UAE Chickpeas Market Overview, 2030

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has established itself as a significant importer and consumer of chickpeas, particularly the Kabuli variety, due to its large expatriate population and culinary culture rooted in South Asian and Middle Eastern traditions. The country does not cultivate chickpeas locally because of arid climatic conditions, limited rainfall, scarce arable land, and water scarcity challenges. Instead, the domestic market relies entirely on imports to fulfill demand driven by Indian, Pakistani, Lebanese, Egyptian, and Syrian communities who incorporate chickpeas into daily cooking. These legumes are essential in widely consumed dishes such as hummus, falafel, chole, and stews served in households and restaurants. Chickpeas enter the country primarily through major ports like Jebel Ali in Dubai and Khalifa Port in Abu Dhabi. Bulk shipments are imported by leading food distributors and processors who then supply chickpeas to foodservice establishments and retail channels. Demand spikes during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan and around Eid festivals when legume-based meals are traditionally consumed during iftar and suhoor. The food processing sector in UAE is highly active, with chickpeas repackaged and distributed under regional brands or sold to HoReCa (hotel, restaurant, catering) businesses. Regulatory approvals for imported chickpeas involve bodies like the Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology (ESMA), Halal UAE certification for religious compliance, Dubai Municipality’s food safety clearance, and global quality systems such as FSSC 22000 for food safety management. Chickpeas, especially Kabuli types, are processed into canned, dried, or flour forms to meet various culinary needs in both ethnic and modern food segments.

According to the research report ""UAE Chickpeas Market Overview, 2030,"" published by Bonafide Research, the UAE Chickpeas market is anticipated to grow at more than 5.64% CAGR from 2025 to 2030. The UAE chickpeas market operates through a fully import-dependent supply chain with consistent year-round demand and price fluctuations linked to global supply conditions. The country sources chickpeas primarily from India, Canada, Mexico, Australia, Argentina, and Turkey. Kabuli chickpeas dominate the imports due to their size, smooth texture, and suitability for Middle Eastern cuisine. According to ITC Trade Map data, in 2023, the UAE imported over 40,000 metric tons of chickpeas, with India and Mexico as the top contributors. Prices at the wholesale level vary depending on the international harvest cycle, logistics costs, and currency exchange rates. Wholesale prices in Dubai typically range between AED 2.8–3.5/kg for dried Kabuli chickpeas, with canned varieties fetching higher margins. Importers, such as Al Adil Trading, Al Maya Group, and Al Dahra, operate storage facilities and distribute chickpeas through supermarket chains like Lulu, Carrefour, Union Coop, and Choithrams. In addition to bulk dry chickpeas, there is rising demand for value-added forms like canned chickpeas, chickpea flour (besan), and ready-to-eat hummus products. UAE’s Free Zones, such as Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA), facilitate smooth import and re-export operations without high tariffs. Local food processors and private-label packagers also source chickpeas for creating ethnic food mixes, snacks, and frozen meals. The market is regulated by food quality standards such as Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology (ESMA) and Dubai Municipality's Food Safety Department.

The UAE chickpeas market is dominated by Kabuli chickpeas, which account for nearly the entire volume of chickpeas consumed and imported into the country. The preference for Kabuli variety is rooted in regional taste preferences, with large, light-colored, smooth-skinned seeds being ideal for hummus, falafel, stews, and Middle Eastern appetizers. Kabuli chickpeas imported into the UAE typically range from 7mm to 12mm in size, with 8mm and 9mm grades being the most widely traded. According to global trade shipment records for 2023, Canada, India, Mexico, and Australia remained the leading suppliers of Kabuli chickpeas to the UAE market. Indian-origin chickpeas, although smaller in size, are price competitive and preferred by the South Asian population, while Mexican and Canadian Kabuli are more commonly distributed in hypermarkets due to their uniform size and premium grading. Prices for Mexican 9mm Kabuli chickpeas ranged between AED 3.2–3.6/kg, while Indian varieties were around AED 2.8–3.2/kg in bulk form. UAE importers do not actively procure Desi chickpeas, as this variety has limited demand in the domestic market and is usually substituted with canned or reprocessed formats for Indian expatriates through specialty grocers. The Desi chickpeas that are available locally are mostly in the form of split chana dal or processed besan, not in whole form. Large food packaging firms and ethnic grocers cater to niche Indian and Pakistani communities using Desi derivatives, but this demand is minimal in comparison to the mainstream Kabuli variety. Local processors such as Emirates Macaroni Factory and food brands like Al Islami Foods use Kabuli chickpeas in their frozen and canned product lines. The UAE’s retail shelf strongly favors ready-to-cook and ready-to-eat Kabuli chickpea items, which are labeled with size specifications to attract health-conscious consumers. Kabuli chickpeas maintain premium visibility due to their suitability in Arab, Levantine, and Mediterranean cuisine.

