Middle East shoppers still spending but hunting harder for value, NielsenIQ finds
RIYADH: Middle Eastern consumers are proving resilient but increasingly strategic, spreading spending across channels and price tiers as they navigate a more complex retail environment, data shows.
The latest “State of the Nation” report from market research firm NielsenIQ, covering performance in the first quarter of 2026 in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, puts the combined consumer basket spanning fast-moving consumer goods, tech, and durables at $56.2 billion.
UAE FMCG growth came in at 7.3 percent, driven by double-digit gains in snacking, beverages and ambient foods. The Kingdom told a more mixed story, with overall FMCG spend edging down 1.1 percent as declines in home care, baby care and frozen foods weighed on the market, even as its tech and durables segment grew 6 percent.
The findings stand against a broader backdrop of regional outperformance. According to Bain & Co., the MENA market is expected to continue expanding steadily, with regional executives remaining confident. The UAE and Saudi Arabia have helped drive volume growth, with MENA’s CPG market generating more than $450 billion in FMCG sales in 2024.
