Report Overview

Growing population and increasing disposable income among people in the UAE, along with the flourishing tourism industry, are expected to drive UAE meat market at a significant growth rate during the forecast period.

UAE Meat Market - Industry Trends & Forecast Report 2027

UAE Meat Market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.4% during the forecast period (2021–2027), owing to the growing population and increasing disposable income, which are contributing to the increase in health-conscious consumers. Another growth factor for the UAE meat market is the flourishing tourism sector and the cultural association with meat. ‘Meat’, in general, refers to animal flesh that is meant for human consumption. It is an important source of nutrients for human body. It contains proteins, zinc, iron, selenium, phosphorus, vitamin A and B-complex vitamins. In the UAE, there are many types of meat available, such as red meat (beef, goat, and lamb), poultry meat (chicken and turkey), and seafood (fish, crab, and lobster). Among these types, chicken and lamb are the most popular meat in the UAE.

UAE Meat Market Forecast and Trends

Growth Drivers

Increasing Number of Working Adults

The growing working-class population and their increasing disposable income are emerging as one of the major driving factors for the UAE meat market. According to the official portal of the UAE Government, the total labor force in the UAE in 2018 was 7.384 million. Furthermore, the female workforce percentage is also increasing in the country. The increased working population and their disposable income have a direct impact on dietary quality and frequency of trips to restaurants and hotels. This trend, in turn, is expected to fuel the growth of UAE meat market.

Growing Penetration of Online Sales Channels

The increasing popularity of online platforms, such as The Meat Hub, InstaShop, and FreshToHome, offers lucrative growth opportunities to the UAE meat market. The meat brands are resorting to these platforms or launching their exclusive applications and websites to offer their meat products through online channels to increase their market penetration and revenue. It is expected that the UAE meat market growth will be fueled by increasing number of smartphone users and a growing working population in the country that relies heavily on online delivery apps for their grocery and food needs.

Restraints

Expanding Business of Vegan Meat Substitutes

The increasing popularity of vegan meat is emerging as one of the major restraining factors for the UAE meat market growth. A growing number of vegan brands and meats are available in the UAE, driving up demand for vegan meats. For example, Impossible Foods just made their vegan beef available at local restaurants in the Middle East, including the UAE, and launched their plant-based Impossible Burger. Plant-based foods have even reached halal food producers, such as Al Islami Foods in the UAE. Its burgers made from sunflower protein is popular across the UAE. Moreover, the demand for plant-based chicken is on the rise. With competition from vegan meat heating up, the UAE meat market may face significant hurdles to its growth during the forecast period.

Impact of COVID-19 on UAE Meat Market

The UAE meat market was negatively impacted by the sudden outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Lockdown caused the closure of butcher shops, slaughterhouses, and processing plants in the region, thus disrupting the meat supply. The disruptions in supply chains also played a crucial factor in restricting UAE meat market growth. Furthermore, lockdown also impeded the operations of food joints and hotels and halted tourism by temporarily banning international flights, which in turn also hindered the growth of the UAE meat market.

UAE Meat Market - By Type

Based on types, the UAE meat market is segmented into red meat, poultry, and seafood. Among these, the red meat segment accounts for the highest market share. The segment is further classified into beef, goat, and lamb. The demand for goat and lamb meat is the highest in the UAE. Additionally, the flourishing tourism sector is one of the major factors fueling the demand for red meat in the hotel industry. Furthermore, expanding import activities from countries, such as India, Australia, Brazil, and the USA, to meet the growing demand for red meat is also driving the segment’s growth.

UAE Meat Market - By Product Type

Based on product types, the UAE meat market is segmented into fresh, chilled, and frozen meat. The fresh meat segment holds a dominant position in the UAE meat market. Meat market growth is largely due to the growing number of slaughterhouses and butcher shops providing fresh meat on demand. On the other hand, the chilled meat segment is also growing at a substantial rate because of its prominent demand in restaurants and food chains. These food chains often stock chilled meat to meet their daily demand, which propels its market growth.

UAE Meat Market - By Distribution Channel

Based on the distribution channels, the UAE meat market is segmented into on-trade and off-trade. The off-trade segment is further classified into supermarkets/hypermarkets, specialty stores, online stores, and others. Because of the convenience of various brands and the availability of a wide range of fresh meat from various brands, supermarkets/hypermarkets account for the highest market share. Specialty stores also account for a higher market share, as various brands open standalone stores to grab consumers' attention, which also drives the market growth.

Competitive Landscape

Leading players in the UAE meat market include Al Manal Foods, Diamond Meat Processing, Dubai Meat Packers, Emirates Meat, Farm Fresh Meat Products Factory, Freshly Frozen Foods Factory LLC, Royal Meat Industry LLC, Sahar Food Industry LLC, Adan Meat Supply Limited, SIAM UAE, and Elfab Co LLC. Several local and international meat companies dominate the market, resulting in high fragmentation. The companies significantly focus on boosting their import and export activities in the UAE for increasing their revenue. To increase the flow of meat, they create partnerships with local slaughterhouses and restaurants. Additionally, they offer a variety of products and focus on strengthening their distribution channels to improve their product penetration. Furthermore, the adoption of competitive strategies, such as mergers & acquisitions (M&As) and joint ventures, is also prominent in the UAE meat market.

Recent Development

• In March 2021, Marel Poultry BV, a Netherlands-based machining manufacturer, started a new processing plant for Arabian Farm Investments (Saha Poultry) in the UAE.

Scope of the Report

By Type

• Red Meat

1. Beef
2. Goat
3. Lamb

• Poultry

1. Chicken
2. Turkey

• Seafood

1. Fish
2. Crab
3. Lobster
4. Others

By Product Type

• Fresh
• Chilled
• Frozen

By Distribution Channel

• On-Trade
• Off-Trade

1. Supermarkets/Hypermarkets
2. Speciality Stores
3. Online Stores
4. Others