Report Code : CVMI0706254 | Published Date : June 7, 2025

1 | Market Overview
The frozen food market in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is experiencing rapid expansion, driven by robust retail development, a large expatriate population, high tourism inflows, and increasing consumer demand for convenience and variety. The country’s role as a logistics hub, combined with a tech-savvy population and high per capita income, is further boosting the uptake of frozen meat, seafood, vegetables, ready meals, and bakery products. Foodservice operators, particularly hotels, airlines, and caterers, are significant contributors to volume, while private labels and e-commerce are enhancing value offerings.

 

2 | Market Size and Forecast

Year

Market Value (USD Million)

Notes

2019

1,170

Historical baseline

2024

1,670

Five-year CAGR 7.4%

2031

3,050

Seven-year CAGR 9.1%

The market is projected to nearly double by 2031, driven by retail modernization, tourism-related foodservice demand, and the growth of online grocery platforms.

 

3 | Key Market Drivers

  • Tourism and Hospitality Sector: Hotels, resorts, and airlines create consistent demand for frozen inputs.
  • Expat-Driven Diversity: Consumer preferences span Asian, Western, Arab, and African cuisines.
  • Modern Retail Infrastructure: Hypermarkets like Carrefour, Lulu, and Spinneys lead frozen food variety.
  • Digital Ordering Boom: Grocery apps such as Instashop and Talabat Mart are reshaping frozen product accessibility.

 

4 | Market Challenges

  • High Import Dependency: Most frozen products are sourced internationally, making pricing sensitive to global logistics.
  • Energy and Logistics Costs: Maintaining frozen chains is capital- and energy-intensive.
  • Cultural Freshness Bias: Some consumer groups remain attached to fresh food purchases.

 

5 | Competitive Landscape

The UAE frozen food market is moderately consolidated, with international food giants, robust regional players, and in-house retail brands dominating in terms of volume.

Market Share Estimates (2024):

Company

Estimated Market Share

Core Categories

Al Kabeer

17%

Meat, seafood, snacks – strong supermarket penetration

BRF Sadia

15%

Frozen poultry and processed meals – GCC-wide presence

Americana

13%

Arab-style frozen meals and ready-to-eat dishes

Igloo

11%

Frozen dairy and desserts – also expanding into meals

Private Labels (Lulu, Carrefour, Spinneys)

30%

Budget-conscious and regionalised SKUs

Others (niche and importers)

14%

Premium and specialty offerings

 

6 | Market Segmentation
By Product Type:

  • Frozen Meat & Poultry
  • Frozen Seafood
  • Frozen Vegetables & Fruits
  • Ready-to-Eat Meals (Indian, Western, Arabic, Asian)
  • Frozen Snacks (samosas, fries, pies)
  • Frozen Dairy Products (ice cream, frozen yogurt)

 

By Distribution Channel:

  • Hypermarkets & Supermarkets
  • Online Grocery & App-Based Delivery
  • Convenience Stores
  • HoReCa (Hotels, Restaurants, Airlines)
  • Institutional Catering (Schools, Hospitals, Corporates)

 

By Consumer Segment:

  • Expat Working Professionals
  • Family Households
  • Institutional Buyers
  • Tourism-Linked Operators (airlines, hotels)

 

7 | Strategic Outlook

Growth will continue through strategic product localisation, smart cold-chain investments, and expanded private-label innovation. Brands should focus on tailored ethnic cuisines, sustainable packaging, and AI-enhanced demand forecasting to build consumer loyalty and optimise inventory turnover.





