United Arab Emirates

The Abu Dhabi in United Arab Emirates report provides comprehensive city level information benchmarked against other cities in the country and region. The report includes historic data and forecasts on city population, consumer expenditure, digital…

Cities are hubs for spending, with 80% of expenditure expected to be generated by urban areas in 2023. Spending growth in 2023 will, however, be sluggish, as cost of living challenges force consumers to be more conservative in their expenditure. Over…

The current surge in inflation has significantly increased local consumers' price sensitivity, influencing their buying preferences when choosing air care. This adjustment is reflected in altered shopping behaviours, as consumers now prioritise…

Demand for air treatment products in the United Arab Emirates, in particular air conditioners, continues to grow strongly in 2023, driven by several factors. The region's hot weather is a significant catalyst, prompting a higher demand for cooling…

Emirates Airlines has solidified its position in the United Arab Emirates with a remarkable turnaround, reporting soaring profits after a challenging period, and is set to extend its share in airlines in 2023. The airline’s success can be attributed…

Alcoholic drinks in the United Arab Emirates continued to demonstrate healthy growth in 2022 following a notable rebound the previous year. The United Arab Emirates is known for well-established luxury lifestyles enjoyed by much of the population,…

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…

In the United Arab Emirates, analgesics can be categorised into two groups: products from international brands, and those from regional brands, which tend to be priced lower. By the end of the review period, the majority of analgesics brands were…

In the United Arab Emirates, items such as gloves, belts, scarves, hats/caps are widely popular because local consumers have a strong penchant for accessorising their outfits. Being a fashion-forward market, there is an abundance of choices for…

Apparel and footwear in the United Arab Emirates continues to record a strong performance in current value growth terms, building on the strong momentum it gained in 2022 when sales surged due to pent-up demand resulting from the pandemic. Amid…

In 2023, value sales of apparel and footwear specialists in the United Arab Emirates continued to recover from the significant impact of the pandemic, when the channel recorded a double-digit decline in 2020. A return to in-store shopping (despite…

Consumers in the United Arab Emirates are increasingly seeking appliances and electronics with smart features and connectivity, driving growth of products such as smart TVs, AI-powered washing machines, and connected refrigerators. Local consumers…

The rising trend of more frequent dining out experiences, following the easing of pandemic restrictions, continued to propel demand for foodservice in 2023, subsequently driving sales of away-from-home tissue in the United Arab Emirates. With a surge…

Demand for baby and child-specific products in the United Arab Emirates continued to rise in 2023, while value growth remained more dynamic. Local parents today are more informed about the ingredients in baby and child-specific products due to online…

Inflationary pressures have been impacting baby food, a category that was already suffering from limited growth even prior to the pandemic. Although most families have now returned to the country, the socioeconomic revival in 2022 was met with rising…

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 United Arab Emirates has been at the forefront of the travel industry’s recovery, and in 2023, there has been a significant development: the complete resurgence of international travel. This resurgence has led to increasing demand for luggage.…

Demand for baked goods continues to grow in the United Arab Emirates. The local market is a major tourist destination, and the opening of society since the ending of pandemic-related restrictions means that tourism is booming. Events being held in…

In 2023, one significant growth driver of bath and shower in the United Arab Emirates was the increasing interest among consumers in giving these products as gifts. Various products in the category, with their diverse scents, luxurious textures, and…

Demand for beauty and personal care in the United Arab Emirates remained strong in 2023. Despite the prevalence of global brands, some consumers, particularly younger generations, increasingly sought local brands such as Huda Beauty. Increased…

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…

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…

Sustainability issues are pushing forward a new chapter in how people get around in cities. From using shared mobility, to buying electric vehicles, urban mobility is a fast-changing industry. The briefing examines urban mobility trends, focusing on…

A noticeable shift in consumer demand is impacting bleach, with a transition from pandemic-driven preventive use to cleaning and whitening purposes. This shift has resulted in a slowdown in the category's retail volume growth compared to the surge in…

The landscape of hotel bookings is undergoing a transformative shift, with direct bookings increasingly challenging the role of intermediaries and encouraging customers to choose a more personalised approach, particularly business travellers. This…

With the emerging inflation and competitive landscape being reshaped, private label is starting to regain shelf space in many categories, including bottled water. Since water is considered a basic and affordable product in consumers’ minds, private…

