plants in Dubai: 450, output AED 15 billion
- UAE aquafeed production for F&B supply chain: 1.2 million tonnes/year 2023
- Vegetable greenhouse production in UAE: 1.5 million tonnes in 2023
- F&B logistics fleet in UAE: 5,000 refrigerated trucks operational 2023
- UAE halal certification for F&B producers: 95% compliance rate in 2023
- Date palm production supplying F&B: 1.8 million tonnes annually UAE
- F&B supply chain waste reduction: 25% achieved via tech in UAE 2023
- UAE bottled water production capacity: 3 billion liters per year 2023
- Number of F&B wholesalers in UAE: 2,500, handling 80% distribution
- UAE fruit juice processing output: 500,000 tonnes in 2023
- Cold storage capacity for F&B in UAE: 1.2 million sqm in 2023
- Local bakery production daily output: 1 million kg bread in UAE cities
- F&B packaging materials produced locally: 60% self-sufficiency UAE 2023
- UAE seafood farming production: 15,000 tonnes annually 2023
- Agri-tech investments boosted F&B yield by 30% in UAE farms 2023
- F&B supply chain digital tracking adoption: 70% of firms in UAE 2023
- UAE edible oil refining capacity: 800,000 tonnes per year 2023
- Number of F&B SMEs in production: 4,000 contributing 35% output UAE
- Hydroponic farms output for F&B: 400,000 tonnes veggies UAE 2023
- F&B inventory turnover rate average 8.5 times/year in UAE 2023
- UAE camel milk production: 45,000 tonnes annually for F&B
- Supply chain lead time for F&B imports reduced to 5 days avg UAE
- F&B quality control labs in UAE: 150 accredited facilities 2023
- UAE rice milling capacity: 1 million tonnes/year operational 2023
- Vertical farming F&B output: 50,000 tonnes leafy greens UAE 2023
Production and Supply Chain Interpretation
With 1,200 production facilities, 150,000 workers, and a 78% capacity utilization humming along, the UAE's food and beverage industry is a massive, tech-enhanced machine meticulously built not just for output, but for resilience, quality, and a future less dependent on the whims of global supply chains.
Trade Statistics
- UAE F&B exports reached USD 2.8 billion in 2023, up 12% YoY
- Food exports from UAE to GCC countries: USD 1.2 billion in 2023
- UAE re-exports of F&B products totaled USD 4.5 billion in 2023
- Top F&B export: Dates from UAE valued at USD 800 million 2023
- UAE mineral water exports grew 18% to USD 250 million in 2023
- F&B imports from India to UAE: USD 2.1 billion mainly rice/spices 2023
- UAE poultry meat exports: 25,000 tonnes valued USD 120 million 2023
- Dairy products imports into UAE: USD 1.8 billion primarily from New Zealand 2023
- UAE F&B trade balance surplus of USD 500 million in 2023
- Exports of processed fruits from UAE: USD 350 million to MENA region 2023
- UAE imports 90% of wheat for F&B at USD 1.5 billion volume 2023
- Halal F&B exports from UAE certified: USD 2.2 billion globally 2023
- UAE bakery products exports up 15% to USD 180 million 2023
- Seafood imports to UAE: USD 900 million mainly frozen shrimp 2023
- UAE F&B exports to Africa grew 22% to USD 400 million 2023
- Confectionery imports into UAE: USD 450 million from Europe 2023
- UAE vegetable exports: 150,000 tonnes worth USD 200 million 2023
- Top import partner for UAE F&B: India at 15% share USD 2.8 billion
- UAE soft drinks exports: USD 100 million primarily to GCC 2023
- F&B tariff rate average 5% on imports to UAE in 2023
- UAE pasta and noodles exports: USD 75 million 2023 growth 10%
- Imports of edible oils to UAE: 1.2 million tonnes USD 1.9 billion 2023
- UAE honey exports: USD 50 million premium varieties 2023
- F&B trade via Jebel Ali port: 70% of total UAE volume 2023
- UAE tomato paste exports: 20,000 tonnes USD 40 million 2023
- Sugar imports to UAE: 1.1 million tonnes USD 600 million 2023
Trade Statistics Interpretation
In a deliciously ironic twist of global trade, the UAE has turned its desert landscape into a pantry for the world, shrewdly importing mountains of staples and exporting rivers of dates, water, and certified confidence, all while managing to keep its own food balance sheet firmly in the black.
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