The middle east plant protein market size was USD 0.96 billion in 2025, is projected to be USD 1.02 billion in 2026, and is forecasted to be USD 1.39 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 6.45% from 2026 to 2031. This report is Segmented by Protein Type (Hemp Protein, Pea Protein, Potato Protein, Rice Protein, Soy Protein, Wheat Protein, and More), End User (Animal Feed, Food and Beverages, Personal Care and Cosmetics, and Supplements), and Geography (Iran, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Rest of Middle East). The Market Forecasts are Provided in Terms of Value (USD).
Other drivers and restraints analyzed in the detailed report include:
Pea protein is forecast to grow at 7.32% annually from 2026 to 2031, driven by clean-label positioning, allergen-free status, and functional improvements that enable use in dairy alternatives and meat analogs. Wheat protein, derived from gluten, finds application in bakery and meat-analog products, leveraging the Middle East's substantial wheat imports. Rice protein appeals to formulators targeting allergen-sensitive consumers, though its amino-acid profile requires blending with complementary sources to achieve complete nutrition. Other plant proteins, including chickpea and fava bean, are gaining traction as Tate & Lyle's acquisition of Nutriati and Roquette's May 2024 launch of NUTRALYS Fava S900M, a 90% protein isolate, signal ingredient diversification to mitigate supply-chain concentration risk.
Middle East Plant Protein Market Trends and Insights
Consumers Embrace Health Consciousness
Middle Eastern shoppers are shifting purchase decisions toward cholesterol-free, lower-fat proteins amid wider wellness campaigns. According to studies, Saudi Arabia and the UAE prioritize healthy diets, with the majority of them taking dietary supplements, and some portion focusing on consuming protein shakes every week. These preferences are reinforced by the UAE’s National Nutrition Strategy 2030, which directs public-sector caterers to offer lower-saturated-fat meals. Ingredient houses now supply hydrolyzed or fermented variants that improve digestibility and mouthfeel, helping the plant protein market secure repeat purchases despite lingering taste skepticism.Surge in Popularity of Fitness and Sports Nutrition
Fitness center memberships in Saudi Arabia grew at a 16.8% compound rate from 2020 to 2023, while the UAE posted 5.8% growth, driven by the Dubai Fitness Challenge and Vision 2030’s Quality-of-Life Program, according to the SAUDISPORTS.SA. Female participation is expanding on a year-on-year basis as women-only gyms and outdoor facilities open. These consumers favor halal-certified pea and rice isolates that rival whey for amino-acid completeness, pushing sports-nutrition brands such as Optimum Nutrition to double-digit volume gains in 2024. This demographic shift is fueling demand for plant-based sports nutrition products that carry halal certification, a non-negotiable for observant Muslim consumers.Higher Cost of Plant Protein Products Compared to Conventional Animal Proteins
Plant-protein retail pricing in the Middle East remains above conventional animal-protein equivalents, a premium that narrows adoption to affluent urban households and constrains mass-market penetration. This cost gap stems from import duties on finished goods, limited economies of scale in regional production, and the absence of subsidies that benefit domestic poultry and dairy sectors in Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Soybean meal, the dominant protein source in poultry feed, traded at approximately USD 450 per tonne in 2024, while pea protein isolates commanded USD 2,500-3,500 per tonne, creating a structural barrier for feed formulators seeking to diversify protein sources. Price volatility in soybean imports, driven by Brazilian harvest cycles and freight-rate fluctuations, compounds this challenge, as Middle Eastern buyers lack the crushing capacity to arbitrage bean-to-meal spreads. Until regional extraction facilities achieve sufficient throughput to compete with South American and North American suppliers, plant-protein adoption will remain concentrated in premium segments.Other drivers and restraints analyzed in the detailed report include:
- Expansion of Food and Beverage Industry with Plant-Based Product Innovation
- Rising Interest in Clean-Label, Halal-Certified, and Sustainable Protein Options
- Limited Domestic Processing Infrastructure for Isolates and Concentrates
Segment Analysis
Soy protein held a 77.03% share in 2025, reflecting decades of supply-chain optimization, entrenched use in animal feed, and cost competitiveness relative to alternative sources. The Middle East imported 8.5 million tonnes of soybeans in 2023, primarily from Brazil, the United States, and Argentina, with the majority crushed for meal used in poultry and aquaculture rations, according to the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service. Ingredion's VITESSENCE Pea 200 D, launched in October 2024, delivers improved solubility and neutral flavor, addressing historical barriers to pea-protein adoption in beverages and nutrition bars. Roquette expanded its NUTRALYS portfolio in February 2024 with textured, hydrolysed, and high-gel variants, enabling formulators to achieve meat-like textures in plant-based burgers and sausages.Pea protein is forecast to grow at 7.32% annually from 2026 to 2031, driven by clean-label positioning, allergen-free status, and functional improvements that enable use in dairy alternatives and meat analogs. Wheat protein, derived from gluten, finds application in bakery and meat-analog products, leveraging the Middle East's substantial wheat imports. Rice protein appeals to formulators targeting allergen-sensitive consumers, though its amino-acid profile requires blending with complementary sources to achieve complete nutrition. Other plant proteins, including chickpea and fava bean, are gaining traction as Tate & Lyle's acquisition of Nutriati and Roquette's May 2024 launch of NUTRALYS Fava S900M, a 90% protein isolate, signal ingredient diversification to mitigate supply-chain concentration risk.
Complete Report Scope:
- Protein Type
- Hemp Protein
- Pea Protein
- Potato Protein
- Rice Protein
- Soy Protein
- Wheat Protein
- Other Plant Protein
- End User
- Animal Feed
- Food and Beverages
- Bakery
- Beverages
- Breakfast Cereals
- Condiments/Sauces
- Confectionery
- Dairy and Dairy Alternative Products
- Meat/Poultry/Seafood and Meat‑Alternative Products
- RTE/RTC Food Products
- Snacks
- Personal Care and Cosmetics
- Supplements
- Baby Food and Infant Formula
- Elderly / Medical Nutrition
- Sport / Performance Nutrition
- Geography
- Saudi Arabia
- Iran
- United Arab Emirates
- Rest of the Middle East
List of Companies Covered in this Report:
- Cargill, Incorporated
- Archer Daniels Midland (ADM)
- DuPont de Nemours, Inc.
- Kerry Group PLC
- Wilmar International Ltd
- Ingredion Incorporated
- Roquette Frères
- Glanbia PLC
- Tate & Lyle PLC
- Axiom Foods, Inc.
- CHS Inc.
- Yalla Nutrition
- Switch Foods
- Hunter Foods
- Food People
- Pure Harvest
- NutriPro
- Proteina Foods
- Desert Foods Co.
- International Flavors & Fragrances, Inc.
Additional Benefits:
- The market estimate (ME) sheet in Excel format
- 3 months of analyst support
Table of Contents
1 INTRODUCTION
4 MARKET LANDSCAPE
5 MARKET SIZE AND GROWTH FORECASTS (VALUE)
6 COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
Companies Mentioned (Partial List)
A selection of companies mentioned in this report includes, but is not limited to:
- Cargill, Incorporated
- Archer Daniels Midland (ADM)
- DuPont de Nemours, Inc.
- Kerry Group PLC
- Wilmar International Ltd
- Ingredion Incorporated
- Roquette Frères
- Glanbia PLC
- Tate & Lyle PLC
- Axiom Foods, Inc.
- CHS Inc.
- Yalla Nutrition
- Switch Foods
- Hunter Foods
- Food People
- Pure Harvest
- NutriPro
- Proteina Foods
- Desert Foods Co.
- International Flavors & Fragrances, Inc.
