| Study Period | 2019 - 2030 |
| Base Year For Estimation | 2024 |
| Forecast Data Period | 2025 - 2030 |
| Market Size (2025) | USD 1.43 Billion |
| Market Size (2030) | USD 1.68 Billion |
| CAGR (2025 - 2030) | 3.23 % |
| Market Concentration | Low |
Major Players
*Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order |
UAE Corrugated Board Packaging Market Analysis
The UAE Corrugated Board Packaging Market size is worth USD 1.43 Billion in 2025, growing at an 3.23% CAGR and is forecast to hit USD 1.68 Billion by 2030.
Corrugated boarding packaging is becoming more popular due to the country's growing penetration of the e-commerce industry, rising consumer environmental consciousness, and the demand for sustainable packaging options.
- Government and regulatory bodies in the nation are becoming increasingly concerned about sustainable packaging and its financial advantages. This element also fuels the expansion of the market studied. As the government took significant steps to urge citizens to lessen their environmental impact, Abu Dhabi retailers started phasing out plastic packaging in June 2022.
- The population's growing environmental consciousness and demand for convenient, environment-friendly packaging options (partially offset by new single-use packaging regulations in some countries) contribute to the market's accelerated growth. Other significant factors include the expanding e-commerce market, rising demand for electronic goods, home and personal care products, economic development, and rising per capita income.
- The country also has a high rate of packaged food and beverage consumption, owing to urbanization and a rising number of tourists and expatriates who often prefer safer processed foods. The country has stringent packaging regulations regarding food and beverages. The increasing demand for packaged food in the country is augmenting the demand for corrugated board packaging.
- The United Arab Emirates is witnessing a surge in packaged food consumption, driven by swift urbanization and a growing influx of tourists and expatriates who favor safer, processed foods. Furthermore, the expanding retail sector and the heightened demand for eco-friendly packaging materials propel the market's growth. Several factors fuel the rapid growth of the UAE corrugated packaging market. These include heightened environmental awareness, a rising demand for convenient and sustainable packaging, and an uptick in demand for electronic goods and other products.
- Sustainable packaging is often more expensive than conventional packaging. Many companies prefer paper packaging as a suitable alternative to plastic and metal, as it is lighter, eco-friendly, and recyclable. However, the corrugated packaging industry is facing challenges as the prices of its primary raw material, kraft paper, have started shooting up.
UAE Corrugated Board Packaging Market Trends
Strong Demand from the E-commerce Sector
- To ensure quality, e-commerce packaging is becoming more confidential and efficient. Smaller packaging allows postal and delivery personnel to load more products onto trucks, reducing carbon emissions and saving time. Now that more corrugated boxes are arriving on doorsteps rather than in stores, the sector is counting on more people to keep up with recycling.
- Corrugated packaging will profit immensely if e-commerce becomes a more significant retail component. Owing to the popularity of e-commerce packaging, corrugated boards are often the preferred material.
- According to the International Trade Administration, in November 2023, retailers are strategically entering the UAE e-commerce landscape. Luxury brands have rolled out Arabic-language websites to engage local customers deterred by language barriers. Cross-border e-commerce is gaining traction among Middle Eastern online shoppers.
- In the country, 58% of online purchases are made by overseas vendors, driven by trust in gateway security and dependable, complimentary shipping. Social media platforms play a pivotal role, with product and brand reviews shaping e-shopping preferences. Since online shopping platforms have been overgrown across the region, the demand for tertiary and secondary paper packaging products and corrugated boxes has increased dramatically.
- Online shopping offers numerous brands to provide retail-ready packaging solutions for food items, contributing to the expansion of the market study. Retail-ready packaging provides significant cost savings for retailers, with estimates suggesting these secondary packaging formats can cut shelf restocking and handling costs by as much as 50%.
- According to the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, the retail e-commerce in the country in 2023 was USD 6,217 million, and it increased from USD 4,577 million in 2020. Over recent years, the country has witnessed a surge in demand for ready-to-eat foods, driven by factors like industrialization, fast-paced lifestyles, and increasing female labor participation.
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Food Industry to Witness Significant Growth
- The food industry is witnessing growth as the appetite for packaged foods grows, increasing the demand for corrugated board packaging. The rise of single-person households has amplified the need for takeaway and delivery services, reshaping the food service sector and propelling market growth. Notably, a survey by Bayt.com highlighted that 26% of consumers in the United Arab Emirates prefer home food delivery during Ramadan.
- Corrugated cases are pivotal in transporting goods to online retailers' warehouses. A rising trend in the market is the popularity of subscription boxes and meal kit services, which deliver specialized foods directly to consumers. This shift presents a lucrative opportunity for corrugated board suppliers, especially with their delivery-friendly formats featuring die-cut interiors.
- The meat industry dominates the food industry in the country. Poultry meat has become the favored choice over red meat, valued for its high-quality proteins, despite concerns over potential health complications. With a noticeable shift from imported frozen poultry to fresh options—especially in specific portions and fillets—local production is set to ramp up to satisfy this rising demand.
