Consumer Health in 2025: The big picture
Consumer health in the United Arab Emirates is projected to continue to register strong retail current value sales growth over 2025, driven by both structural and cultural factors. On the structural side, rising immigration levels, steady population growth and a continuous influx of tourists are expanding the consumer base and increasing the demand for health-related products. However, the momentum goes beyond demographics. A significant cultural shift is also fuelling this growth: the rapid rise of wellness influencers and a growing public awareness of the link between everyday health choices and overall wellbeing, including physical appearance. As more consumers turn to social media for advice and inspiration, they are increasingly exposed to educational content about the benefits of vitamins, supplements and functional foods. This has especially boosted categories like sports nutrition and protein-based products, which are seeing rising adoption among women. Influencers are playing a key role in this trend, breaking down the science behind protein intake and highlighting its importance for women’s fitness, muscle tone and metabolic health.
Key trends in 2025
The United Arab Emirates presents a unique consumer health landscape, largely due to its demographic profile. Unlike many developed markets, the country has a relatively small elderly population. The large majority of the population consists of expatriates, primarily working-age individuals, many of them millennials, who often come to the United Arab Emirates on a temporary basis to build their careers and earn income. As a result, there has traditionally been limited demand for products targeting older generations, and less visibility of age-related health needs in the market. However, this is beginning to shift. The concept of “healthy ageing” is gaining traction, not just among older consumers, but increasingly among younger demographics as well. Brand owners are positioning products to encourage millennials and Generation Z consumers to think long-term about their health, emphasising prevention, longevity and quality of life as key benefits. Whether it is supplements for joint support, collagen for skin health or functional foods that promote cognitive resilience, the messaging is clear: ageing well starts early. This shift in marketing and messaging is helping to create demand for traditionally age-associated products among a much younger, more proactive consumer base.
Competitive landscape
GSK Consumer Healthcare (GBO Haleon) is projected to continue to grow retail value share over 2025 to consolidate its leadership of consumer health in the United Arab Emirates. It is also well placed to stay ahead of the field in the forecast period. This leadership is built on the strong performance of flagship brands like Panadol, Voltaren, Zyrtec and Otrivin, which enjoy high levels of trust.
Channel developments
Pharmacies is set to remain the leading channel for consumer health in the United Arab Emirates in retail value terms over 2025, despite a downward trajectory in share. While remaining the cornerstone of consumer health product distribution in the United Arab Emirates, physical pharmacies face growing competition due to the rise of omnichannel retailing, which has reshaped the way these products reach consumers. In 2025, leading brand owners and retailers are embracing a seamless, integrated approach, offering consumer health products across physical pharmacies, e-commerce platforms and mobile apps.
What next for Consumer Health?
Over the forecast period, consumer health in the United Arab Emirates is likely to see an influx of new players, particularly lower-priced entrants, which have become less common in the review period. While premium, well-established brands from major pharmaceutical companies still dominate consumer preference, there is growing openness to alternatives. This shift is partly driven by rising price-sensitivity, especially among consumers who have invested in high-cost products, but have not always seen a noticeable benefit. As a result, more shoppers may begin exploring affordable options to see if they deliver comparable results.
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Overview:
Understand the latest market trends and future growth opportunities for the Consumer Health industry in United Arab Emirates with research from Euromonitor International's team of in-country analysts – experts by industry and geographic specialisation.
Key trends are clearly and succinctly summarised alongside the most current research data available. Understand and assess competitive threats and plan corporate strategy with our qualitative analysis, insight and confident growth projections.
Data and analysis in this report provides further detailed coverage dedicated to the following key categories, where applicable:
- Analgesics
- Cough, Cold and Allergy Remedies
- Digestive Remedies
- Dermatologicals
- NRT Smoking Cessation Aids
- Sleep Aids
- Eye Care
- Wound Care
- Vitamins
- Dietary Supplements
- Weight Management
- Sports Nutrition
- Herbal/Traditional Products
- Paediatric Consumer Health
If you're in the Consumer Health industry in United Arab Emirates, our research will help you to make informed, intelligent decisions; to recognise and profit from opportunity, or to offer resilience amidst market uncertainty.
