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Report
United Arab Emirates Frozen Food - Market Share Analysis, Industry Trends & Statistics, Growth Forecasts (2026 - 2031)
Market Report I 2026-02-09 I 100 Pages I Mordor Intelligence
United Arab Emirates Frozen Food Market Analysis
The UAE frozen food market was valued at USD 0.86 billion in 2025 and estimated to grow from USD 0.92 billion in 2026 to reach USD 1.26 billion by 2031, at a CAGR of 6.52% during the forecast period (2026-2031). Dubai's dominant consumer base, Sharjah's logistics-linked expansion, and heavy reliance on halal-certified imports anchor growth. Supermarket penetration, robust e-grocery adoption, and resumed tourism fuel broad-based demand, while cold-chain investments exceeding USD 35 million safeguard temperature integrity and widen national distribution capacity. Food security policies encourage local processing, yet 90% import dependency keeps global sourcing pivotal [BIOSALINE.ORG]. Regulatory tightening around ESMA inspections and Dubai's 2025 single-use plastic ban add compliance costs. Competitive intensity is moderate as regional leaders Al Islami Foods and IFFCO defend their share against new foreign entrants benefiting from 100% ownership rules.
United Arab Emirates Frozen Food Market Trends and Insights
Growing expatriate & tourist population boosting demand for convenient halal-certified frozen meals
Dubai and Abu Dhabi host dense expatriate communities that prioritize convenience over fresh preparation, driving a steady pull for ready-to-cook frozen products that carry trusted halal stamps. In 2022, the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology certified 6,581 halal items, creating a reliable compliance framework that producers leverage for both domestic sales and re-exports. More than 13,000 food-service outlets in Dubai alone standardize procurement around portion-controlled frozen proteins to match diverse culinary preferences. The Emirates' 4% GDP growth outlook for 2025 sustains labor inflows that reinforce freezer-aisle demand. As tourist arrivals rebound, hotels increasingly adopt frozen ingredients to guarantee menu consistency, bolstering volumes across meat, bakery, and dessert lines.
Rapid e-grocery and quick-commerce adoption boosting at-home consumption
Online grocery penetration has accelerated as platforms such as Noon and Talabat scale same-day fulfilment networks that preserve cold-chain integrity. Lulu Retail reported a 70% e-commerce revenue surge in 2024, with frozen food one of the fastest-moving categories thanks to packaging formats suited for last-mile ice-box delivery. Hybrid shopping habits-56% of consumers shop both online and in-store-broaden category visibility and encourage trial of new SKUs. Quick-commerce dark-store models dispatch frozen items within 15 minutes in urban cores, lowering barriers to impulse purchases. These digital channels also generate granular consumption data that suppliers use for targeted assortment planning, improving inventory turns, and reducing wastage.
Stringent ESMA inspections delaying clearance
Enhanced ESMA oversight now requires exhaustive documentation, Arabic-English labeling, and batch traceability, extending port dwell times for temperature-sensitive consignments. Dubai Municipality's food import portal mandates SKU-level registration, creating administrative burdens for brands with frequent recipe tweaks. Federal Law 10-2015 further obligates risk-assessment records that small importers often find resource-intensive. Clearance delays escalate demurrage and jeopardize product integrity, compelling firms to invest in bonded cold storage or premium freight options. While such controls elevate consumer safety, they temporarily erode margins and can discourage portfolio diversification.
Other drivers and restraints analyzed in the detailed report include:
Government-backed cold-chain investments (KIZAD, Dubai CommerCity)HoReCa rebound linked to mega-events legacyConsumer perception of lower nutritional value versus fresh produce
For complete list of drivers and restraints, kindly check the Table Of Contents.
Segment Analysis
The frozen meat & seafood category generated 37.46% of the UAE frozen food market revenue in 2025, benefiting from established halal supply chains that secure religious compliance for the predominantly expatriate consumer base. Imports fulfill more than 80% of meat demand, making cold-chain reliability essential to preserve quality from source to shelf. Local investment is on the rise-Al Ghurair's USD 272 million poultry complex is designed to process 10,000 metric tons annually, thereby shortening lead times. Frozen bakery, desserts, and ready meals remain staples for hospitality operators seeking menu consistency during seasonal tourism peaks.
Frozen snacks & appetizers, although smaller in value, are advancing at an 10.95% CAGR, the fastest within the UAE frozen food market. Lifestyle shifts among millennials and Gen Z fuel home entertaining and quick-service restaurant patronage, both of which rely on bite-sized, fry-and-serve products. Retail freezers increasingly allocate space to international street-food SKUs, mirroring the Emirates' multicultural demographic mix. Manufacturers innovate with cleaner labels and plant-based proteins to counter health skepticism. Collectively, these trends reinforce product differentiation and volume uplift across the portfolio.
