The UAE Food & Beverage report by KPMG is a yearly overview and forecast of the UAE F&B market. The latest edition, 2018, sees UAE leading the Middle East, aided by increasing influx of tourists and ongoing entry of new international and regional brands. UAE has a high retail Gross Leasable Area (GLA) which is expected to grow to 9.9m sqm. by 2020.

“Expo 2020 Dubai, the first World Expo to take place in the Middle East, Africa or South Asia region, opens on 20 October 2020. It will be a six month global event attracting countries, companies, decision- makers and tourists from around the world. Accordingly, local F&B businesses have been gearing up for this much-anticipated event.” Report continues “AED 2 billion in F&B sales expected onsite during the event, with up to 85,000 meals served per hour at its peak.” However sector operators believe the Expo and its positive impact may be limited to the duration of the event. Also the investments in F&B by operators are shifting from international market expansion to “local expansion of the winners in their existing portfolios” and operational improvements, faced with a changing cost structure, as per the cost analysis in the report.

The KPMG report goes on to identify best performing cuisines, and new technologies. In term of formats, the report highlights how fast food outlets outperform others.

You could download the report from KPMG.