Reasons To Buy

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Scope

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Key Players

  • Al Islami Foods
  • IFFCO Group
  • The Savola Group
  • Americana Restaurants International PLC
  • Unilever PLC
  • BRF S.A.
  • General Mills Inc.
  • Khazan Meat Factory
  • Freshly Frozen Foods Factory LLC
  • Inspire Brands Inc. (Baskin-Robbins)

 

UAE Frozen Food Market: Report

 

  1. 1. UAE Frozen Food Market: Research Report
    1. 1.1 Study Objectives
    2. 1.2 UAE Frozen Food Market: - Overview
    3. 1.3 Reason to Read This Report
    4. 1.4 Methodology and Forecast Analysis
  2. 2. UAE Frozen Food Market: Research Report - Preface
    1. 2.1 UAE Frozen Food Market: Research Report – Detailed Scope and Definitions
      1. 2.1.1 By Product Type
      2. 2.1.2 By Distribution Channel
      3. 2.1.3 By Consumer Segment
      4. 2.1.4 By Region
  3. 3. UAE Frozen Food Market: Dynamics
    1. 3.1. Drivers - Macro-Economic Based, Supply Side, and Demand Side Drivers
    2. 3.2. Restraints – By Product Type, By Distribution Channel, By Consumer Segment, By Country
    3. 3.3. Opportunities – By Product Type, By Distribution Channel, By Consumer Segment, By Country
    4. 3.4. Trends – By Product Type, By Distribution Channel, By Consumer Segment, By Country
    5. 3.5. PEST Analysis
    6. 3.6. Porters Five Rule Analysis
    7. 3.7. Company’s Share Analysis (CSA) by Region or By Country
    8. 3.8. UAE Frozen Food Market: Research Report – DROTs Impact Analysis
  1. 4. UAE Frozen Food Market: Research Report, Historic Data 2019 - 2023 and Forecast Analysis Data 2024 - 2031
    1. 4.1. Market Performance Review & Future Outlook: Assessing 2019 - 2023 and Predicting 2024 - 2031 Trends (USD Millions)
    2. 4.2. Annual Market Trend Assessment – Year-on-Year (YoY) Growth Analysis (%)
    3. 4.3. Incremental Market Value/Volume Opportunity between 2019 - 2023 and 2024 - 2031
    4. 4.4. Market Shares Analysis in Years - 2019, 2023, 2024 and 2031
  1. 5. UAE Frozen Food Market:, By Product Type, 2019 - 2023 and Forecast, 2024 - 2031 (Market Value, In USD Mn)
    1. 5.1 Frozen Meat & Poultry
    2. 5.1.1 Market Performance Review & Future Outlook: Assessing 2019 - 2023 and Predicting 2024 - 2031 Trends (USD Millions)
    3. 5.1.2 Annual Market Trend Assessment – Yearly Growth Observation (Y-O-Y)(%)
    4. 5.1.3 Incremental Market Value/Volume Opportunity between 2019 - 2023 and From 2024 to 2031
    5. 5.1.4 Market Shares Analysis in Years - 2019, 2023, 2024 and 2031
    6. 5.2 Frozen Seafood
    7. 5.2.1 Market Performance Review & Future Outlook: Assessing 2019 - 2023 and Predicting 2024 - 2031 Trends (USD Millions)
    8. 5.2.2 Annual Market Trend Assessment – Yearly Growth Observation (Y-O-Y)(%)
    9. 5.2.3 Incremental Market Value/Volume Opportunity between 2019 - 2023 and From 2024 to 2031
    10. 5.2.4 Market Shares Analysis in Years - 2019, 2023, 2024 and 2031
    11. 5.3 Frozen Vegetables & Fruits
    12. 5.3.1 Market Performance Review & Future Outlook: Assessing 2019 - 2023 and Predicting 2024 - 2031 Trends (USD Millions)
    13. 5.3.2 Annual Market Trend Assessment – Yearly Growth Observation (Y-O-Y)(%)
