United Arab Emirates (UAE) Bottled Water Market Overview, 2028

The UAE has a scorching desert climate with soaring temperatures all year. Due to the limited freshwater resources, desalination facilities provide the vast bulk of the country's water needs. As a result, tap water is rarely drunk straight from the tap; instead, many locals prefer to buy bottled water to meet their drinking water demands. Bottled water is an easy choice for locals and visitors to provide a readily available and portable source of drinking water. This climate requires the use of adequate amounts of water to stay hydrated. Due to the limited freshwater resources, desalination facilities provide the vast bulk of the country's water needs. As a result, tap water is rarely drunk straight from the tap; instead, many locals prefer to buy bottled water to meet their drinking water demands. Bottled water offers convenience and portability, which align with the fast-paced lifestyle in the UAE. It is readily available in various formats, such as small bottles, large bottles, and even in vending machines or dispensers, making it easy for individuals to access clean drinking water wherever they go. Additionally, the global emphasis on health and wellness has also influenced the bottled water culture in the country. Many individuals are conscious of their health and prefer to consume bottled water to maintain hydration and support their well-being.

According to the research report "United Arab Emirates Market Overview, 2028," published by Bonafide Research, the United Arab Emirates market is projected to reach a market size of more than USD 2.65 billion by 2028. The UAE bottled water market was one of the largest in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region. It accounted for a significant share of the regional market. Still water, which is non-carbonated and without added flavours or minerals, is a popular choice in the UAE. Many consumers prefer the simplicity and natural taste of still water for their daily hydration needs. Some consumers may prefer other types of bottled water, such as alkaline water or sparkling water, depending on their personal preferences or perceived health benefits. Furthermore, companies have started offering innovative solutions that spur growth momentum. Additionally, functional waters are relatively inexpensive when compared to other ready-to-drink RTD drinks, and different packaging options, including containers and single-serve bottles, are increasing consumer popularity, fuelling the expansion of the functional water industry. The incorporation of vital components like amino acids, vitamins, and minerals in different functional waters is responsible for the spike in demand for functional water. For instance, Agthia Group PJSC (Al Ain) offers different types of water, like vitamin D-fortified bottled water, low sodium bottled water, and zero bromate bottled water, as per the needs of the consumer. The bottled water market in the United Arab Emirates is highly competitive. The leading participants, like Agthia, Masafi, Oasis, Al Ghadeer Bottled Drinking Water, and PepsiCo, are the major players in the market. Key players are now focusing on social media platforms and online distribution channels for the online marketing and branding of their products to attract more customers. The leading players in the market enjoy a dominant presence across the country. These players focus on leveraging the opportunities posed by emerging markets to expand their product portfolios so that they can cater to the requirements of various consumers, especially for functional and flavoured water.

According to the government of Dubai, 3.85 million tourists visited Dubai from January 2021 to September 2021. Thus, the United Arab Emirates bottled water market is driven by an increasing number of immigrants and the growing tourism sector, which leads to a surge in demand for functional, fortified, and flavouring water. Also, the United Arab Emirates was reported to have witnessed one of the highest numbers of international tourist arrivals among Middle Eastern countries. As a result, there has been an increase in consumption of bottled water since then, as this type of purified and mineral-treated water provides greater assurance of purity compared to tap or normal water. Additionally, due to the increasing tourism in the country, food service channels, such as hotels and restaurants, are increasing in the region. Therefore, to offer quality service to their tourists, these channels are contributing to the high share of sales in the bottled water category, primarily from the still-bottled water segment. Furthermore, as per the International Bottled Water Association (IBWA), the region is the thirstiest country, with the highest temperature of 42 degrees Celsius in summer and the lowest temperature of 12 degrees in January. These climatic factors continue to drive the bottled water market.

Large supermarkets and hypermarkets are major distribution channels for bottled water. Carrefour, Lulu Hypermarket, Spinneys, Choithrams, Union Coop, and Al Maya Group are major supermarkets and hypermarkets in the UAE. The UAE has adopted standards set by the Gulf Standardisation Organisation (GSO) for bottled water. These standards specify requirements for the quality, safety, labelling, and packaging of bottled water products. The government sets strict guidelines for the quality of bottled water, including permissible levels of contaminants, microbiological standards, and chemical composition. These standards ensure that bottled water meets the required health and safety criteria. Furthermore, government authorities in the UAE enforce these regulations through inspections, sampling, and testing of bottled water products. Non-compliant products can face penalties, fines, or even suspension of operations to ensure consumer safety. The preference for premium and functional bottled water options is likely to continue. Consumers are increasingly seeking value-added products that offer specific benefits, such as mineral water, flavouring water, and vitamin-enhanced water. Companies that cater to these preferences may have opportunities for growth. Additionally, the preference for premium and functional bottled water options is likely to continue. Consumers are increasingly seeking value-added products that offer specific benefits, such as mineral water, flavouring water, and vitamin-enhanced water. Companies that cater to these preferences may have opportunities for growth.

Considered in this report
• Geography: UAE
• Historic year: 2017
• Base year: 2022
• Estimated year: 2023
• Forecast year: 2028



Aspects covered in this report
• UAE Bottled water market with its value and forecast along with its segments
• Country-wise Germany Bottled water market analysis
• Various drivers and challenges
• On-going trends and developments
• Top profiled companies
• Strategic recommendation

By Product Type

• Still Water
• Sparkling Water
• Functional Water
• Enhanced Water

BY Sales Channel
• On trade
• Off trade
The approach of the report:
This report consists of a combined approach of primary as well as secondary research. Initially, secondary research was used to get an understanding of the market and list out the companies that are present in the market. The secondary research consists of third-party sources such as press releases, annual reports of companies, and analysing government-generated reports and databases. After gathering the data from secondary sources primary research was conducted by making telephonic interviews with the leading players about how the market is functioning and then conducting trade calls with dealers and distributors of the market. Post this we have started doing primary calls to consumers by equally segmenting consumers into regional aspects, tier aspects, age groups, and gender. Once we have primary data with us. we have started verifying the details obtained from secondary sources.

Intended audience
This report can be useful to industry consultants, manufacturers, suppliers, associations & organizations related to Frozen Food Market, 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.