Momentum driven by health trends, regulation and evolving retail dynamics
Soft drinks in the UAE continues to post rising retail volumes, supported by high purchasing power, a multicultural consumer base and demand that spans both indulgence and health-focused products. Health claims increasingly shape purchasing decisions, although limited consumer understanding gives marketing an outsized role in defining what is perceived as healthy. Sustainability efforts, led primarily by government initiatives, are prompting shifts in packaging and accelerating the adoption of smaller pack formats that meet affordability and portion-control needs. From 2026, tiered sugar taxes and new front-of-pack labelling will push manufacturers toward reformulation and strengthen the position of lower-sugar categories. Advances in vending technology and the rapid expansion of e-commerce will further enhance product availability and support continued growth.
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Overview:
Understand the latest market trends and future growth opportunities for the Soft Drinks 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:
- Bottled Water
- Carbonates
- Concentrates
- Juice
- RTD Coffee
- RTD Tea
- Energy Drinks
- Sports Drinks
- Asian Speciality Drinks
If you're in the Soft Drinks 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 Soft Drinks 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 Soft Drinks in United Arab Emirates?
- To what extent are health considerations impacting consumption of Soft Drinks in United Arab Emirates?
- How are changing social attitudes and legislation (eg sugar tax) reshaping demand and consumption?
- How are changing demographics (for example, an ageing or predominantly young population) determining consumption of Soft Drinks in United Arab Emirates?
- Which are the leading brands in Soft Drinks in United Arab Emirates?
- What potential exists for multinational or domestic soft drinks companies to expand in United Arab Emirates?
- How are products distributed in Soft Drinks in United Arab Emirates?
- How is the rise of e-commerce changing the retail and competitive landscape?
- How have home seclusion and social distancing measures following COVID-19 impacted sales of Soft Drinks?
- How are sustainability issues, such as environmentally-friendly packaging, legislation on recyclability, or the amount of plastic in bottles, impacting the soft drinks industry?
- Where is future growth expected to be most dynamic?
Soft Drinks in the United Arab Emirates
Momentum driven by health trends, regulation and evolving retail dynamics
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Volume sales rise as progress is shaped by health and indulgence trends
Marketing messages push health claims
Sustainability gains ground in packaging innovation
Sugar tax and labelling system will impact development for soft drinks
Regulations to tighten around packaging and waste
Tech advancements set to support growth
Red Bull leads overall soft drinks
Local player Alokozay sees fastest growth
Hypermarkets leads while e-commerce rises fastest
Small local grocers remain key, as off-trade volumes rise faster than on-trade
Fountain sales in the United Arab Emirates
DISCLAIMER
Bottled Water in the United Arab Emirates
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Purified water supports steady gains, while sparkling and flavoured variants lift category diversity
Still purified water remains popular option in 2025
Flavoured bottled water drives overall growth, with consumers preferring sparkling over still variants
Moderate growth expected for bottled water, driven by affordability, education and health trends
Digital and manufacturing innovations
Sharper focus on sustainability and eco-friendly development
Local leaders dominate UAE bottled water
Small players rise through innovative launches
Supermarkets and hypermarkets benefit from weekly routine shopping trips
E-commerce and institutional channels see further expansion
Carbonates in the United Arab Emirates
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Carbonates grows steadily despite tax pressures and shifting consumer preferences
Steady growth seen in carbonates in 2025, despite 50% tax
Reduced sugar carbonates sees fastest growth
New flavours, premiumisation, reduced sugar offerings and indulgence trend will drive growth in carbonates
Technological advancements support sustainability goals
Regulatory environment and product reformulation
Pepsi-Cola maintains leadership of overall carbonates in 2025
Vimto and Freez brands see robust rises
Hypermarkets leads distribution in 2025
E-commerce expands most rapidly among retail channels
Concentrates in the United Arab Emirates
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Concentrates faces stagnation as consumers shift toward fresher and healthier options
2025 sees stagnation set in for concentrates in the UAE
Powder concentrates leads growth, while Vimto drives sales in liquid concentrates
Modest growth outlook for concentrates in the UAE
Concentrates is a seasonal category, and mostly sold during Ramadan
Health and wellness positioning to become more prevalent
Mondelez maintains leadership through well-known Tang brand
Prime sees robust rises through convenient hydration sticks
Shopping routines favour supermarkets and hypermarkets
E-commerce posts fastest growth among retail distribution channels
Concentrates Conversions
Juice in the United Arab Emirates
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Natural ingredients and 100% juice variants shape rising demand
Rising demand for 100% natural variants
Health trends push growth in segments associated with natural ingredients
100% juices and fresh hypermarket options to support modest growth in forecast period
Technology will increasingly inform innovation
Continued health and wellness focus, and emphasis on local sourcing
Al Rawabi leads overall juice category in 2025
Leading player records fastest growth
Supermarkets leads though juice remains widely available across several retail channels
E-commerce as a key growth engine
