• Organic Foods & Café leads the organic segment in the UAE with a value share of 6.3% in 2023, followed by Groupe Lactalis with a value share of 6.1% and Nestlé; SA with a share of 4.7%. 
• The UAE ranks 41st globally in terms of market size, with a value of US$132.8 mn in 2023, the 4th largest consumer market in the Middle East and Africa region, trailing only Saudi Arabia, Israel and Iran.

• Organic products in the UAE represent 0.2% of global demand and 7.4% of the market in the Middle East and Africa region, recording a per capita expenditure of US$12.5 in 2023. 
• The market for organic products in the UAE is projected to increase with a value CAGR of 6.2% for the forecast period 2023-2028 in 2023 constant prices with fixed USD exchange rates, reaching a value of US$179.0 mn by 2028.

• The Organic Packaged Food and Beverages category in the UAE registered a value decrease of 3.4% in 2023 in current prices to record a market size of US$132.8 million. 
• During the historic period of 2019-2023, the Organic Packaged Food category registered a CAGR of 6.4% in current prices. The category is expected to continue growing over the forecast period from 2023 to 2028, expected to post a CAGR of 6.5% in constant prices.
• Organic Beverages also experienced an increase in value, growing historically at a 2.2% current CAGR. A slower increase is expected over the forecast period at a 0.7% constant CAGR.
• Organic Packaged Food was primarily led by Organic Cooking Ingredients and Meals with a 9.0% current CAGR during the historic period. The category is expected to grow at a constant CAGR of 8.1% over the forecast period.
• Within Organic Beverages, Organic Hot Drinks was the only category with growth during the historic period at a current 30.3% CAGR. For the forecast period, Organic Hot Drinks is also the only beverage category expected to grow, with a projected constant CAGR of 2.2%.

• An increasing number of consumers are becoming more concerned about their health, and keen to prevent medical problems by eating “better”, fueled by increasing content in the media about the link between the overconsumption of sugar, fat, and salt and conditions such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and even cancer. According to Euromonitor International’s most recent Voice of the Consumer survey from January-February 2024, 59% of consumers in the UAE look for products that contain healthy ingredients in their food and beverages, with 43% also claiming that they closely read the nutritional labels of food and beverages.
• An increasing number of consumers are prioritizing active, health-conscious lifestyles, leading to a growing demand for organic products, with shoppers also becoming more mindful of food ingredients, often willing to pay for organic options when available. While local products have gained more shelf space in recent years, many offerings are still imported, contributing to higher overall prices. However, products with organic claims are not significantly more expensive than standard items, and given the relatively high purchasing power in the region, organic choices are frequently preferred.

• Organic Foods & Café is leading the Organic Packaged Food category with a market share of 6.7% in 2023, decreasing 1.3 p.p. from the previous year. The company offers a variety of organic products across multiple categories, including fruit and vegetables, frozen foods, meat, fish, bakery and dairy products.
• Luigi Lavazza SpA continued to lead Organic Beverages in 2023 with a 23.4% market share, decreasing 2.4 p.p. from the previous year. The company has attracted consumers looking for an organic alternative for coffee thanks to its organic arabica blend, Tierra!.

• Although obesity remains a major issue in the country, rising health awareness and greater manufacturer involvement are expected to drive more reduced sugar claims on packaging over the forecast period. This is expected to drive higher demand for products with health and wellness claims such as low/no/no added sugar, coupled with government efforts to improve the health of the nation, such as a program to identify and label nutritious foods in foodservice and retail channels across Abu Dhabi, and an eight-week initiative in Dubai which aimed to support food and beverage manufacturers in the region in their efforts to cut sugar (and calories) from products.
• Across the forecast period, sales of Organic Staple Foods are set to grow, with retail sales projected to rise at a 6.0% constant value CAGR to reach US$75.5 million in 2028, the largest category within Organic Health and Wellness. Although obesity levels are now declining, driven by government efforts and consumers’ awareness of healthy eating, it is still regarded as an issue, and this is one of the reasons why staple foods with health and wellness claims are in high demand. Across the forecast period, Organic Rice will be the leading product in the Organic Staple Foods landscape, reaching sales of US$38.7 million, supported by a forecast constant CAGR of 3.4%.

• The natural claim is becoming increasingly popular, as consumers are looking to avoid overprocessed packaged foods, with natural products regarded by consumers as better for their health. Added to this, consumers are focusing more on food and drinks which they perceive as having a less detrimental impact on their health while still wanting to enjoy a moment of indulgence. As such, alternative products that are positioned as healthier than standard variants increasingly feature in consumers’ shopping baskets. Concerns that products are sometimes overprocessed have contributed to the positive performance of variants with natural claims. 
• The UAE’s 2025 food safety regime introduced a unified national framework - including risk-based inspections, stricter import controls, e-commerce oversight, and farm-to-fork traceability - to reinforce public health and support sustainable food and beverage growth. A pivotal addition is the Nutri-Mark nutritional labeling system, mandatory from June 2025. Classifying products from A (healthiest) to E, it applies initially to baked goods, dairy, and beverages. Manufacturers and retailers must repackage and comply or face penalties, while consumers benefit from clear nutritional guidance, promoting healthier choices and enhancing transparency.

