Grocery Delivery - United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates is expected to see a revenue of US$35.85m in the Grocery Delivery market by 2024.
This projection indicates a strong growth potential in the country's grocery delivery sector.
Furthermore, a promising annual growth rate (CAGR 2024-2029) of 6.01% is anticipated, resulting in a projected market volume of US$47.99m by 2029.
The Retail Delivery market in the United Arab Emirates is also projected to thrive, with a market volume of US$32.58m by 2024.
In a global comparison, China is expected to generate the highest revenue in the Grocery Delivery market, reaching US$266.00bn in 2024.
This highlights the significant market potential of the Chinese market in this segment.
When considering the average revenue per user (ARPU) in the Grocery Delivery market, it is projected to amount to US$13.28 in 2024.
This metric provides insights into the revenue generated from each individual user, indicating the potential profitability of the market.
Looking ahead, the number of users in the Grocery Delivery market of the United Arab Emirates is expected to reach 3.5m users by 2029.
This signifies a growing user base in the country, driven by the convenience and efficiency offered by grocery delivery services.
Moreover, user penetration in the Grocery Delivery market is projected to be at 28.1% by 2024.
This metric represents the percentage of the total population that actively uses grocery delivery services, indicating the market's level of adoption among consumers.
The United Arab Emirates has seen a surge in demand for grocery delivery services due to the convenience and safety it offers during the pandemic.

Definition:

The Grocery Delivery market consists of food and non-food products that people regularly buy from a grocery store, including food and beverages, pet food, household cleaning products, personal care products, and other household consumables. Grocery delivery can be purchased through several different sales channels such as Omnichannel, Quick Commerce, or directly from the store.

Structure:

Grocery Delivery contains three markets: Retail Delivery, Quick Commerce, and Meal Kit Delivery. Retail Delivery includes delivery of these products directly by supermarkets, brick-and-mortar shops, or grocery stores. The order is placed through an online shop run by the retailer (e.g. Walmart+, Amazon Fresh). Quick Commerce focuses on online delivery services that provide customers with last-mile delivery (Instacart), or operate ghost stores where product selection is limited but delivery time is faster (e.g. Gorillas, Getir, and Glovo). In this case, the platform (e.g. Gorillas) handles the delivery process. This also includes grocery delivery platforms where delivery is advertised under 3 hours, although, most players aim to deliver in minutes. Finally, Meal Kit Delivery encompasses the delivery of a recipe box where fresh ingredients are delivered to be prepared. This service is usually offered as a subscription plan (e.g. HelloFresh).

Additional Information:

Revenue figures refer to Gross Merchandise Value (GMV). User and revenue figures represent B2C services.

Fresh food & Beverages, personal care, or household items ordered online are directly delivered to the consumer, no matter if ordered via a platform (e.g., Instacart) or a retailer website (e.g., Walmart)
Online Grocery orders and delivery are both carried out by a retailer (e.g., Walmart)
Online orders that are picked up in the supermarket (e.g., Instacart) or operating ghost warehouses and delivery logistics (e.g., Flink)
Online orders of recipe boxes where the ingredients are already preportioned (e.g., HelloFresh)

Phone orders
Deliveries of prepared meals for direct consumption (e.g. Meal Delivery)

The demand for online grocery delivery has been on the rise in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in recent years.

Customer preferences: The convenience of online grocery shopping and home delivery has become increasingly popular among UAE consumers. With busy work schedules, long commutes, and hot weather conditions, many consumers are opting for the ease and convenience of online grocery shopping. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has further accelerated the adoption of online grocery delivery services, as consumers seek to minimize their exposure to crowded public spaces.

Trends in the market: One of the key trends in the UAE grocery delivery market is the increasing competition among players. Several large international players have entered the market in recent years, including Amazon, which acquired the popular UAE-based online retailer Souq.com in 2017. Local players have also emerged, such as InstaShop and elGrocer, which have gained popularity among UAE consumers.Another trend in the market is the increasing availability of premium and specialized products for online purchase. As consumers become more comfortable with online grocery shopping, they are increasingly seeking out high-quality and niche products that may not be available in traditional brick-and-mortar stores.

Local special circumstances: The UAE has a large expatriate population, which has contributed to the growth of the online grocery delivery market. Many expats are accustomed to online grocery shopping in their home countries and have continued this behavior in the UAE. Additionally, the high proportion of working women in the UAE has also contributed to the popularity of online grocery delivery services, as it allows them to save time and avoid the hassle of grocery shopping.

Underlying macroeconomic factors: The UAE has a high internet penetration rate and a large population of tech-savvy consumers, which has helped to drive the growth of the online grocery delivery market. Additionally, the country has a high per capita income and a large expatriate population, which has created a favorable environment for the development of premium and specialized online grocery delivery services. Finally, the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the adoption of online grocery delivery services, as consumers seek to minimize their exposure to crowded public spaces.

Data coverage:

The data encompasses B2C enterprises. Figures are based on Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) and represent what consumers pay for these products and services. The user metrics show the number of customers who have made at least one online purchase within the past 12 months.

Modeling approach / Market size:

Market sizes are determined through a bottom-up approach, building on predefined factors for each market. As a basis for evaluating markets, we use annual financial reports of the market-leading companies, third-party studies and reports, as well as survey results from our primary research (e.g., the Statista Global Consumer Survey). In addition, we use relevant key market indicators and data from country-specific associations, such as GDP, GDP per capita, and internet connection speed. This data helps us estimate the market size for each country individually.

Forecasts:

In our forecasts, we apply diverse forecasting techniques. The selection of forecasting techniques is based on the behavior of the relevant market. For example, the S-curve function and exponential trend smoothing. The main drivers are internet users, urban population, usage of key players, and attitudes toward online services.

Additional notes:

The market is updated twice a year in case market dynamics change. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war are considered at a country-specific level. GCS data is reweighted for representativeness.

This report presents a comprehensive analysis and additional information on the Ecommerce market, in a PDF format.