Middle East coffee demand surges as UAE hits $3.2bn market and Saudi cups top 36m a day

The UAE and Saudi Arabia are firmly at the centre of a rapid acceleration in coffee consumption across the Middle East, reinforcing the region’s position as one of the world’s most dynamic and sophisticated specialty coffee markets.

The surge comes as World of Coffee Dubai prepares to stage its fifth edition at Dubai World Trade Centre from January 18 to 20, 2026.

Rising consumption, expanding café culture and deeper investment across supply chains are reshaping how coffee is produced, traded and consumed across the region, with the Gulf markets setting the pace.

Coffee industry

The UAE continues to anchor regional growth, with its coffee market now exceeding AED12bn (approximately $3.2bn). Dubai has strengthened its position as one of the world’s most café-dense and diverse cities, supported by a sharp rise in out-of-home consumption.

Spending in cafés and restaurants accounts for approximately 93 per cent of total coffee expenditure in the UAE, one of the highest proportions globally, underscoring the country’s strong café-led consumption model and premiumisation trend.

Saudi Arabia is matching the UAE’s momentum with scale. The Kingdom is home to more than 5,100 branded cafés, representing nearly half of all branded cafés across the Middle East. Daily coffee consumption now exceeds 36 million cups.

The total number of registered cafés in Saudi Arabia has surpassed 61,000, spanning specialty outlets and traditional coffee majlis, highlighting both modernisation and cultural continuity in consumption patterns.

World of Coffee Dubai

Against this backdrop, World of Coffee Dubai is expanding significantly. Organised by DXB LIVE in partnership with the Specialty Coffee Association, the exhibition has grown from 5,000 square metres in 2022 to more than 20,000 square metres in 2026.

The expansion reflects rising regional demand for specialty coffee, driven by consumer interest in coffee origins, roasting quality and premium experiences across the Middle East and North Africa.

Beyond the Gulf, North African and Levant markets are also gaining pace. Coffee consumption in Egypt has doubled over the past five years, while Morocco recorded a 23 per cent increase in coffee imports in 2024.

Across the region, the branded café sector has grown by more than 11 per cent, supported by a young demographic profile, with more than 60 per cent of the population under the age of 35. Younger consumers increasingly view coffee as a lifestyle choice, cultural statement and social experience.

Trade and infrastructure

While café culture attracts the most attention, the infrastructure supporting the sector is evolving rapidly. Green coffee imports across the GCC have risen sharply, with Dubai emerging as a regional re-export hub.

Re-export values exceeded AED3.5bn ($953m) in 2024, underpinned by investment in warehousing, cupping laboratories, quality control centres and specialised trading platforms.

Khalid Al Mulla, Chairman of the Specialty Coffee Association – UAE Chapter, said: “The pace of growth we are witnessing in the region is not reflected solely in the proliferation of cafés or consumption figures, but also in the infrastructure being developed across the entire value chain. World of Coffee Dubai embodies the accelerated trajectory of the coffee movement in the Middle East, advancing today with greater depth and global connectivity than ever before.”

Shouq bin Redha, Director of World of Coffee Dubai, added: “We are seeing the emergence of a new generation of entrepreneurs, producers, and importers who are driving innovation, sustainability, and long-term growth across the sector. World of Coffee serves as a key meeting point for this ecosystem, and the scale of its expansion reflects the region’s growing influence within the global coffee trade.”