UAE Frozen Food Market Size
| Study Period | 2019 - 2029 |
| Base Year For Estimation | 2023 |
| Market Size (2024) | USD 0.96 Billion |
| Market Size (2029) | USD 1.22 Billion |
| CAGR (2024 - 2029) | 4.84 % |
| Market Concentration | Low |
Major Players
*Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order |
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UAE Frozen Food Market Analysis
The United Arab Emirates Frozen Food Market size is estimated at USD 0.96 billion in 2024, and is expected to reach USD 1.22 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 4.84% during the forecast period (2024-2029).
- Numerous consumers in the United Arab Emirates are inclined towards online delivery channels, and they purchase food and beverage products through online mediums. This, in turn, resulted in several retailers expanding their online footprints to retain consumers and maintain their market share. This maintained the demand for daily essentials, including frozen desserts, while respecting the social distancing norms imposed by the government.
- For instance, in October 2020, Waitrose & Partners launched a new online shopping site in the United Arab Emirates, called Waitrose.ae, to retail 15,000 products, including frozen food products, to consumers in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
- Furthermore, United Arab Emirates is inhospitable to most agriculture due to its arid climate and nominal rainfall, and thus, it relies heavily on imports of food and other products from other nations across the globe. The fast-changing consumer preferences for the ever-rising need for convenience due to busy lifestyles propel the demand for frozen food products.
- Attributed to a high number of foreign and expatriate workers, United Arab Emirates is witnessing significant demand for seafood and halal seafood products, which further represents considerable potential in the frozen food products market in the United Arab Emirates.
UAE Frozen Food Market Trends
This section covers the major market trends shaping the UAE Frozen Food Market according to our research experts:
Escalating Demand for Ready-to-Eat and Convenience Food Products
- Consumers in the United Arab Emirates are looking for convenience food products such as ready-to-eat products and meals. The research and development leading to innovation in food products via new and innovative frozen food technologies are propelling market demand. Frozen meals are enticing to consumers due to their hectic lifestyles, which do not permit them to invest much time in cooking, but they require food products with high nutritional content. In addition to this, the wider availability of convenience food products via different sales channels, such as both online and offline availability, is attracting consumers towards them.
- Also, the demand for packaged food products is rising in the United Arab Emirates, attributed to rising urbanization and a high percentage of tourists and expatriates. For instance, According to Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), Between January and December 2021, Dubai hosted 7.28 million international overnight visitors, a 32% year-on-year (YoY) growth. The rise in consumers (including both residents and tourists) is fuelling demand for processed, canned, frozen, and ready-to-eat food products.
- The new-age consumers in the country (especially millennials) are sophisticated when it comes to their food shopping and eating habits; they spend on high-quality and healthy food. Most food and beverage chains continue to innovate and experiment with multiple product offerings and models to cater to this growing consumer segment.
Frozen Ready Meals is the Fastest Growing Segment
- Frozen ready meals are those meals that are precooked and packaged and then frozen for further sale in the market. The frozen-ready meals are more appealing to consumers as they are a convenient alternative to cooking, thereby enhancing their use by the working population.
- Working people have to spend less time on cooking and thereby increasingly prefer frozen food products or precooked meals such as meatballs, veg meals, etc. Additionally, there is a high demand from customers for frozen food products that have been halal-certified. Prominent players such as Ta'moosh are offering frozen gourmet ready-to-eat halal dishes to maintain a significant share in the UAE market.
- Thus, all the above-mentioned factors are supporting the demand for frozen and convenience food products in the United Arab Emirates.
UAE Frozen Food Industry Overview
The United Arab Emirates frozen food market is highly competitive and fragmented, with several players selling frozen and shelf-stable food products via several distribution channels present across the country. Thus, market players are adopting strategies such as expansions, product innovations, partnerships, and mergers and acquisitions to achieve a competitive advantage and sustain in the market for a longer period. Some of the prominent players in the market include General Mills Inc., IFFCO, Al Kabeer Group, Al Islami Foods, etc. These players will embark on innovations and market expansions to increase their range of products and widen their consumer base.
UAE Frozen Food Market Leaders
Al Kabeer Group ME
Al Islami Foods
IFFCO Group
Mars, Incorporated
Unilever PLC
*Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order
UAE Frozen Food Market News
- September 2022: General Mill's ice cream brand Häagen-Dazs launched a new café at the Dubai Hills Mall. In the United Arab Emirates, NTDE Group, an exclusive distributor, operates more than 15 Häagen-Dazs cafés, some of which are in prestigious buildings like The Dubai Mall, Ibn Battuta Mall, and Mall of the Emirates.
- February 2022: Seara, a brand of JBS, launched Shawaya chicken, an innovation in the frozen foods category. It offers a 'freezer to oven' halal product in the frozen poultry category. Roasted chicken offered by the brand offers customers ease of preparation and taste tailored to local flavor preferences.
