GCC Non-Alcoholic Beer Market Research Report: Forecast (2024-2030)

Market Insights & Analysis: GCC Non-Alcoholic Beer Market (2024-30)

The GCC Non-Alcoholic Beer market is projected to grow at a CAGR of around 7.74% during the forecast period, i.e., 2024-30. The major factor contributing to the market growth is the rising awareness among individuals regarding the health benefits of non-alcoholic beer, which contains several polyphenols like polyphenol xanthohumol, a hop-derived molecule that helps in several cardiovascular health conditions and improves blood pressure, inflammation, and homocysteine levels. Hence, with the rising prevalence of cardiovascular disorders across the GCC region, coupled with enhanced awareness regarding the health benefits of non-alcoholic beer, the market has witnessed considerable growth in the past few years.

Additionally, the amplifying presence of expatriates across countries like the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, etc., is also augmenting the demand for non-alcoholic beer. It is mainly as the consumption of alcohol across several GCC countries like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, etc., is restricted and often leads to fines, imprisonment, and deportation. Further, expatriates, who are habituated to alcohol consumption, find it difficult to abide by these regulations and try to look for their alternatives. Hence, these restrictions have been leading to the increasing sales of non-alcoholic beers in the region.

Another notable factor driving the market expansion is the rising popularity of non-alcoholic beer among millennials & working women. Growing income levels & improved consumer living standards have surged per capita spending on high-quality & premium products, including non-alcoholic beverages. Observing these trends of shifting consumer tastes & preferences, several leading non-alcoholic beer manufacturers worldwide are introducing novel flavors & textures in the GCC region. To appeal to the traditional culture & beliefs of the consumers of Gulf countries, companies like Lyre's, Heineken N.V., etc., are incorporating malted beverages into their product categories. For instance:

• In 2022, Lyre’s, one of the leading non-alcoholic beer & spirits brands, announced its plans to enter into the markets of the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Kuwait along with its diversified non-alcoholic beer product portfolio.

Therefore, the rising consumption of non-alcoholic beer in GCC countries is estimated to create an opportunity for other leading players to enter the market. Moreover, supermarkets & hypermarkets giants like LULU hypermarket, Spinneys, etc., have started procuring significant stock of non-alcoholic beer to meet the surging demand in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, etc. Thus, the growing availability of non-alcoholic beer in numerous physical & online retail stores is expected to fuel market expansion in the GCC region in the coming years.

GCC Non-Alcoholic Beer Market Driver:

Growing Inclination of GCC Countries to Host Recreational Activities & Events - The rising hosting of exhibitions, sports, recreational facilities, shopping festivals, etc., across countries like the UAE, Saudi Arabia, etc., has been enhancing the consumption of non-alcoholic beer at these events. Several cities like Dubai, one of the famous tourism hubs, host various events every year, like the Dubai shopping festival, Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, Dubai Jazz Festival, Dubai Desert Classic, Dubai Food Festival, Dubai World Cup, etc. Therefore, with the growing number of events across countries like the UAE, Saudi Arabia, etc., the tourism & hospitality sectors witness a considerable boost.

Along with the flourishing tourism sector, restaurants & cafes are also expanding across the region, i.e., augmenting the consumption of non-alcoholic beer among tourists to enrich their travel experiences. For instance, in 2022, several famous restaurant brands, such as Black Flamingo & Laguna Beach Taverna, across the UAE, and Bagatelle, Bianca, and Entrecôte Café de Paris across Saudi Arabia, announced their expansion by the end of 2022.

Thus, the growing number of cafes & restaurants, coupled with the expanding tourism in the country, are amplifying the demand for non-alcoholic beer across the GCC region and, in turn, stimulating the overall market growth.

