The Largest Food and Drink Market in the GCC
Why do business in Saudi Arabia — the Gulf's most realistic market for substantial long-term growth
Why Saudi Arabia
A boom market for local and global food businesses
Local food producers and manufacturers are enjoying a boom in Saudi Arabia, and global firms are also benefiting from the outstanding potential. The nation offers security, competitive export advantages and rising consumption trends — making Saudi Arabia the Gulf's most realistic market for substantial long-term investor growth.
✓29 million residents with a 3.3% annual growth rate
✓Over 50% of the population is under 25 years old
✓Young consumers particularly receptive to Western consumer trends
✓Retail market growth of 8% CAGR and rising hospitality investment
Market size
Saudi food market in numbers
60%
of total GCC food consumption
$70 billion
total food consumption
$35 billion
food imports by 2020
$27 billion
gourmet, organic & health sector
$21.7 billion
food packaging market
$6 billion
halal food market
$4.5 billion
fast food industry
$800 million
food security initiative
50,000
food retail outlets
Over 15%
of imports are agri-food & seafood
Hospitality & tourism
Hotel occupancy across the Kingdom
Hospitality demand keeps climbing across Saudi cities — Jeddah leads the Kingdom in hotel occupancy, with restaurant sales and catering & food services together worth over $56 billion a year.
Hotel occupancy by city
Jeddah74%
Madinah68%
Makkah61%
Riyadh48%
Be part of Foodex Saudi 2026
23 – 25 November 2026 · JIECC, Jeddah