Middle East

Technological advances in 2024 will continue to reshape consumer behaviour. This annual report explores the top five digital shopper trends that will redefine commerce the most in the year ahead. Some of the trends included in this report’s edition…

This report examines inflation levels and drivers globally and in key countries in Q4 2023 and 2024. Global inflation is moderating, although divergence remains among the key economies. Higher volatility in the energy markets and disruption of…

Locals are officially banned from buying and consuming alcohol, with players relying on expatriates for sales, while the ban on marketing alcoholic drinks makes it challenging for brand owners to influence consumer choices. Nonetheless, the lifting…

The sale and consumption of alcoholic drinks are illegal in Kuwait and, therefore, 100% of sales generated in Kuwait’s alcoholic drinks industry comes from non alcoholic beer. The category saw an upturn in its performance in 2022 as it witnessed some…

Wine is not available in Saudi Arabia as alcoholic drinks are not permitted in the country under Islamic Law.

The event of the COVID-19 pandemic actually accelerated the demand for wine in Israel, pushing forward premium products during the era of the lockdowns. Indeed, the periods of home quarantine encouraged consumers to drink more wine at home, either…

Spirits is also seeing some cross-category trends. Namely, the event of the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated at-home alcohol consumption, pushing forward premium products during the era of the lockdowns. Indeed, the periods of home quarantine encouraged…

The cocktail trend which is helping to support spirits is also supporting RTDs. A strong trend seen during the pandemic era was that for at-home cocktail making. Many locals started buying the ingredients to make cocktails and would invite friends…

There is a lack of innovation in cider/perry, thus suppressing potential growth in the category. For example, we are not seeing the same styles of numbers of product developments to stimulate consumer demand. Added to which, the consumer base of…

Heineken NV (GBO), which is represented by Tempo Beer Industries Ltd in Israel, was one of the players forced to increase its prices in 2022, starting in Q1 and with the announcement of further price hikes later in the year. The reason for this was…

In 2022, there was a huge rise in demand, which the FIFA World Cup generated in the country. With over three million football fans visiting in November and December, all alcoholic drinks benefited from a sudden surge in consumption. Qatar is a…

Sales rose across alcoholic drinks in 2022 as demand rebounded during the post-pandemic era. However, the economic crisis continues to suppress demand and local players, especially wineries, are looking to export markets to generate revenues in…

Alcoholic drinks in Israel in 2022 is characterised by large price increases. While prices in the local territory rise due to the increasing costs of living and inflation, locals are also increasingly interested in premium products, which causes…

Iraq’s alcoholic drinks industry remains underdeveloped and in a rather chaotic state due to a complex matrix of supply-side challenges including rampant smuggling, widespread corruption, infrastructure issues and the routine counterfeiting of…

RTDs maintained total volume growth in 2022, with sales recovering to the pre-pandemic level in this year. Sales are projected to increase further as life in Hong Kong gradually returns to normal. On-trade volume sales increased in 2022, with outlets…

The global economic situation in 2022 saw many investors flock to the United Arab Emirates, so that they could protect their businesses from volatile markets and rising inflation. Dubai’s investors now have better access to fine wine trading. For…

A greater focus on sustainability in the United Arab Emirates has reached alcoholic drinks. Consumer demand for sustainable spirits in particular, has been met by a new launch of award-winning and sustainable tequila brand Mijenta. Mijenta’s…

Spirit-based RTDs continued to drive category sales in the United Arab Emirates at the end of the review period. These mainly consist of rum-based drinks with 4% ABV mixed with fruit flavours, such as strawberry, orange, pineapple, grapefruit,…

As cider is historically an alternative to beer in the United Arab Emirates, the FIFA World Cup held in Qatar boosted demand for this alcoholic drink in addition to beer sales in late 2022, despite inflation hitting the local market. Since Budweiser…

Total volume sales of beer in the United Arab Emirates continued to record double-digit growth in 2022, as consumers resumed socialising after restrictions were further eased. The strong volume growth recorded by beer was additionally fuelled by the…