UAE Snack Bar Market - Growth, Trends, and Forecasts (2023-2028)

The United Arab Emirates Snack Bar Market is projected to register a CAGR of 6.87 percent over the next five years.

The focus on healthy eating habits without compromising the taste benefits has led to the growth of the snack bar market in the United Arab Emirates. Snack bars are slowly replacing traditional chocolate and confectionery as a healthier alternative, due to high product innovation by the existing players. Owing to the increasing prevalence of health conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity among the young population, people are preferring healthy snacks and snack bars like cereal bars and energy bars. Market players are also considering consumer demands. For instance, Nature Valley, a brand of General Mills Inc., offers Protein Crunch bars, a bar that features a creamy, crunchy texture with 10 grams of protein.

Factors such as busy lifestyles, urbanization, and a more working population of women are driving the market. For instance, according to the World Bank, in 2021, the female labor force participation rate in the United Arab Emirates was 47%, an increase from 46% in the previous year. Also, working outside the home and increasing industrialization have increased the demand for ready-to-eat packaged foods and snacks in the region over the last decade. Dual-income households have also increased demand for snack bars as a meal replacement between meals. Moreover, the increasing penetration of e-commerce websites is also driving the market to grow. As the number of sports enthusiasts in the country grows, so does the demand for healthy snack bars, energy bars, and protein bars, which provide energy for pre- and post-workout sessions. Protein bars have opportunities within functional ingredients, reduced sugar, high fiber, and plant proteins. The market is expected to grow over the medium term, owing to rising disposable income and increased demand for healthy snack bars.

UAE Snack Bar Market Trends

Surge in Popularity of Snack Bars as Meal Replacement

The United Arab Emirates is a country with a high disposable income. The United Arab Emirates also has more millennials and a young population. Due to jobs and college, people live alone without their families. Due to their busy schedules, they do not have time to cook or eat. Replacing meals with high-energy snack bars is a convenient option for them. Also, an increase in the number of health and fitness centers in the region is driving the market. Market players are preparing snack bars with various nutrients that give instant energy, which is why snack bars are also growing in the fitness industry. Western-style snacks are becoming more popular among consumers, who also want healthier options for snacking. The demand for packaged foods with health benefits has just begun to increase nationwide. According to Interpack data from 2021, 5% of packed food in the world is consumed in the Middle East and is expected to rise by 19% in the United Arab Emirates.

E-Commerce Sales is the Fastest Growing Segment

E-commerce sales of snack bars have registered a considerable growth rate in the past few years, owing to the increasing internet penetration rate in the country. As urbanization and the working population in the United Arab Emirates are increasing, consumers are opting for e-commerce websites like Noon.com, Carrefour.com, Amazon, and many more. In June 2022, Slim Secrets, an Australian snacking brand, launched its range of protein bars on Noon.com. Market brands like TNF, Glanbia PLC, Cliff Bar, and many more are available for purchase on e-commerce websites like Carrefour, Amazon, Namashi, and many more. E-commerce in the region is growing owing to its convenience and faster delivery services, offers, and discounts. Due to busy lifestyles and the increasing spending power of consumers, their preference for e-commerce is increasing over traditional convenience stores. Furthermore, as internet subscriptions are increasing, the use of e-commerce websites is also increasing in the region, which is likely to drive the market over the medium term.

UAE Snack Bar Market Competitor Analysis

The United Arab Emirates snack bar market is highly fragmented due to the prevalence of a large number of players in the market. The region's market is expected to grow due to increased healthy snacking habits. Some of the dominant players in the market are Kellogg's Company, General Mills Inc., the Simply Good Foods Company, Mondelez International, Inc., and Nestlé S.A. Moreover, many local manufacturers are trying to enter the market to address the growing preference for snack bars. Additionally, players offering protein bars consider various factors to make their products more appealing to customers. Hence, they offer products that have clean labels, are vegan and gluten-free, and have innovative packaging designs.

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