RTD Coffee in the United Arab Emirates
KEY DATA FINDINGS
RTD coffee contracts sharply as boycotts, high prices and low essentiality weaken demand
Decline driven by boycott and non-essential nature of the category
Premium price another negative factor impacting demand for RTD coffee
Modest recovery expected over the next five years
RTD coffee will become a highly competitive environment
Health trends drive product reformulation and premium launches
Starbucks remains leading brand despite further decline
Nada brand posts fastest growth in 2025, benefiting from functional offering
Forecourt retailers leads distribution for RTD coffee
E-commerce stands out as only channel on the up
RTD Tea in the United Arab Emirates
KEY DATA FINDINGS
RTD tea sees strong expansion as health, flavour diversity and innovation lift demand
Strong growth seen in RTD tea consumption in 2025
Reduced sugar still RTD sees highest demand
Innovative offerings to drive further growth in forecast period
Sustainable packaging will become increasingly important over forecast period
Health, wellness and functional extensions
Lipton’s dominance due to historic presence and great taste
Pokka sees deep declines
Hypermarkets and supermarkets lead RTD tea distribution
E-commerce goes from strength to strength as new varieties drive sales in RTD tea
Energy Drinks in the United Arab Emirates
KEY DATA FINDINGS
High taxation and rising health awareness shape steady but moderated growth in energy drinks
100% tax prevents stronger growth for energy drinks in 2025
Consumers shift towards reduced sugar options
Continued growth forecast as competitive landscape sees further fragmentation
Entrance of Gorilla Energy signals potential disruption to competitive dynamics
New solar power plant promises to raise the bar for sustainability
Red Bull continues to lead, while Boom Boom provides budget-friendly option
Competition intensifies as smaller players challenge established leaders through vitamin-focused variants
Energy drinks enjoy strong presence across variety of channels
E-commerce expands while forecourt retailers remains key
Sports Drinks in the United Arab Emirates
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Health-focused positioning and strong youth appeal sustain rapid expansion in sports drinks
Sport drinks continues rapid rise in 2025
Consumers enjoy both regular and reduced sugar sports drinks
Functional positioning offers further growth opportunities
Younger consumers comprise major target audience
Health and wellness trends to have greater impact
Sustained success of Gatorade among dominance of international brands
Gatorade posts fastest growth among brands in 2025
Hypermarkets leads distribution in 2025, with supermarkets in second place
E-commerce enjoys fastest expansion
Asian Speciality Drinks in the United Arab Emirates
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Asian speciality drinks sees gradual expansion, supported by novelty appeal and population diversity
Modest growth driven by curiosity and population trends
Asian speciality drinks lacks awareness among local consumers
Steady expansion expected with potential for faster growth
Concerns over sugar intake could slow growth potential
No UAE-specific regulations, but global sustainability efforts remain relevant
Mogu Mogu maintains overall leadership through early entry
Minimal competition seen within Asian speciality drinks in the UAE
Supermarkets leads distribution, with hypermarkets close behind and e-commerce posting fastest growth
Asian speciality drinks likely to emerge in on-trade channel
COUNTRY REPORTS DISCLAIMER
The following categories and subcategories are included:
Soft Drinks
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- Carbonated Natural Mineral Bottled Water
- Carbonated Spring Bottled Water
- Carbonated Purified Bottled Water
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- Still Flavoured Bottled Water
- Sparkling Flavoured Bottled Water
- Functional Bottled Water
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- Still Natural Mineral Bottled Water
- Still Spring Bottled Water
- Still Purified Bottled Water
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- Regular Carbonates
- Reduced Sugar Carbonates
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- Regular Cola Carbonates
- Reduced Sugar Cola Carbonates
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- Regular Non-Cola Carbonates
- Reduced Sugar Non-Cola Carbonates
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- Regular Lemonade/Lime
- Reduced Sugar Lemonade/Lime
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- Regular Tonic Water/Mixers/Other Bitters
- Reduced Sugar Tonic Water/Mixers/Other Bitters
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- Regular Orange Carbonates
- Reduced Sugar Orange Carbonates
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- Regular Other Non-Cola Carbonates
- Reduced Sugar Other Non-Cola Carbonates
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- Liquid Concentrates
- Powder Concentrates
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- Not from Concentrate 100% Juice
- Reconstituted 100% Juice
- Coconut and Other Plant Waters
- Juice Drinks (up to 24% Juice)
- Nectars
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- RTD Coffee
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- Carbonated RTD Tea and Kombucha
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- Regular Still RTD Tea
- Reduced Sugar Still RTD Tea
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- Regular Energy Drinks
- Reduced Sugar Energy Drinks
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- Regular Sports Drinks
- Reduced Sugar Sports Drinks
- Asian Speciality Drinks
Soft Drinks
This is the aggregation of the following categories; Carbonates, Fruit/vegetable juice, Bottled water, Functional drinks, Concentrates, RTD tea, RTD coffee and Asian speciality drinks.
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This report originates from Passport, our Soft Drinks research and analysis database.
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