Middle East and Africa Halal Food & Beverage Market Outlook, 2027

In the research report prepared titled- Middle East and Africa Halal Food and Beverage Market Outlook 2027, a study has been presented discussing various intricacies of the halal food and beverages market backing with sufficient data points to support qualitative judgments. During the period of 2016 to 2021, the halal food and beverages market of the region grew by USD 173 Billion. It has been further forecasted that the in the forecast period of 2021 to 2027, the region’s market will be growing with more than 7% compound rate. The growing awareness of halal food and its positioning as hygienic and healthy food among, both, Muslim and non-Muslim communities, has resulted in an increase in the consumption and acceptance of halal food, which is expected to drive the demand over the forecast period. Furthermore, the assurance of integrity throughout the Halal supply chain has become a major concern for Muslim consumers, with fraudulent Halal certification and physical contamination of food products on the rise. Hence, supply chain integrity needs to be protected right from the point of animal slaughter and including transportation, storage, to the handling of Halal products.

Turkey has the biggest chunk of market share in the Middle East and Africa halal foods and beverages market, accounting for more than 25% of the total market. It is imperative to note that in the Middle East and African region, the Rest of MEA region other than major economies like UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey, South Africa, accounts for more than half of the total halal foods and beverages market in the region. The market has a huge scope of consolidation in order to create a more robust supply chain. Halal meat, poultry and seafood products are the most consumed halal foods and beverages market in the region, but other halal products of the categories like bakery, confectionery and other products are growing at a CAGR of over 10%. More than 1/3 of the sales in the region’s halal foods and beverages market is delivered though traditional sales channels such as convenience stores but online stores are the fastest growing sales channels in the region. Even though hypermarkets and supermarkets are developing rapidly in the region, the traditional ways of retailing have a greater growth rate than supermarkets/hypermarkets channels but does not have a material difference.

The increased demand for halal-certified products in the past few years is attributed to the growing population of Muslims and the rise in disposable income to utilize these products and services, and the same factors are expected to further augment the growth of the market over the coming years. Finally, there is greater awareness among Muslims on the need and necessity to consume only Halal food. Halal products are gaining wider recognition as they meet Sharia requirements and hygiene, sanitation, and safety aspects. Islam is now the fastest-growing religion in the world. Thus, the growing Muslim population and economic development in countries with large populations of Muslims make halal food and beverages a profitable segment to invest in to meet the demand.

During the forecast period, Saudi Arabia is likely to be the fastest-growing country and holds the largest market share in the halal food and beverage market of the region. The country is also the largest food and beverage producer in the Gulf region. However, the rapidly increasing population has surpassed the food supply and forced the country to depend on imports, which fuels the demand for Halal food products. The Government of Saudi Arabia has been introducing new policies to support the production of more halal food. These policies are anticipated to make the country self-sufficient in food and beverage production and offer better opportunities for domestic producers to vary in livestock, such as poultry, camel, sheep, and dairy production.

Similarly, the growing Muslim population, surging e-commerce sector, and rising per capita income are the key factors that drive the halal food & beverage market in the United Arab Emirates. The country is known as the global leader in the halal food & beverage market and is planning to strengthen this position by implementing internationally recognized certification standards and encouraging re-exports of halal products through the trading centers of the Gulf States. Moreover, rising standards of food quality, stringent import & export regulations, and rising acceptance for halal food among non-Muslims are further predicted to fuel the growth of the halal food & beverage market in the UAE. For instance, Dubai Exports is signing a memorandum of understanding with trade authorities from food-exporting countries across the world to improve global halal trade and create a halal trade network by using common standards for halal items.

In 2017, Halal Expo Dubai and Salaam Gateway teamed up to increase foreign direct investment in Dubai. The agreement will provide common platform to global investors, exhibitors, and trade visitors to increase awareness about Halal Expo Dubai. Moreover, in 2017, China invested US$ 1 trillion in ‘One Belt One Road’ initiative to accelerate growth of halal food market in GCC. Such activities are projected to have positive impact on growth of the halal food market in the region. Further, stringent halal regulations such as UAE.S OIC/SMIIC 3 are major challenges for small and medium scale manufacturers to compete in halal food market. Moreover, halal food is relatively expensive than its substitutes due to the additional procedures it has to undergo with respect to Islamic laws. Such factors may hinder growth of the market in the near future.