The Consumer Health in United Arab Emirates report includes:
- Analysis of key supply-side and demand trends
- Detailed segmentation of international and local products
- Historic volume and value sizes, company and brand market shares
- Five year forecasts of market trends and market growth
- Robust and transparent research methodology, conducted in-country
This report answers:
- What is the market size of Consumer Health in United Arab Emirates?
- Which are the leading brands in Consumer Health in United Arab Emirates?
- How are products distributed in Consumer Health in United Arab Emirates?
- How has the regulatory and operating environment for Consumer Health changed in United Arab Emirates?
- How are considerations such as stress, self-medication and shifting consumer lifestyles shaping demand for Consumer Health
- How significant are wider health concerns and consumer awareness in determining sales?
- Where is future growth expected to be most dynamic?
Consumer Health in the United Arab Emirates
Consumer Health in 2025: The big picture
Key trends in 2025
Competitive landscape
Channel developments
What next for Consumer Health?
OTC registration and classification
Vitamins and dietary supplements registration and classification
Self-medication/self-care and preventive medicine
Switches
DISCLAIMER
DEFINITIONS
Analgesics in the United Arab Emirates
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Wider use boosts analgesics
Panadol consolidates its clear leadership of analgesics
Pharmacies lead but there is a wide choice of channels for consumers of analgesics
Rising incidence of back pain to stimulate use of analgesics
Strong advances in consumer health to bring benefits for analgesics
Search for better understanding of pain relief
Sleep Aids in the United Arab Emirates
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Growth rates slow as consumers look to more natural and lifestyle alternatives
Panadol Night is a dynamic presence in sleep aids
High accessibility and expertise help pharmacies to dominate the competitive landscape
Robust growth opportunities despite a more holistic approach to sleep health
Digital sleep trackers offer a potential growth area
Health and wellness trend to support a shift to herbal sleep remedies
Cough, Cold and Allergy (Hay Fever) Remedies in the United Arab Emirates
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Surge in seasonal illnesses and air pollution spur demand
GSK Consumer Healthcare leverages a wide, strong and trusted portfolio
Pharmacies retain strong trust among consumers
Robust demand for cough, cold and allergy (hay fever) remedies
Growing awareness of symptoms to improve solutions
Room for development and growth in paediatric solutions
Dermatologicals in the United Arab Emirates
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Growing health and product awareness stimulates retail value growth across dermatologicals
Bayer Middle East benefits from a key brand in fast-growing categories
Blurred lines favour pharmacies
Dermatologicals to benefit from growing awareness of how the climate and lifestyles impact skin health and wellbeing
Skin care focus pushes the use of dermatologicals
Hair loss to remain a key issue
Digestive Remedies in the United Arab Emirates
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Stress and gut health issues push the use of IBS treatments and digestive enzymes
The competitive landscape remains highly fragmented
Consumers place their trust in pharmacists for solutions to digestive problems
Rising IBS rates to increase the use of specialised solutions
Meeting the needs of young adults and women offers innovation and growth opportunities
Players to respond to consumers’ longer-term approach to digestive health
Eye Care in the United Arab Emirates
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Standard eye care dominates through all-year-round demand
A strong brand offer and wide distribution keep Alcon Middle East (Dubai) at the top of the rankings
Pharmacies adapt to retail trends with online sales platforms
Climatic conditions to spur allergy eye care
Preventative eye care approach could limit demand
Eye care to see innovation as players respond to key trends
NRT Smoking Cessation Aids in the United Arab Emirates
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Healthier lifestyles spur the use of NRT smoking cessation aids
Consolidated competitive landscape limits the room for a major new arrival
Pharmacies dominates but the distribution landscape expands
Sales opportunities as more consumers look to quit smoking
New apps can add dynamism to the category