- April 2021: United Arab Emirates-based manufacturer of frozen halal products, Al Islami Foods, unveiled a new dough category, starting with frozen paratha, as it looks to expand the availability, variety, and visibility of the brand.
UAE Frozen Food Market Report - Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 Study Assumptions and Market Definition
1.2 Scope of the Study
2. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
4. MARKET DYNAMICS
4.1 Market Drivers
4.2 Market Restraints
4.3 Porter's Five Forces Analysis
4.3.1 Threat of New Entrants
4.3.2 Bargaining Power of Buyers/Consumers
4.3.3 Bargaining Power of Suppliers
4.3.4 Threat of Substitute Products
4.3.5 Intensity of Competitive Rivalry
5. MARKET SEGMENTATION
5.1 Product Type
5.1.1 Frozen Meat
5.1.1.1 Frozen Poultry
5.1.1.2 Frozen Beef
5.1.1.3 Frozen Mutton
5.1.1.4 Other Frozen Meats
5.1.2 Frozen Fruits and Vegetables
5.1.3 Frozen Ready Meals
5.1.4 Frozen Desserts
5.1.4.1 Ice Cream
5.1.4.2 Other Frozen Desserts
5.1.5 Frozen Snacks
5.1.6 Frozen Seafood
5.1.6.1 Frozen Fish
5.1.6.2 Frozen Shrimp
5.1.6.3 Other Frozen Seafood
5.1.7 Other Product Types
5.2 Distribution Channel
5.2.1 Supermarkets/Hypermarkets
5.2.2 Convenience Stores
5.2.3 Specialty Stores
5.2.4 Online Retail Stores
5.2.5 Other Distribution Channels
6. COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
6.1 Most Adopted Strategies
6.2 Market Share Analysis
6.3 Company Profiles
6.3.1 JBS S.A.
6.3.2 BRF S.A.
6.3.3 Sidco Foods Trading LLC
6.3.4 Al Islami Foods
6.3.5 Al Kabeer Group ME
6.3.6 General Mills, Inc.
6.3.7 European Sea Food LLC
6.3.8 Americana Group
6.3.9 IFFCO Group
6.3.10 Unilever PLC
6.3.11 Mars, Incorporated
- *List Not Exhaustive
7. MARKET OPPORTUNITIES AND FUTURE TRENDS
UAE Frozen Food Industry Segmentation
Frozen food is preserved through rapid freezing which keeps the food products safe until it is used. Freezing leads to the long-term preservation of food products along with their nutritional contents. The United Arab Emirates frozen food market is segmented by product type and distribution channel. Based on product type, the market is segmented into frozen meat, frozen fruits and vegetables, frozen ready meals, frozen desserts, frozen snacks, frozen seafood, and other product types. Frozen meat is further sub-segmented into frozen poultry, frozen beef, frozen mutton, and other frozen meats. Similarly, frozen desserts are sub-segmented into ice cream and other frozen desserts. Frozen seafood is also sub-categorized into frozen fish, frozen shrimp, and other frozen seafood. Based on the distribution channel, the market studied is segmented into supermarkets/hypermarkets, convenience stores, specialty stores, online retail stores, and other distribution channels. For each segment, the market sizing and forecasts have been done on the basis of value (in USD million).
| Product Type | ||||||
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| Frozen Fruits and Vegetables | ||||||
| Frozen Ready Meals | ||||||
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| Frozen Snacks | ||||||
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| Other Product Types |
| Distribution Channel | |
| Supermarkets/Hypermarkets | |
| Convenience Stores | |
| Specialty Stores | |
| Online Retail Stores | |
| Other Distribution Channels |
UAE Frozen Food Market Research FAQs
How big is the United Arab Emirates Frozen Food Market?
The United Arab Emirates Frozen Food Market size is expected to reach USD 0.96 billion in 2024 and grow at a CAGR of 4.84% to reach USD 1.22 billion by 2029.
What is the current United Arab Emirates Frozen Food Market size?
In 2024, the United Arab Emirates Frozen Food Market size is expected to reach USD 0.96 billion.
Who are the key players in United Arab Emirates Frozen Food Market?
Al Kabeer Group ME, Al Islami Foods, IFFCO Group, Mars, Incorporated and Unilever PLC are the major companies operating in the United Arab Emirates Frozen Food Market.
What years does this United Arab Emirates Frozen Food Market cover, and what was the market size in 2023?
In 2023, the United Arab Emirates Frozen Food Market size was estimated at USD 0.92 billion. The report covers the United Arab Emirates Frozen Food Market historical market size for years: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023. The report also forecasts the United Arab Emirates Frozen Food Market size for years: 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028 and 2029.
Frozen Food in UAE Industry Report
Statistics for the 2024 Frozen Food in UAE market share, size and revenue growth rate, created by Mordor Intelligence™ Industry Reports. Frozen Food in UAE analysis includes a market forecast outlook to 2029 and historical overview. Get a sample of this industry analysis as a free report PDF download.