Retail demand for breakfast cereals continues to grow in the United Arab Emirates. Since local consumers have resumed busy schedules, many of them find breakfast cereals a quick and convenient option. RTE cereals are easy to prepare, thereby saving…

The United Arab Emirates performs well in terms of economic freedom in the Middle East and Africa as well as by global comparison, owing to strong economic growth, a rapid rate of business sector liberalisation, government support for SMEs, developed…

Due to inflationary pressures arising from global supply chain issues, recent price increases in retail have impacted dairy categories, and butter and spreads is no exception. Moreover, due to rising health awareness, some consumers are also veering…

In 2023, cafés/bars in the United Arab Emirates gained further growth momentum following a full recovery to pre-pandemic value sales levels the previous year, benefiting both chained and independent operators. Specialist tea and coffee shops was one…

Across carbonates, reduced sugar options are gaining popularity in the United Arab Emirates. This trend is being widely supported by advertising and promotions. Hypermarkets and forecourt retailers are introducing floor and shelf banners advertising…

Demand for cat food is steadily growing in the United Arab Emirates. The increase in cat ownership, which is already considerably higher than that of dogs, is driving volume growth in the category. Cat ownership is preferred in the United Arab…

Aligned with historical patterns, there is expected to be an ongoing decrease in the number of charge cards in circulation in the United Arab Emirates in 2023, even though transaction value is set to show growth across both the commercial and…

The changes in consumer behaviour brought about by the inflationary pressures that started in early 2022 resulted in a decline in retail volume sales of cheese in 2022, while current value sales remained positive. In 2023, although a return to retail…

In the past, luxury brands often imported their marketing strategies directly from their European headquarters to the United Arab Emirates. However, the pandemic underscored the significance of localising marketing efforts, as the consumer base…

The number of health-conscious consumers in the United Arab Emirates is rising, resulting in increasing demand for healthy snacks. The perception of a healthy diet has gradually changed in the domestic market. Local consumers used to consider sweets…

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…

The cigarettes category in the United Arab Emirates is becoming less fragmented, with most volumes now being generated by the top global manufacturers. In 2022, brands from Philip Morris Management Services (Middle East) Ltd and Imperial Tobacco…

Amongst all the established traditional alternatives to cigarettes, pipe tobacco is the only one still growing as fast as cigarettes, while cigars, cigarillos, and fine cut tobacco are also seeing growth, but at a slower rate. One of the reasons is…

The briefing introduces the Cities Households Necessities Spending Index. The index ranks 1,075 cities by household expenditure on non-discretionary items, namely food, housing, and clothing and footwear. This analysis focuses on 160 major cities.…

Recent inflation, the demand for premium indulgence and strong coffee traditions are shaping the category in a way that offers sufficient products within each price segment. Premium coffee options in multiple blends and flavours are offered by…

The demand for multifunctional products within colour cosmetics in the United Arab Emirates, such as BB/CC creams, is burgeoning. Demand is being driven by their time-saving benefits, skin care properties, and adaptation to diverse skin tones in a…

The commodities country overview provides comprehensive data on production, consumption and price trends on key commodities markets. The commodities overview in United Arab Emirates covers production and consumption trends in agricultural…

The report examines key factors in supply chain risks in metals, energy and agricultural commodities. Production, market supply concentration and political risks analysis can help to better identify potential risks and prepare for potential…

Consumer preferences in the United Arab Emirates are shifting, presenting challenges for desktops as the latter continues to post declines. These devices are likely to experience a further drop in demand in the coming years, attributed to factors…

Demand for both powder concentrates and liquid concentrates has been declining in the United Arab Emirates for several years. General health awareness and concerns around sugar consumption are discouraging local consumers from purchasing these…

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…

Demand for consumer appliances in the United Arab Emirates continues to gain momentum in 2023, shaped by a variety of key trends. Innovation remains paramount for players as they strive to meet evolving consumer preferences. Despite inflationary…

Banks in the United Arab Emirates continue to offer attractive card lending offers in 2023. With many credit cards now having appealing credit limits depending on the salary range and credit score of consumers, many banks are offering to convert…

Demand for consumer electronics in the United Arab Emirates continues to grow, albeit at a marginally slower pace compared to the previous year. On the other hand, current value sales continue to record more dynamic growth in 2023, primarily due to…