Tobacco-free nicotine alternatives threaten NRT smoking cessation aids
Wound Care in the United Arab Emirates
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Maturity constrains the growth potential of wound care
Hansaplast continues to shape the category offer
Pharmacies leverage consumer trust to dominate the distribution of wound care
Growing self-reliance in health and safety to offer growth opportunities to first aid kits
Room for premium releases, if marketed effectively
Sustainable products are set to emerge more strongly
Sports Nutrition in the United Arab Emirates
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Sports protein powder benefits as more women enter the category
Glanbia is a dynamic leader investing in its portfolio, distribution and fitness and community programmes
E-commerce gains from special deal offers
Holistic approach incorporating regular exercise to push the demand for sports nutrition
Government intervention to improve population health offers growth opportunities
Bundling to win over consumers
Dietary Supplements in the United Arab Emirates
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Consumers are drawn to the convenience and multiple benefits of combination dietary supplements
New entrants fragment the competitive landscape
Pharmacies meet the needs of consumers
Diet and lifestyle trends to boost dietary supplements
Players may invest in new formats to lure consumers
Dietary supplements to benefit from the widening scope of health and wellbeing
Vitamins in the United Arab Emirates
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Single vitamins and multivitamins continue to gain momentum
Centrum consolidates leadership but challenges remain on the horizon
E-commerce continues to see growing consumer trust and significant retail value share gains
Wellness and beauty to stimulate the demand for vitamins
Subscription models to foster take up
Legislation to increase consumer confidence in vitamins as awareness of alternative sources increases
Weight Management and Wellbeing in the United Arab Emirates
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Supplement nutrition drinks resonate with consumers’ needs
Atkins leverages strong brand equity and a wide-ranging offer to stay ahead of the field
E-commerce develops and grows rapidly in the weight management and wellbeing space
Obesity and overweightness concerns to sustain the use of weight management and wellbeing products
Evolution through tools and programmes
Sports nutrition represents a potential threat
Herbal/Traditional Products in the United Arab Emirates
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Preference for quick, effective standard solutions limits growth potential
Tiger Balm remains the leading brand in a highly fragmented competitive landscape
Safety concerns maintain the popularity of pharmacies
Maintaining trust is of key importance in the category
Distrust of informal sellers to maintain a preference for established retail channels
DIY trend can threaten purchases of herbal/traditional products
Paediatric Consumer Health in the United Arab Emirates
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Proactive paediatric care and demographic trends boost the use of nappy (diaper) rash treatments
Sudocrem is a versatile and trusted households essential
Pharmacies tick access and trust boxes with parents
Positive growth projection in a category characterised by transience
Innovative format to add dynamism to paediatric dietary supplements
State and community initiatives and technological trends to stimulate paediatric consumer health
The following categories and subcategories are included:
Consumer Health
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- Adult Mouth Care
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- Adult Acetaminophen
- Adult Aspirin
- Adult Combination Products - Analgesics
- Adult Diclofenac
- Adult Dipyrone
- Adult Ibuprofen
- Adult Ketoprofen
- Adult Naproxen
- Adult OTC Triptans
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- Paediatric Acetaminophen
- Paediatric Aspirin
- Paediatric Combination Products - Analgesics
- Paediatric Dipyrone
- Paediatric Ibuprofen
- Paediatric Naproxen
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- Acetaminophen
- Aspirin
- Combination Products - Analgesics
- Diclofenac
- Dipyrone
- Ibuprofen
- Ketoprofen
- Naproxen
- OTC Triptans
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- Topical Analgesics/Anaesthetic
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- Sleep Aids
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- Antihistamines/Allergy Remedies (Systemic)
