UAE Beer Market – Trend Analysis & Forecasts

UAE Beer Market Overview:
The combined UAE beer market reached an estimated US$ ** million in 2024, supported by consumption of ** kiloliters, with non-alcoholic variants accounting for **% of total sales and alcoholic beer contributing US$ ** million. The expatriate population representing 88% of UAE residents and the arrival of 17 million tourists in 2023 helped push sales volumes upward by **%, while Dubai’s removal of its **% alcohol tax reduced retail prices by 15% and increased alcoholic beer demand by 9%. Imports of more than ** hectoliters worth US$ ** million demonstrate the UAE’s dependence on foreign supply, while local craft breweries, producing just ** hectoliters, meet only **% of total national demand.

Primary Areas/ Elements of Research & Analysis
The report provides comprehensive and valuable insights into the supply and demand dynamics of the UAE beer market. Below are the variables considered and analyzed in the report:
• Supply-demand trends, market growth, and trade
• Market structure, conduct, and performance analysis
• Historical and forecasted market size (volume & value)
• Trade analysis (export & import), including key partners, quantities, values, and price trends
• Supply chain mapping, pricing, and regulatory framework
• Competitive landscape profiling of key players
• Factors influencing market performance, including sustainability trends

Market Growth Factors
Tourism remains the central growth engine, with Dubai and Abu Dhabi jointly welcoming over 25 million visitors in 2023, generating US$ ** million in on-trade beer sales across hotels and nightlife districts. The non-alcoholic segment is scaling rapidly at 7.5% CAGR (2019–2024), driven by UAE millennials, 60% of whom prefer low-calorie drinks, pushing non-alcoholic beer revenue to US$ ** million in 2024. Retail expansion through 1,650 modern outlets and the rise of licensed e-commerce worth US$ ** million also fuel demand, while tourism investments exceeding US$ ** billion through 2030 are expected to add nearly US$ ** million in additional beer revenue across foodservice and entertainment venues.

Market Restraints & Challenges
Strict regulation of alcoholic beverages continues to limit wider market expansion, with licensing requirements and advertising restrictions suppressing sales potential by US$ ** million annually in Abu Dhabi alone. Heavy import dependency exposes the market to logistical volatility, as global freight disruptions in 2021–2022 increased beer import costs by 13%, raising retail prices by AED 2–3 per unit. Cultural sensitivities also shape demand patterns, as over **% of UAE nationals consistently favor non-alcoholic beverages, which yield thinner margins of **%, compared to **% margins in the alcoholic segment, constraining profitability for suppliers.

Market Segmentation
Across product categories, alcoholic beer generated US$ ** million in 2024, while non-alcoholic beer reached US$ ** million, driven heavily by premium 0.0% brands. Lager dominates alcoholic demand with a **% share valued at US$ ** million, whereas craft and specialty brews represent only US$ ** million despite a 14% growth rate in local production. In distribution, on-trade channels captured US$ ** million, boosted by tourism, while off-trade retail channels—led by hypermarkets contributing US$ ** million—accounted for the majority of non-alcoholic sales. Packaging dynamics show cans representing **% of volume with ** kiloliters, while glass accounted for **% of market value, reflecting premium product positioning.

Competitive Landscape
The UAE beer sector is shaped by global giants such as Heineken, AB InBev, and Carlsberg, which collectively control over **% of the alcoholic segment with more than US$ ** million in combined sales. In the fast-growing 0.0% category, brands like Barbican, Holsten, and Heineken 0.0 command **% of the market, generating US$ ** million in revenue. Local craft breweries, responsible for ** hectoliters in 2024, saw 14% year-on-year output growth but still account for only **% of national consumption. Industry investments such as Carlsberg’s US$ ** million expansion in the Middle East and AB InBev’s premium draft partnership adding US$ ** million in sales illustrate intensifying competition across both premium and non-alcoholic offerings.

Outlook
The UAE beer market is forecast to expand from US$ ** million in 2024 to US$ ** billion by 2032, reflecting a solid CAGR of **%, with alcoholic beer expected to climb to US$ ** million and non-alcoholic beer to US$ ** million. Tourism ambitions targeting 40 million annual visitors by 2030 could add US$ ** million in incremental beer demand, supported further by expanding retail and hospitality ecosystems. Domestic brewing capacity, which stood at ** hectoliters in 2024, is projected to rise to ** hectoliters by 2032, marginally easing import dependence but keeping the UAE firmly positioned as a premium, import-driven beer market with strong regional influence.

Scope of the Report:
• Historical Years: 2018-2024
• Base Year: 2025
• Forecast Period: 2026-2032
• Units: Value (US$ Million) and Volume (Thousand Tonnes)
• Segments Covered:
By Product Type (Alcoholic and Non-alcoholic Beer)
By Packaging Format (Glass bottles and Cans)
By Production Facility (Macro & Micro Brewery and Craft Brewery) By Distribution Channel (On-trade and Off-trade)
• Companies Profiled: The market players include, Heineken N.V., Anheuser-Busch InBev (Budweiser), Carlsberg Group, Molson Coors, AB InBev – Stella Artois, Asahi Breweries, Sapporo Breweries, Bavaria (Netherlands), Holsten (Germany), Barbican (Aujan Group), Dubai Brewing Company (Local Craft), Abu Dhabi Craft Collective, Paulaner Brewery, Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu, Erdinger Weissbräu, and Others.

Please note: It will take 4-5 business days to deliver the report upon receipt the order.


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