The UAE Frozen Food Market Report is Segmented by Product Type (Frozen Meat & Seafood, Frozen Fruits & Vegetables, Frozen Ready Meals, Frozen Bakery & Desserts, Frozen Snacks & Appetisers, Other Product Types) and End-User (Foodservice/HoReCa, Retail). The Market Forecasts are Provided in Terms of Value (USD).
List of Companies Covered in this Report:
Al Islami Foods BRF S.A. Americana Restaurants International PLC National Food Products Company (NFPC) Unilever PLC IFFCO Group The Savola Group Emirates Snack Foods LLC Freshly Frozen Foods Factory LLC Khazan Meat Factory Al Kabeer Group Kibsons International LLC Lulu Group International Al Areesh Foods Frosty Foods LLC Choithrams Food Division Pran Foods UAE Gulf West Company LLC Inspire Brands Inc. (Baskin-Robbins) Tanmiah Food Company
Additional Benefits:
The market estimate (ME) sheet in Excel format
3 months of analyst support
1 Introduction
1.1 Study Assumptions and Market Definition
1.2 Scope of the Study
2 Research Methodology
3 Executive Summary
4 Market Landscape
4.1 Market Overview
4.2 Market Drivers
4.2.1 Growing expatriate & tourist population fuelling demand for convenient halal-certified frozen meals
4.2.2 Rapid e-grocery & quick-commerce adoption boosting at-home consumption
4.2.3 Continuous government investment in GDP-linked cold-chain infrastructure (KIZAD, Dubai CommerCity)
4.2.4 Horeca rebound linked to mega events (COP-28 legacy, Dubai Expo spill-over)
4.2.5 Energy-efficient refrigeration retrofits subsidised by Emirates Water & Electricity Authority
4.2.6 Under-the-radar: Rising demand for plant-based frozen products from health-conscious residents
4.3 Market Restraints
4.3.1 Stringent Emirates Authority for Standardization & Metrology (ESMA) inspections delaying clearance
4.3.2 High electricity tariffs for non-efficient legacy cold stores
4.3.3 Consumer perception of lower nutritional value vs. fresh produce
4.3.4 Under-the-radar: Limited domestic agricultural output raises import-price volatility risk
4.4 Value / Supply-Chain Analysis
4.5 Regulatory Landscape (Halal certification, ESMA food-safety code, plastic-packaging ban roadmap)
4.6 Technological Outlook (IoT temperature logging, AI demand-planning in GCC distribution)
4.7 Porter's Five Forces
4.7.1 Threat of New Entrants
4.7.2 Bargaining Power of Buyers
4.7.3 Bargaining Power of Suppliers
4.7.4 Threat of Substitutes
4.7.5 Competitive Rivalry
5 Market Size & Growth Forecasts (Value, USD Million)
5.1 By Product Type
5.1.1 Frozen Meat & Seafood
5.1.2 Frozen Fruits & Vegetables
5.1.3 Frozen Ready Meals
5.1.4 Frozen Bakery & Desserts
5.1.5 Frozen Snacks & Appetisers
5.1.6 Other Product Types
5.2 By End-User
5.2.1 Foodservice/ HoReCa
5.2.1.1 Full-service Restaurants
5.2.1.2 Quick-service Restaurants
5.2.1.3 Hotels & Resorts
5.2.2 Retail
5.2.2.1 Supermarkets / Hypermarkets
5.2.2.2 Convenience Stores
5.2.2.3 Independent Groceries & Baqalas
5.2.2.4 Specialty and Gourmet Stores
5.2.2.5 Online and Quick-Commerce Platforms
6 Competitive Landscape
6.1 Market Concentration
6.2 Strategic Moves
6.3 Market Share Analysis
6.4 Company Profiles (includes Global level Overview, Market level overview, Core Segments, Financials as available, Strategic Information, Market Rank/Share for key companies, Products & Services, and Recent Developments)
6.4.1 Al Islami Foods
6.4.2 BRF S.A.
6.4.3 Americana Restaurants International PLC
6.4.4 National Food Products Company (NFPC)
6.4.5 Unilever PLC
6.4.6 IFFCO Group
6.4.7 The Savola Group
6.4.8 Emirates Snack Foods LLC
6.4.9 Freshly Frozen Foods Factory LLC
6.4.10 Khazan Meat Factory
6.4.11 Al Kabeer Group
6.4.12 Kibsons International LLC
6.4.13 Lulu Group International
6.4.14 Al Areesh Foods
6.4.15 Frosty Foods LLC
6.4.16 Choithrams Food Division
6.4.17 Pran Foods UAE
6.4.18 Gulf West Company LLC
6.4.19 Inspire Brands Inc. (Baskin-Robbins)
6.4.20 Tanmiah Food Company
7 Market Opportunities & Future Outlook
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