Saudi Arabia Goat Meat and Cheese - Market Share Analysis, Industry Trends & Statistics, Growth Forecasts (2026-2031)

The Saudi Arabia goat meat and cheese market is expected to grow from USD 284.85 million in 2025 to USD 301.26 million in 2026 and is forecast to reach USD 398.72 million by 2031 at 5.76% CAGR over 2026-2031.

Robust population growth, urbanization, and Vision 2030 food security initiatives underpin the expansion, while evolving health awareness drives substitution toward goat products that meet cultural and dietary needs. Premiumization in the hospitality industry elevates gourmet goat cheese demand, and treated-wastewater fodder schemes help producers offset water scarcity cost pressures. Intensifying cold-chain investments enables penetration into secondary cities, and digital retail channels widen consumer access to fresh and value-added offerings. Feed-price volatility and disease outbreaks temper growth but also accelerate consolidation as scale players adopt climate-smart practices and data-driven supply-chain controls.

Saudi Arabia Goat Meat and Cheese Market Trends and Insights

Rising per-capita animal-protein consumption

Saudi Arabia's protein consumption patterns reflect a fundamental dietary transition that extends beyond simple income effects to encompass cultural modernization and health consciousness. The Kingdom's shift toward diversified protein sources gains momentum as traditional red meat prices escalate, with goat meat emerging as a culturally acceptable alternative that maintains religious compliance while offering cost advantages. Research indicates that Saudi households experiencing food price inflation specifically increased consumption of small ruminant meat, including goat, as a substitute for more expensive beef options. This substitution effect creates sustained demand growth that transcends cyclical economic fluctuations. The protein diversification trend accelerates as younger Saudi consumers embrace international culinary influences while maintaining cultural dietary preferences, positioning goat products as bridge proteins that satisfy both traditional and contemporary tastes.

Government Vision-2030 Livestock Self-Sufficiency Targets

The Kingdom's livestock self-sufficiency strategy represents a calculated response to food security vulnerabilities exposed during global supply chain disruptions. Official data shows Saudi Arabia achieved 60% self-sufficiency in red meat production, with government programs specifically targeting expansion in goat farming as part of broader livestock diversification. The Agricultural Development Fund approved approximately USD 400 million in loans to small farmers for livestock projects, including specialized goat farming operations that leverage the Kingdom's comparative advantage in arid-climate animal husbandry. This policy framework creates structural demand for domestic goat production while simultaneously reducing import dependency on volatile East African suppliers. The government's strategic emphasis on goat farming reflects recognition that these animals require significantly less water than cattle while producing culturally preferred protein, aligning livestock policy with water conservation imperatives under the National Water Strategy 2030.

Volatile Feed and Fodder Prices Tied to Water Scarcity

Saudi Arabia's feed price volatility stems from a structural water crisis that forces livestock producers into increasingly expensive input sourcing decisions with limited alternatives. Agricultural water consumption reached 10.08 billion cubic meters in 2021, representing 67% of national water use despite agriculture contributing only 3% to GDP, creating unsustainable resource allocation that drives feed costs upward. The Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture's post-2019 programs to reduce forage cultivation have successfully decreased agricultural water withdrawals but simultaneously increased dependence on imported feed, exposing producers to international commodity price fluctuations and currency exchange risks. Feed costs account for approximately 64% of total production expenses in livestock operations, meaning that price volatility directly impacts profitability margins and forces producers to either absorb costs or pass them to consumers through higher prices. This cost pressure creates particular challenges for small-scale goat farmers who lack economies of scale to negotiate favorable feed contracts or invest in water-efficient fodder production technologies.

Other drivers and restraints analyzed in the detailed report include:

• Expansion of Cold-Chain Logistics into Secondary Cities
• Surge in Lactose-Intolerant Population Adopting Goat Dairy
• Recurring Peste-des-petits-ruminants (PPR) Outbreaks

Segment Analysis

Goat meat accounts for USD 210.23 million of the Saudi Arabia goat meat and cheese market size in 2025, maintaining its 73.78% share in 2025, driven by religious rituals and family consumption peaks during Eid al-Adha. But its growth decelerates relative to cheese because feed-cost inflation narrows farm profitability. Domestic slaughterhouses introduce HACCP-certified lines to secure institutional customers seeking traceable carcasses, and electronic auction platforms aggregate volumes from smallholders, boosting bargaining power.

Goat cheese, valued at USD 74.62 million in 2025, charts an 8.57% CAGR to 2031 that will lift its slice of the Saudi Arabia goat meat and cheese market share to about 29.80% by the end of the decade. Artisanal brands market terroir attributes such as the Asir mountain pastures, while multinational players roll out spreadable formats compatible with local breakfast habits. Retailers deploy in-store cheese ambassadors who provide sampling and cooking tips, accelerating trial among first-time buyers. Health-positioned SKUs like probiotic chèvre attract premium shelf placements, and e-commerce bundles cheese with gourmet crackers for gifting occasions.

The Saudi Arabia Goat Meat and Cheese Market Report is Segmented by Product Type (Goat Meat: Fresh, Chilled, Frozen; Goat Cheese: Fresh, Soft-Ripened, Aged, Specialty), Distribution Channel (On-Trade, Off-Trade: Hypermarkets/Supermarkets, Specialty & Gourmet Stores, Online Retailers, Convenience Stores, Others). The Market Forecasts are Provided in Terms of Value (USD).

List of companies covered in this report:

• Almarai Company
• NADEC
• Lactalis Group
• Savencia Fromage & Dairy
• Delamere Dairy
• Al-Kabeer Group
• Al-Berri United Food Co. Ltd
• Tamimi Markets
• Al-Watania Agriculture
• Baladna Food Industries
• Saputo Inc.
• White Gold Goat Dairy
• Al Safi Danone
• Arla Foods
• Goat Partners International
• Agthia Group
• Danish Dairy Company
• Al Othaim Markets
• Al Jazira Poultry & Livestock
• Halwani Bros

Additional benefits of purchasing this report:

• Access to the market estimate sheet (Excel format)
• 3 months of analyst support