    14. 5.3.3 Incremental Market Value/Volume Opportunity between 2019 - 2023 and From 2024 to 2031
    15. 5.3.4 Market Shares Analysis in Years - 2019, 2023, 2024 and 2031
    16. 5.4 Ready-to-Eat Meals (Indian, Western, Arabic, Asian)
    17. 5.4.1 Market Performance Review & Future Outlook: Assessing 2019 - 2023 and Predicting 2024 - 2031 Trends (USD Millions)
    18. 5.4.2 Annual Market Trend Assessment – Yearly Growth Observation (Y-O-Y)(%)
    19. 5.4.3 Incremental Market Value/Volume Opportunity between 2019 - 2023 and From 2024 to 2031
    20. 5.4.4 Market Shares Analysis in Years - 2019, 2023, 2024 and 2031
    21. 5.5 Frozen Snacks (samosas, fries, pies)
    22. 5.5.1 Market Performance Review & Future Outlook: Assessing 2019 - 2023 and Predicting 2024 - 2031 Trends (USD Millions)
    23. 5.5.2 Annual Market Trend Assessment – Yearly Growth Observation (Y-O-Y)(%)
    24. 5.5.3 Incremental Market Value/Volume Opportunity between 2019 - 2023 and From 2024 to 2031
    25. 5.5.4 Market Shares Analysis in Years - 2019, 2023, 2024 and 2031
    26. 5.6 Frozen Dairy Products (ice cream, frozen yogurt)
    27. 5.6.1 Market Performance Review & Future Outlook: Assessing 2019 - 2023 and Predicting 2024 - 2031 Trends (USD Millions)
    28. 5.6.2 Annual Market Trend Assessment – Yearly Growth Observation (Y-O-Y)(%)
    29. 5.6.3 Incremental Market Value/Volume Opportunity between 2019 - 2023 and From 2024 to 2031
    30. 5.6.4 Market Shares Analysis in Years - 2019, 2023, 2024 and 2031
    6. UAE Frozen Food Market:, By Distribution Channel, 2019 - 2023 and Forecast, 2024 - 2031 (Market Value, In USD Mn)
    1. 6.1 Hypermarkets & Supermarkets
    2. 6.1.1 Market Performance Review & Future Outlook: Assessing 2019 - 2023 and Predicting 2024 - 2031 Trends (USD Millions)
    3. 6.1.2 Annual Market Trend Assessment – Yearly Growth Observation (Y-O-Y)(%)
    4. 6.1.3 Incremental Market Value/Volume Opportunity between 2019 - 2023 and From 2024 to 2031
    5. 6.1.4 Market Shares Analysis in Years - 2019, 2023, 2024 and 2031
    6. 6.2 Online Grocery & App-Based Delivery
    7. 6.2.1 Market Performance Review & Future Outlook: Assessing 2019 - 2023 and Predicting 2024 - 2031 Trends (USD Millions)
    8. 6.2.2 Annual Market Trend Assessment – Yearly Growth Observation (Y-O-Y)(%)
    9. 6.2.3 Incremental Market Value/Volume Opportunity between 2019 - 2023 and From 2024 to 2031
    10. 6.2.4 Market Shares Analysis in Years - 2019, 2023, 2024 and 2031
    11. 6.3 Convenience Stores
    12. 6.3.1 Market Performance Review & Future Outlook: Assessing 2019 - 2023 and Predicting 2024 - 2031 Trends (USD Millions)
    13. 6.3.2 Annual Market Trend Assessment – Yearly Growth Observation (Y-O-Y)(%)
    14. 6.3.3 Incremental Market Value/Volume Opportunity between 2019 - 2023 and From 2024 to 2031
    15. 6.3.4 Market Shares Analysis in Years - 2019, 2023, 2024 and 2031
    16. 6.4 HoReCa (Hotels, Restaurants, Airlines)
    17. 6.4.1 Market Performance Review & Future Outlook: Assessing 2019 - 2023 and Predicting 2024 - 2031 Trends (USD Millions)
    18. 6.4.2 Annual Market Trend Assessment – Yearly Growth Observation (Y-O-Y)(%)
    19. 6.4.3 Incremental Market Value/Volume Opportunity between 2019 - 2023 and From 2024 to 2031
    20. 6.4.4 Market Shares Analysis in Years - 2019, 2023, 2024 and 2031
