Saudi Arabia

Due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation, featuring lockdown and social distancing measures and restrictions on work and social occasions, retail volume and current value sales of gum declined strongly in 2020.

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

Popular amongst both expatriate and native consumers, jeans are a staple in the wardrobes of young and middle-aged consumers in Saudi Arabia. Whilst elderly people prefer more traditional clothing, the growing young population prefers more relaxed…

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

Fragrances witnessed a steep decline in sales during 2020 in retail volume terms. COVID-19 was the main driver of this, with consumers spending more time at home and socialising less often with family and friends, many local consumers used fragrances…

Womenswear registered growth in 2021 having seen a sharp decline in sales in the previous year. In 2020, lockdown, home seclusion and few opportunities to socialise resulted in a steep fall in category sales. Womenswear sales were also impacted by…

Hosiery returned to growth in 2021, having witnessed a particularly marked fall in sales in the previous year. During 2020, hosiery was hit hard by the onset of the global pandemic and measures imposed to limit the spread of COVID-19. Consumers had…

Among modern grocery retailers, supermarkets were the big winners from the pandemic, with their retail constant value sales (2021 prices) rising at a double digit rate during 2020. While they continued to expand during 2021, it was at a much lower…

Prior to the pandemic, sportswear was gaining popularity amongst younger Saudi Arabian consumers, who find such clothing comfortable and fashionable. This trend towards comfort has been reinforced by home seclusion and the shift towards remote…

Bleach experienced a dramatic surge in consumer interest in 2020, with retail volume sales in particular growing at an incredible rate. This was due to the outbreak of COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia and the growing hygiene awareness in the kingdom as…

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

With alcoholic drinks prohibited under Islamic law, beer sales in the Saudi Arabian market are totally reliant on non alcoholic beer. The COVID-19 crisis led to a marked decline in non alcoholic beer sales in 2020. The Saudi Arabian Government took a…

COVID-19 led to unusually high demand for deodorants during 2020, with the category seeing dynamic growth in retail volume terms. During the early stages of the pandemic, some consumers stocked up on personal care products like deodorants due to a…

Tea is an inexpensive hot drink that is traditionally enjoyed throughout the day by consumers of all ages and income levels in Saudi Arabia, including both Saudi nationals and the expat workforce. Having recorded a decline in total volume sales in…

Economic freedom is reducing, whilst human rights abuses persist. However, taxes are very low and public finances are sustainable. Higher oil prices will help drive economic recovery in the short term, but substantial reliance on hydrocarbons…

Having performed strongly in 2020, the retail constant value sales (2021 prices) of hypermarkets declined for the first time in three years during 2021. The panic-buying that occurred during 2020 was not repeated in 2021. Moreover, local consumers…

Modelled on Aldi, Al Dukan remains the only discounter in Saudi Arabia, with 100 outlets. It closed a significant number of non-performing outlets during the review period prior to the pandemic but remains a significant presence. It offers a limited…

Hand dishwashing dominates sales of dishwashing products in Saudi Arabia, with only 10% of households owning a dishwasher in the kingdom. Manufacturers offer a wealth of options in terms of fragrances and also value-added variants with dermatological…

Saudi Arabia has one of the strongest economies in the world, and the largest in the Middle East. It has become one of the main players in the global economy, supported by “Vision 2030”, an economic and social reform programme that aims to open up…

Menswear saw a return to growth in 2021, having experienced a steep decline in the previous year, though the category did not reach the level of sales seen prior to the outbreak of COVID-19. Even before the pandemic in 2020, Saudi Arabian consumers…