Packaging

Since alcohol consumption is prohibited in Saudi Arabia under Sharia law, the alcoholic drinks packaging industry is entirely represented by non-alcoholic beverages, and non-alcoholic beer in particular. These malt-based beverages come in a variety…

The majority of the local population in the United Arab Emirates abstains from the consumption of alcohol as per the tenets of Islam. As a result, apart from local consumption of non-alcoholic offerings, mostly non-alcoholic beer, the nation’s…

Since the pandemic, retail unit volumes of baby food packaging have consistently declined. During the pandemic, mothers – particularly working mothers – had greater time to spend at home looking after their children, and this left them with more time…

With milk formula accounting for almost half of baby food packaging unit volumes, and metal tins the dominant pack type in milk formula, this packaging format therefore remains the leading one in overall baby food, given metal tins also has a…

The clean beauty trend has been taking over the beauty and personal care market in Saudi Arabia, just as it has done the world over. Consumers are increasingly seeking out cosmetics products that make use of all-natural ingredients, vegan formulas…

Hair care, which is one of the biggest beauty and personal care categories in terms of packaging unit volume sales in the United Arab Emirates, continued to see relatively dynamic growth in 2022. This benefited the usage of HDPE bottles, the main…

Overall confectionery packaging retail unit volume sales in Saudi Arabia returned to growth in 2022, albeit marginal, following pandemic-induced declines due to lack of mobility outside of the home and limited demand for impulse purchases. The…

After two years of declining sales, confectionery packaging recorded positive growth in its packaging unit volumes again in 2022. However, the growth was modest as rising awareness of the potential negative effects of consuming confectionery, such as…

After a surge in demand for dairy products and associated packaging in 2020 due to pandemic-related home seclusion, retail unit volume sales somewhat normalised the following year as restrictions started to ease and local consumers began to spend…

In 2022, PET bottles were gaining share in dairy products in the United Arab Emirates for a number of reasons. PET bottles are lightweight, which makes them cost-effective to transport. In the United Arab Emirates, where dairy products might need to…

The home care market in Saudi Arabia saw strong growth in 2020 given the home seclusion and heightened hygiene consciousness due to the pandemic. With nationwide lockdown, outdoor movement was restricted, and consumers spent most of their time at…

Rising urbanisation and the increased stability of the United Arab Emirates’ economy helped drive higher levels of purchasing power among local consumers in 2022. In addition, the possession rate for washing machines continued to rise in 2022. These…

The increasing popularity of the other metal pack type in the Saudi Arabian hot drinks market can be attributed to several factors. One significant driver is the increasing adoption of fresh ground coffee pods, boosted by the growing presence of…

The launch of Davidoff’s new fresh ground coffee pods in 2023 featured thin wall plastic containers with aluminium lids as closures. The choice of aluminium lids was due to their excellent sealing properties, ensuring freshness and preserving the…

Demand for ready meals in Saudi Arabia surged during the pandemic as foodservice closures and fears around food delivery drove home-cooking occasions; ready meals presented a more convenient alternative than cooking meals from scratch. Although the…

Flexible aluminium/plastic was the dominant pack type in dry soup, which, given it is the biggest category in overall meals and soups, was therefore the dominant meals and soups packaging format. Flexible aluminium/plastic was also growing in 2022,…

In 2022, PET bottles remained the preferred choice for cooking and table sauce packaging in Saudi Arabia due to their cost-effectiveness, durability, lightweight properties and affordability in production and transportation. In chocolate…

In the United Arab Emirates, the packaging landscape has been seeing notable developments in 2022 across various product categories. PET bottles have gained popularity in the dairy category due to their lightweight, durable and transparent nature,…

Already starting to emerge as a trend in Saudi Arabia earlier in the review period, the pandemic heightened local consumers’ awareness of their health and wellbeing and encouraged them to review their dietary and nutritional requirements. Although…

The vast majority of consumers typically consume dairy products, but as the health and wellness trend spreads across the country, a niche segment of the population has shown an increasing preference for plant-based foods. Hence, plant-based dairy has…