Report Overview

Changing dietary habits and busy lifestyles of consumers and the government's efforts to promote healthy eating habits are expected to boost the growth of the UAE fruits and vegetables processing market during the forecast period between 2023 and 2029.

UAE Fruits and Vegetables Processing Market - Industry Trends & Forecast Report, 2029

The UAE fruits and vegetables processing market size is projected to grow at a CAGR of 9.84% during the forecast period of 2023–2029. Major growth factors for the UAE fruits and vegetables processing market include increased use of prepared and convenient food items and an increase in the number of working women. Shelf-stable processed fruits and vegetables are becoming increasingly popular among consumers since they are handy, simple to use, and need little to no preparation. Additionally, the market is projected to grow as a result of growing demand for fruit snacks and dried fruits as well as a shift in customer preferences toward convenience foods & canned food items.

UAE Fruits and Vegetables Processing Market – Overview

Processing fruits and vegetables allows them to have a longer shelf life. Some of the most commonly used processing methods in the market are blanching, dehydrating, canning, freezing, fermenting and pickling, and irradiating. Fruits and vegetables must be processed in order to provide consumables for both direct consumption and use as culinary components. The major goals of processing are to maintain the color, taste, texture, and nutritional value of perishable fruits and vegetables while extending their shelf life.

UAE Fruits and Vegetables Processing Market

Growth Drivers

Changing Dietary Habits and Busy Lifestyles of Consumers

The development of fresh products (such multivitamin juice) and advancements in packaging, which result in longer product life cycles, are anticipated to be the driving forces behind the expansion in the market for fruits and vegetables. Consumers in the UAE are starting to seek more indigenous food. As local items have a smaller carbon footprint than imported ones, consumers believe that local produce is of higher quality. The UAE's production of fresh fruits and vegetables is being driven by this, which is projected to boost the growth of the fruits and vegetable processing market in the country.

Restraints

Lack of Locally Sourced Raw Materials

UAE is heavily dependent on the imports of fruits and vegetables. The top fruit imports into the UAE in 2020 were guavas, mangoes, and mangosteens (USD 69 million), apples (USD 149 million), bananas (USD 101 million), and oranges (USD 108 million). At USD 38 million, the United States is the ninth-largest exporter of fresh fruit to the UAE. This increases the price of processed fruits and vegetables, which may act as a major restraining factor for the growth of the market.

Impact of COVID-19 on the UAE Fruits and Vegetables Processing Market

During the initial outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the UAE market for processing fruits and vegetables suffered a setback. Due to social distance standards and labor scarcity, the supply chains were entirely disrupted, and the processing activities were stopped. Stocks of processed fruits and vegetables were in short supply as a result. The market also saw a dramatic increase in the demand for packaged food and convenience goods. However, the market is anticipated to grow during the post-COVID-19 era as consumer health consciousness increases and supply chain disruptions subside.

UAE Fruits and Vegetables Processing Market

Segmental Coverage

UAE Fruits and Vegetables Processing Market – By Product Type

Based on product type, the UAE fruits and vegetables Processing market is segregated into fresh cut, canned, dried, frozen, and other segments. The fresh-cut product segment accounts for the highest share of the UAE fruits and vegetables processing market. These foods are simple to make and may be eaten right away. The demand for fresh-cut fruits and vegetables in the UAE market is being driven by factors including the lack of hazardous contaminants, the use of environmentally friendly preservation techniques, and the freshness of the items.

UAE Fruits and Vegetables Processing Market – By Operation Type

Based on operation type, the UAE fruits and vegetables processing market is segmented into semi-automatic, automatic, and manual. The automatic segment holds the highest share of the market. This segment's revenue is growing as a result of factors such as the growing popularity, availability, and distribution of items through organized retail and e-commerce channels, as well as the demand for quick processing and higher product quality.

UAE Fruits and Vegetables Processing Market – By Processing Systems

Based on processing systems, the UAE fruits and vegetables processing market is segmented into small-scale processing, intermediate-scale processing, and large-scale processing. The small-scale processing segment accounts for the highest share of the UAE fruits and vegetables processing market. Small-scale farmers are increasingly using small-scale processing equipment to prepare their products for sale in local markets, which is credited with the sector's expansion. This sort of processing system's cheap investment needs is another important aspect driving the expansion of the industry as a whole.

Competitive Landscape

Major players operating in UAE fruits and vegetables processing market include Al Dahra Agriculture, Agthia Group PJSC, Emirates Food Industries LLC, Greenhouse Foodstuff Trading LLC, Al Rawabi Dairy Company, Dole Food Company, Inc., Del Monte Pacific Limited, Nestle Middle East, PepsiCo, Inc., and Unilever Gulf FZE.

To further enhance their market share, these companies employ various strategies, including mergers and acquisitions, partnerships, joint ventures, license agreements, and new product launches.

Scope of the Report

By Product Type

• Fresh Cut

• Canned

• Dried

• Frozen

• Others

By Operation Type

• Semi-automatic

• Automatic

• Manual

By Processing Systems

• Small-Scale Processing

• Intermediate-Scale Processing

• Large-Scale Processing