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- Paediatric Allergy Remedies
- Paediatric Cough/Cold Remedies
- Combination Products - Cough, Cold and Allergy (Hay Fever) Remedies
- Cough Remedies
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- Nasal Sprays
- Oral Decongestants
- Inhalant Decongestants
- Decongestant Rubs
- Nasal Decongestant Drops
- Nasal Decongestant Plasters
- Medicated Confectionery
- Pharyngeal Preparations
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- Medicated Shampoos
- Topical Antifungals
- Vaginal Antifungals
- Hair Loss Treatments
- Nappy (Diaper) Rash Treatments
- Antiparasitics/Lice (Head and Body) Treatments
- Antipruritics
- Cold Sore Treatments
- Haemorrhoid Treatments
- Paediatric Dermatologicals
- Topical Allergy Remedies/Antihistamines
- Topical Germicidals/Antiseptics
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- Paediatric Diarrhoeal Remedies
- Paediatric Indigestion and Heartburn Remedies
- Paediatric Laxatives
- Paediatric Motion Sickness Remedies
- Diarrhoeal Remedies
- IBS Treatments
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- Antacids
- Antiflatulents
- Digestive Enzymes
- H2 Blockers
- Proton Pump Inhibitors
- Laxatives
- Motion Sickness Remedies
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- Emergency Contraception
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- Allergy Eye Care
- Standard Eye Care
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- NRT Gum
- NRT Inhalators
- NRT Lozenges
- NRT Patches
- Other NRT
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- First Aid Kits
- Gauze, Tape and Other Wound Care
- Sticking Plasters/Adhesive Bandages
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- Protein/Energy Bars
- Sports Protein Powder
- Sports Protein RTD
- Sports Non-Protein Products
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- Combination Dietary Supplements
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- Aloe
- Combination Herbal/Traditional Dietary Supplements
- Cranberry
- Echinacea
- Evening Primrose Oil
- Garlic
- Ginkgo Biloba
- Ginseng
- St John's Wort
- Other Herbal/Traditional Dietary Supplements
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- Co-Enzyme Q10
- Combination Non-Herbal/Traditional Dietary Supplements
- Eye Health Supplements
- Fish Oils/Omega Fatty Acids
- Glucosamine
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- Calcium Supplements
- Mineral Supplements
- Probiotic Supplements
- Protein Supplements
- Other Non-Herbal/Traditional Dietary Supplements
- Paediatric Vitamins and Dietary Supplements
- Tonics
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- Multivitamins
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- Vitamin A
- Vitamin B
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin D
- Vitamin E
- Other Single Vitamins
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- Meal Replacement
- OTC Obesity
- Slimming Teas
- Supplement Nutrition Drinks
- Weight Loss Supplements
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- Herbal/Traditional Topical Analgesics
- Herbal/Traditional Sleep Aids
- Herbal/Traditional Cough, Cold and Allergy (Hay Fever) Remedies
- Herbal/Traditional Digestive Remedies
- Herbal/Traditional Dermatologicals
- Herbal/Traditional Paediatric Dietary Supplements
- Herbal/Traditional Dietary Supplements
- Herbal/Traditional Tonics
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- Allergy Eye Care
- Antihistamines/Allergy Remedies (Systemic)
- Paediatric Allergy Remedies
- Topical Allergy Remedies/Antihistamines
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- Paediatric Acetaminophen
- Paediatric Aspirin
- Paediatric Combination Products - Analgesics
- Paediatric Dipyrone
- Paediatric Ibuprofen
- Paediatric Naproxen
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- Paediatric Allergy Remedies
- Paediatric Cough/Cold Remedies
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- Paediatric Diarrhoeal Remedies
- Paediatric Indigestion and Heartburn Remedies
- Paediatric Laxatives
- Paediatric Motion Sickness Remedies
- Paediatric Dermatologicals
- Nappy (Diaper) Rash Treatments
- Paediatric Vitamins and Dietary Supplements
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Consumer Health
It is the aggregation of OTC, Vitamins and Dietary Supplements (VDS), Sports Nutrition, and Weight Management and Wellbeing
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This report originates from Passport, our Consumer Health research and analysis database.
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