Al Islami Foods manufactures and distributes halal food products. It is a subsidiary of the Dubai Cooperative Society. It offers a wide range of products that include halal and specialty food items. The company procures its raw materials from several other countries such as Brazil, Egypt, Belgium, Vietnam, and the Netherlands. It mainly operates in the Middle East and Africa region and hires third party operators to manage its foreign markets.

Recent Developments

1. In August 2021, Riyadh-based Tanmiah Food Company announced its plans to expand regionally and globally. The company which is also Saudi Arabia's leading poultry producer, raised SAR 402 million (USD 107 million) by means of its initial public offering in August 2021, and aims to expand operations pertaining to halal food products regionally and into international markets like the United States, Europe, Asia, and Latin America to cater to the muslim population.

2. In January 2021, United Arab Emirates-based halal food producer Al Islami Foods, one of the leading frozen food companies in the Gulf Cooperation Council region, launched its first halal-certified plant-based product - a 100% vegan burger made with a combination of organic sunflower protein, plant-based protein from fava beans and peas, and extracts from onion, bell bell pepper, garlic, celery root, carrot and beet juice. According to the company, the new burger patty is designed to appeal especially to the meat eaters in terms of taste and texture.

3. In October 2018, JBS SA's Seara became the first Brazilian company to introduce 100% anti-biotic-free chicken line into the Middle-East market that meets the halal requirements and Islamic rules. The new 100% natural chicken line included whole breasts, drumsticks, breast strips, and thigh fillets.

4. In September 2018, UAE beauty brand Al-Hur Beauty was launched in Malaysia, pledging to provide Muslim consumers with safe and reliable natural cosmetics that meet international halal certification standards. The brand was launched with great fanfare in Kuala Lumpur at KL Gateway. Al-Hur Beauty is currently available through five resellers, independent sellers, and its own in-house sales team.

5. In March 2016, BASF obtained halal certification for a few of its personal care ingredients. The 145 personal care and home care ingredients manufactured on the company's site in Düsseldorf and Illertissen now comply with the international halal HAS 23000 standard.

Covid-19 Impacts:

The unprecedented outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has not only been a tragic health issue globally but has severely impacted the global economy on account of restrictions set by the government. However, despite its massive impact on the industries worldwide, the challenges posed to the Halal food industry in the middle-east and Africa region have not been significant enough, owing to the ever-increasing demand for halal food & beverage products majorly across countries like Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Egypt, and Bahrain, among others. Also, Ramadan was a period amidst the pandemic, which accelerated the sales of halal products in the region. Additionally, consumers shifted to home cooking, and online shopping for their daily essentials. The Saudi supermarket BinDaWood Holding reported their e-commerce sales increased by 200%, according to the World Halal Authority. With manufacturing, production, and logistical operations being disrupted, key exporters have had a challenging year financially, but, an increase in e-commerce, increased the demand for food security initiatives, and more clear labeling of healthier foods including halal products in the region.

Major Companies Present In the Market

Al Islami Foods Co., Midamar Corporation, Unilever, Cargill, Nestle S.A., BRF S.A.

Considered In the Report

• Geography: Middle East & Africa
• Historical year: 2016
• Base year: 2021
• Estimated year: 2022
• Forecasted year: 2027

Countries covered:

• UAE
• Qatar
• Turkey
• Saudi Arabia
• South Africa

Aspects Covered In the Report

• Market Size By Value for the historic time period (2016-2021)
• Market Size By Value for the forecast time period (2022-2027)
• Market Share by Product (Halal Meat, Poultry & Seafood, Halal Milk & Milk Products, Halal Fruits & Vegetables, Halal Grain Products, Beverage Products, Others)
• Market Share by Sales Channel (Hyper Market/ Supermarket, Traditional Retail, Online, Others)
• Market Share by Country (2016, 2021 & 2027F)

Intended Audience

This report can be useful to industry consultants, manufacturers, suppliers, associations & organizations related to the halal food & beverage industry, government bodies, and other stakeholders to align their market-centric strategies. In addition to marketing & presentations, it will also increase competitive knowledge about the industry.