In the UAE chickpeas market, whole dried chickpeas remain the most commonly imported form, especially in bulk quantities for wholesale and foodservice sectors. Kabuli chickpeas are the dominant variety in dried form, with shipments primarily arriving through Dubai’s Jebel Ali Port. Traders import dried chickpeas in 25kg and 50kg polypropylene sacks from Canada, India, Mexico, and Turkey. These are redistributed to wholesalers in Deira and Sharjah and sold under local wholesale brands like Al Adil, Farm Fresh, and private labels of supermarket chains. The retail market offers dried chickpeas in 500g, 1kg, and 2kg packs, targeting household consumption. Canned chickpeas represent the second-largest form of consumption in UAE, especially due to the convenience demanded by urban households and the HORECA segment. Global brands like California Garden, Goody, and private labels such as Lulu, Carrefour, and Union Coop sell ready-to-eat canned chickpeas in brine, available in 400g tins. Price-sensitive buyers often opt for canned chickpeas from Turkey or Lebanon, priced between AED 2.5–3.5 per can. Local manufacturers such as American Garden and Al Alali offer canned chickpeas using imported raw materials. Chickpea flour, also known as besan, caters largely to the South Asian population in UAE. It is imported primarily from India and Pakistan, or milled locally by specialty processors. Besan is sold in ethnic retail stores and Indian supermarkets in 500g and 1kg packs under brands like Pillsbury, Swad, and Shan. Split chickpeas, especially the Desi variant known as chana dal, have limited but consistent demand among Indian and Pakistani consumers. These are also imported from India and sold in bulk and branded formats. While frozen and pre-soaked chickpeas are available, they occupy a very niche space in hypermarkets and are not significant in volume.

In the UAE, the food and beverage industry drives the highest consumption of chickpeas, both in B2B and B2C channels. Restaurants, hotels, cloud kitchens, and catering services use chickpeas in multiple cuisines, including Middle Eastern, South Asian, Mediterranean, and North African dishes. The ingredient is a staple in preparations like hummus, falafel, chole, and stews. Canned and pre-cooked chickpeas are especially preferred by the HORECA segment for reducing preparation time. UAE-based F&B brands like Al Safadi, Operation Falafel, Zaroob, and Zaatar W Zeit rely on steady chickpea imports, mostly sourced through Dubai-based food distributors like Kibsons, Barakat, and Fresh Express. In the retail household segment, chickpeas are a key ingredient in Emirati kitchens for dishes like harees and madrooba, while Indian and Pakistani families use them in curries and snacks. Packaged besan is commonly used in fritters, batters, and sweets. Ready-to-cook and ready-to-eat chickpea-based meals like chana masala, pre-mixed falafel kits, and hummus spreads have gained traction across supermarkets and e-commerce platforms like Noon and Amazon UAE. In the animal feed segment, chickpeas have minimal application due to high cost compared to traditional feed ingredients. Limited quantities of rejected or broken chickpeas may enter livestock feed or pet food blending units but do not constitute a formal or significant market share. UAE does not have large-scale domestic food processing of chickpeas, instead, it relies on imports and value-added packaging. However, foodtech startups are introducing chickpea protein-based vegan products such as non-dairy spreads, dips, and meat analogs. Chickpeas are also increasingly visible in the health-conscious consumer segment through protein bars, roasted chickpea snacks, and gluten-free bakery products. While industrial use is low, chickpeas remain an essential input for both ethnic and health-focused diets, making them integral to multiple segments of UAE’s diverse food economy.

The UAE chickpeas market operates through both B2B and B2C distribution channels, with imports primarily routed through Dubai’s Jebel Ali Port and further distributed across the seven emirates. In the B2B segment, bulk importers like Al Ghurair Foods, Al Dahra, Transworld Group, and Allana Middle East manage container-level shipments from key origin countries including India, Turkey, Mexico, Australia, and Canada. These firms handle logistics, storage, and customs clearance, and sell to wholesalers, processors, re-packagers, hotels, restaurants, and catering services. Distribution hubs in Al Aweer Fruits & Vegetable Market, Dubai Industrial City, and Sharjah Food Park play a key role in bulk handling. Many wholesalers repackage chickpeas under private labels or distribute them unbranded to smaller retail outlets and ethnic food stores. The B2C channel includes modern grocery retailers such as Carrefour, Lulu Hypermarket, Union Coop, and Choithrams, which sell packaged chickpeas in canned, dried, flour, and snack-ready formats. Brands like California Garden, American Garden, Eastern, Aashirvaad, Daawat, and 24 Mantra offer chickpea-based SKUs. Ethnic stores in areas like Bur Dubai, Karama, Satwa, and Deira cater to Indian, Pakistani, Arab, and African communities, selling loose and branded chickpeas in varied forms. The e-commerce channel has grown rapidly, with platforms like Amazon UAE, Noon, Instashop, and Carrefour Online offering doorstep delivery and subscription packs of chickpea products. Direct-to-consumer models from health food startups like Right Bite, Freakin’ Healthy, and Health Nag also sell chickpea protein snacks and hummus kits. Foodservice and institutional procurement take place via B2B ordering platforms like Tradeling and Chef Middle East. Seasonal spikes during Ramadan and Diwali trigger bulk demand across both channels. The UAE’s re-export capabilities also allow some chickpea shipments to be redirected to neighboring Gulf and African markets via Dubai-based trading intermediaries and free zone exporters. Show more