Economy: 

• The UAE economy is projected to grow in 2025, with real GDP growth expected to reach 4.1%, an increase from 3.0% in 2024. This growth is mainly due to ongoing business climate reforms, infrastructure investments, and governance enhancements, which have further supported economic diversification and competitiveness.
• Real GDP growth is expected to remain constant, reaching 4.8% in 2026 and averaging around 4.5% annually through 2028.
• Inflation closed 2024 at 1.7% and is expected to accelerate slightly to 1.9% in 2025.

Population demographics: 

• The UAE population reached 11.0 million in 2024 and is projected to increase by 2.3% to 11.3 million in 2025. The UAE is the 8th oldest country in the Middle East and Africa region by median age, well above the average for the region. 
• The median age in the UAE was recorded at 33.8 years in 2024, an increase of 1.1 years from 2020. 

Income & expenditure: 

• The savings ratio in the UAE reached 14.9% of disposable income in 2024, above the average for the Middle East and Africa region, driven by growth in the banking sectors and an increasing willingness to invest in financial products from the population.
• Consumer expenditure per capita grew by 5.0% in 2024 in current USD terms. In constant USD, it is projected to grow at an average annual rate of 2.6% through 2028. This growth is likely driven by increased spending on communications, although housing is projected to remain the largest consumer spending category.
• Disposable income per capita was US$27,069 in 2024. It is expected to grow at an average annual rate of 2.4% through 2028, outpacing the Middle East and Africa average.

¹ Health and Wellness Definition: Health and wellness is the aggregation of organic packaged food and beverages, fortified/functional packaged food and beverages, naturally healthy packaged food and beverages, better for you packaged food and beverages and food intolerance products.

The above definition and more can be referenced from the definitions table at the end of the report.

² Economic and Demographic Data has been updated to reflect final 2024 estimates, therefore using 2024 as the base year for exchange rates and prices. 

³ Historic current prices and forecast constant 2024 prices.

Top 5 Cities By Population

Top 5 Grocery Retailers By Sales

Top 5 Export Commodities To United Arab Emirates

Note : Total organics is the sum of all exports to a country within a year

Authorized Government Agency(s):

United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a member of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) that includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia. Gulf Standards Organization (GSO) is responsible for developing food and non food standards in the GCC. Once a new standard is approved by the GSO food standards committee, each member country officially adopts the standard, thus making it a national standard as well as a GSO standard

Ministry of Climate Change and Environment

Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology (ESMA) 

Agency(s) Contact Information:

GCC Standardization Organization (GSO)
Riyadh - Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
AlGadeer - Olaya Street
P.O.Box 85245 Riyadh 11691
Phone: (+96611) 2746655
Fax: (+96611) 2105391
Email: csc@gso.org.sa
Website

Ministry of Climate Change and Environment
Abu Dhabi Main Office:
Old Airport Road
Behind Carrefour
Opposite Abu Dhabi Retirement Pensions & Benefits Fund
P.O. Box 213
Phone: 971 02 4444747
Fax: 971 02 4490444
Email: adarchieve@moccae.gov.ae
Webiste
Organic farming information

Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology (ESMA)
Business Avenue Building - Sheikh Rashid Rd - Dubai
Telephone: 600565554
Email: customercare@esma.gov.ae
Website

Name(s) of Regulation and/or Standard:

Law No.5 of 2009 regarding organic products (Available in Arabic)

GSO 2374:2014 Guidelines for the Production, Processing, Labelling and Marketing of Organically Produced Foods

Date of Implementation: 2012

Regulation and/or Standard Scope:

The GSO standard applies to unprocessed plants and plant products, livestock and livestock products, and processed agricultural crop and livestock products intended for human consumption. A product will be regarded as bearing indications referring to organic production methods where, in the labelling or claims, including advertising material or commercial documents, the product, or its ingredients, is described by the terms “organic”, “biodynamic”, “biological”, “ecological”, or words of similar intent including diminutives which, in the country where the product is placed on the market, suggests to the purchaser that the product or its ingredients were obtained according to organic production methods.

According to a 2015 Gulf News report, imports that are not certified by an organization approved by the Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology will be stopped at the port. 

GCC Guide for Control on Imported Foods is useful for all food imports.

Certification:

All farms producing organic products must be registered and approved by the ministry. Organic products must be certified by the Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology (ESMA); imports must be certified by an organization approved by ESMA.

A copy of the regulations can be purchased in English via https://estore.esma.gov.ae/e-store/Default/stdDetails.aspx?std=3856

USDA's GAIN Report Retail Foods (2024)
USDA's GAIN Report Exporter Guide Annual Report for the United Arab Emirates (2022)
USDA's GAIN Report Food Processing Ingredients (2022)
USDA's GAIN Report Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards Export Certificate Report (2023)
USDA's GAIN Report Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards Report Country Report (2023)
USDA's GAIN Report Retail Foods (2022)