- As demand for packaged food surges in the country, so does the need for corrugated board packaging. The Middle East, accounting for 5% of global packaged goods consumption per Interpack (a packaging trade fair), is witnessing rapid business growth. According to the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in 2023, organic food sales in the country accounted for approximately USD 44 million, and they are expected to reach a value of USD 52 million by 2024.
- By 2026, demand is projected to rise by 21%, reaching 44 million tons. Leading the Middle East in packaged food consumption, Saudi Arabia holds just under 30% of the market, trailed by Iraq and the United Arab Emirates. Interpack forecasts consumption increases in these regions, with the United Arab Emirates at 19%. Additionally, as single households increasingly turn to takeaway and delivery services, the reshaped demand in the food service sector propels the growth of the market studied in the country.
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UAE Corrugated Board Packaging Industry Overview
The UAE corrugated board packaging market is consolidated, as various players domestically provide corrugated packaging products for end users. Some of the key players in the market are Arabian Packaging Co. LLC, Queenex Corrugated Carton Factory, Falcon Pack, World Pack Industries LLC, M.A.H.Y. Khoory and Co., and Universal Carton Industries LLC. The entry-level barrier is low for this market since the country is increasingly emerging as a startup hotspot in the Middle East. The country has considerable support from government initiatives as a part of its effort to reduce its dependence on the oil and gas industry.
- August 2024: M.A.H.Y Khoory Group committed approximately AED 1 billion (USD 0.27 billion) to expand its Al Dhafra Paper Manufacturing Company. This expansion will add 500,000 metric tons of recycled kraft paper capacity. Once completed, the total capacity will reach 900,000 metric tons annually, positioning Al Dhafra as the region's leading kraft paper manufacturer.
UAE Corrugated Board Packaging Market Leaders
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Arabian Packaging Co. LLC
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Queenex Corrugated Carton Factory
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Falcon Pack
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World Pack Industries LLC
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Universal Carton Industries LLC
- *Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order
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UAE Corrugated Board Packaging Market News
- August 2024: Tetra Pak and Union Paper Mills (UPM) strengthened their collaboration by entering a significant AED 2,500,000 (USD 680,000) recycling agreement in November 2023. This agreement established a commercially viable collection and recycling value chain for used beverage cartons (UBC) in the United Arab Emirates. In partnership, they developed a localized recycling solution for UBC. Using UPM's cutting-edge recycling process, premium virgin paper fibers will be extracted from UBC, producing high-quality test liners for corrugated boxes.
- July 2024: Apex Business Trading, represented by the corrugated boxes factory, completed the first anniversary of the inauguration of its new branch at the facility building in Samail Industrial City. Apex Business Trading highlighted the pivotal role of the corrugated boxes factory in Samail Industrial City. This factory is essential for fulfilling the market's packaging materials and innovative products needs. The factory's versatility in producing a diverse range of sizes has bolstered its local and international appeal and cemented its status as a leader in manufacturing high-value, competitive products.
UAE Corrugated Board Packaging Industry Segmentation
Corrugated board packaging is a flexible and economical way to safeguard and transport various goods. Its key advantages, such as lightweight, biodegradability, and recyclability, make it an essential component in modern life. The study tracks key market parameters, underlying growth influencers, and major vendors operating in the industry, which supports the market estimations and growth rates over the forecast period.
The UAE corrugated board packaging market is segmented by product type (slotted containers, die-cut containers, five-panel folder boxes, set up boxes, and other product types) and end-user industry (food, beverage, electrical goods, personal care and household care, and other end-user industries). The market sizes and forecasts are provided in terms of value (USD) for all the above segments.
| By Product Type | Slotted Containers |
| Die Cut Containers | |
| Five Panel Folder Boxes | |
| Setup Boxes | |
| Other Product Types | |
| By End-user Industry | Food |
| Beverage | |
| Electrical Goods | |
| Personal Care and Household Care | |
| Other End-user Industries |
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UAE Corrugated Board Packaging Market Research FAQs
How big is the UAE Corrugated Board Packaging Market?
The UAE Corrugated Board Packaging Market size is worth USD 1.43 billion in 2025, growing at an 3.23% CAGR and is forecast to hit USD 1.68 billion by 2030.
What is the current UAE Corrugated Board Packaging Market size?
In 2025, the UAE Corrugated Board Packaging Market size is expected to reach USD 1.43 billion.
Who are the key players in UAE Corrugated Board Packaging Market?
Arabian Packaging Co. LLC, Queenex Corrugated Carton Factory, Falcon Pack, World Pack Industries LLC and Universal Carton Industries LLC are the major companies operating in the UAE Corrugated Board Packaging Market.
What years does this UAE Corrugated Board Packaging Market cover, and what was the market size in 2024?
In 2024, the UAE Corrugated Board Packaging Market size was estimated at USD 1.38 billion. The report covers the UAE Corrugated Board Packaging Market historical market size for years: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. The report also forecasts the UAE Corrugated Board Packaging Market size for years: 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030.
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UAE Corrugated Board Packaging Industry Report
Statistics for the 2025 UAE Corrugated Board Packaging market share, size and revenue growth rate, created by Mordor Intelligence™ Industry Reports. UAE Corrugated Board Packaging analysis includes a market forecast outlook for 2025 to 2030 and historical overview. Get a sample of this industry analysis as a free report PDF download.