    21. 6.5 Institutional Catering (Schools, Hospitals, Corporates)
    22. 6.5.1 Market Performance Review & Future Outlook: Assessing 2019 - 2023 and Predicting 2024 - 2031 Trends (USD Millions)
    23. 6.5.2 Annual Market Trend Assessment – Yearly Growth Observation (Y-O-Y)(%)
    24. 6.5.3 Incremental Market Value/Volume Opportunity between 2019 - 2023 and From 2024 to 2031
    25. 6.5.4 Market Shares Analysis in Years - 2019, 2023, 2024 and 2031
    7. UAE Frozen Food Market:, By Consumer Segment, 2019 - 2023 and Forecast, 2024 - 2031 (Market Value, In USD Mn)
    1. 7.1 Expat Working Professionals
    2. 7.1.1 Market Performance Review & Future Outlook: Assessing 2019 - 2023 and Predicting 2024 - 2031 Trends (USD Millions)
    3. 7.1.2 Annual Market Trend Assessment – Yearly Growth Observation (Y-O-Y)(%)
    4. 7.1.3 Incremental Market Value/Volume Opportunity between 2019 - 2023 and From 2024 to 2031
    5. 7.1.4 Market Shares Analysis in Years - 2019, 2023, 2024 and 2031
    6. 7.2 Family Households
    7. 7.2.1 Market Performance Review & Future Outlook: Assessing 2019 - 2023 and Predicting 2024 - 2031 Trends (USD Millions)
    8. 7.2.2 Annual Market Trend Assessment – Yearly Growth Observation (Y-O-Y)(%)
    9. 7.2.3 Incremental Market Value/Volume Opportunity between 2019 - 2023 and From 2024 to 2031
    10. 7.2.4 Market Shares Analysis in Years - 2019, 2023, 2024 and 2031
    11. 7.3 Institutional Buyers
    12. 7.3.1 Market Performance Review & Future Outlook: Assessing 2019 - 2023 and Predicting 2024 - 2031 Trends (USD Millions)
    13. 7.3.2 Annual Market Trend Assessment – Yearly Growth Observation (Y-O-Y)(%)
    14. 7.3.3 Incremental Market Value/Volume Opportunity between 2019 - 2023 and From 2024 to 2031
    15. 7.3.4 Market Shares Analysis in Years - 2019, 2023, 2024 and 2031
    16. 7.4 Tourism-Linked Operators (airlines, hotels)
    17. 7.4.1 Market Performance Review & Future Outlook: Assessing 2019 - 2023 and Predicting 2024 - 2031 Trends (USD Millions)
    18. 7.4.2 Annual Market Trend Assessment – Yearly Growth Observation (Y-O-Y)(%)
    19. 7.4.3 Incremental Market Value/Volume Opportunity between 2019 - 2023 and From 2024 to 2031
    20. 7.4.4 Market Shares Analysis in Years - 2019, 2023, 2024 and 2031
  1. 8. UAE Frozen Food Market: Forecast, By Region, 2019 - 2023 and 2024 - 2031 (Market Value, In USD Mn)
    1. 8.1 UAE Frozen Food Market: - Opportunity Analysis Index, By Product Type, By Distribution Channel, By Consumer Segment, and Region, 2024 - 2031
  1. 9. Competition Landscape
    1. 9.1 Strategic Dashboard of Top Market Players
    2. 9.2 Company Profiles (Introduction, Financial Assessments, Portfolio of Offerings, Milestones and Achievements, Strategic Initiative, and SWOT Analysis)
      1. 9.2.1 Al Islami Foods
      2. 9.2.2 IFFCO Group
      3. 9.2.3 The Savola Group
      4. 9.2.4 Americana Restaurants International PLC
      5. 9.2.5 Unilever PLC
      6. 9.2.6 BRF S.A.
      7. 9.2.7 General Mills Inc.
      8. 9.2.8 Khazan Meat Factory
      9. 9.2.9 Freshly Frozen Foods Factory LLC
      10. 9.2.10 Inspire Brands Inc. (Baskin-Robbins)
  1. 10. Data Collection Method and Research Approach
  1. 11. Principal Presumptions and Acronyms