Demand for coffee in the Middle East is on the rise as the UAE taps into a $3.2bn market and Saudi cups top 36m cups a day
The UAE and Saudi Arabia are firmly at the center of the acceleration of coffee consumption throughout the Middle East, strengthening the region’s position as one of the most dynamic and sophisticated coffee markets in the world.
The attack comes as World of Coffee Dubai prepares to hold its fifth edition at the Dubai World Trade Center from January 18 to 20, 2026.
Increasing consumption, growing cafe culture and deep investment across the supply chain are reshaping the way coffee is produced, sold and consumed across the region, with Gulf markets setting the pace.
Coffee factory
The UAE continues to underpin regional growth, with its coffee market now worth more than AED12bn (about $3.2 billion). Dubai has cemented its position as one of the world’s most densely populated and diverse cities, supported by a sharp increase in out-of-home consumption.
Spending on cafes and restaurants accounts for nearly 93 percent of total coffee spending in the UAE, one of the highest rates in the world, underscoring the country’s strong cafe-led consumption model and high cash flow.
Saudi Arabia matches the UAE’s momentum in scale. The Kingdom is home to more than 5,100 branded cafes, representing almost half of all branded cafes across the Middle East. Daily coffee consumption now exceeds 36 million cups.
The total number of registered cafes in Saudi Arabia has exceeded 61,000, including specialty restaurants and traditional coffee majlis, highlighting both modernization and cultural continuity in consumption patterns.
World of Coffee Dubai
Against this background, the World of Coffee Dubai is growing exponentially. Organized by DXB LIVE in collaboration with the Specialty Coffee Association, the exhibition has grown from 5,000 square meters in 2022 to more than 20,000 square meters in 2026.
The expansion reflects rising regional demand for specialty coffee, driven by consumer interest in coffee origin, roast quality and premium experience across the Middle East and North Africa.
Beyond the Gulf, markets in North Africa and the Levant are also growing. Coffee consumption in Egypt has doubled over the past five years, while Morocco has recorded a 23 percent increase in coffee imports by 2024.
Across the region, the brand café sector has grown by more than 11 percent, supported by a young population profile, with more than 60 percent of people under the age of 35. Young consumers are increasingly looking to coffee as a way of life, a cultural statement and a social experience.
Trade and infrastructure
Although the cafe culture is attracting a lot of attention, the infrastructure supporting this sector is developing rapidly. Imports of green coffee across the GCC have grown significantly, with Dubai emerging as a regional hub for re-exports.
Re-export values will exceed AED3.5bn ($953m) by 2024, supported by investments in warehouses, bottling laboratories, quality control centers and specialized trading platforms.
Khalid Al Mulla, Chairman of the Specialty Coffee Association – UAE Chapter, said: “The speed of growth that we see in the region is not only reflected in the increase of restaurants or consumption figures, but also in the infrastructure that is being developed throughout the value chain. The World of Coffee Dubai includes the fastest route for the movement of coffee, the greatest depth of coffee in the Middle East today, the greatest depth and global connectivity in the Middle East.”
Shouq bin Redha, Director of World of Coffee Dubai, added: “We are witnessing 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 an important meeting point for this ecosystem, and its growth rate reflects the growing influence of the global trading environment.”