GCC Non-Alcoholic Beer Market Challenge:

Apprehension Among the Consumers Limits the Sales of the Non-Alcoholic Beer - Non-alcoholic beer producers often struggle with keeping the concentration of alcohol in beers below 0.5 % ABV (alcohol by volume), due to the complicated production process, which also hikes up production costs, resulting in reducing gross profit margins for producers. Moreover, regulations regarding 0.5% ABV concentrations are highly strict in countries like Kuwait, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia, which results in the loss of an entire consignment in case the concentration is crossed by even a margin.

Furthermore, red tape issues, tax laws, and bureaucracy result in delayed licenses & permits required for the import of non-alcoholic beers resulting in slowing down market development. Hence, stringent regulations have been posing a restraint to the Non-alcoholic Beer market growth in the GCC region.

GCC Non-Alcoholic Beer Market Opportunity:

Rise in the Number of Diabetic Patients to Upscale the Non-alcoholic Beer Demand - With the amplifying population of diabetic patients across GCC countries like the UAE, Saudi Arabia, etc., the demand for non-alcoholic beer is also anticipated to shoot up during the forecasted years. It is majorly because non-alcoholic beers contain a comparatively lower amount of sugar & carbohydrates compared to alcoholic beer, leading to diabetic patients' shift towards a healthier drink option. For instance, the Heineken O.O beer, a non-alcoholic beer, contains only 69 calories, however, its alcoholic beer contains around 149 calories. Therefore, the growing awareness regarding the low-calorie content of non-alcoholic beer, coupled with the soaring prevalence of diabetes, is anticipated to amplify its demand among diabetic patients across the GCC region during the forecasted years.

GCC Non-Alcoholic Beer Market Trend:

Increasing Popularity of Non-alcoholic Beer with Low-calorie Content - Low-calorie non-alcoholic beer is in high demand in the GCC region, owing to rising health consciousness among youngsters & women in recent years. As non-alcoholic malted beverages have become increasingly popular, brands such as Budweiser have emerged offering low-calorie non-alcoholic malted beverages, resulting in a growing consumer preference for diet-based non-alcoholic beverages. These diet-based non-alcoholic beverages have no sugar content, and several non-alcoholic beers, such as Bud Zero have around 50% calories, leading to millennials preferring non-alcoholic beers.

In addition, the rise in tax prices on sugar in Gulf countries in the historical years has resulted in the enhanced pricing of carbonated beverages, which, in turn, has helped consumers shift toward non-alcoholic malted beverages. Hence, the escalating adoption of low-calorific non-alcoholic beverages is promoting the growth of the GCC Non-alcoholic Beer market.

GCC Non-Alcoholic Beer Market (2024-30): Segmentation Analysis

The GCC Non-Alcoholic Beer Market study of MarkNtel Advisors evaluates & highlights the major trends & influencing factors in each segment & includes predictions for the period 2023–2028 at the global, regional, and national levels. Based on the Flavor, and Packagingthe market has been further classified as:

Based on Flavor:

• Flavored
  • Strawberry
  • Grape
  • Ginger
  • Pomegranate
  • Others (Cranberry, Peach, etc.)
• Unflavored

The growing inclination of consumers towards flavored non-alcoholic drinks owing to the accessibility of a diverse range of taste options has been leading to a surge in the market share of Flavored Beverages in the GCC Non-alcoholic Beer Market. Flavored non-alcoholic drinks have low sugar & calorie content, therefore they are perceived as a healthier beverage alternative, rather than carbonated drinks. In line with this, restaurants, cafes, and hotels have been increasingly offering these flavored drinks to attract more consumers, enhancing the share of the flavored segment in the GCC market.

The growing demand for flavored drinks is also facilitating the companies such as Lamstel, Heineken, etc., to launch diverse flavored non-alcoholic beers in the market. For instance, in 2022, the company Lyre launched a different premium type of non-alcoholic beer in middle eastern countries. Hence, the rising launch of flavored non-alcoholic drinks would further supplement the accessibility of flavored non-alcoholic beer, amplifying its share in the GCC Non-alcoholic Beer Market in the forthcoming years.

Based on Packaging:

• Glass Bottles
• Metal Cans

Here, Glass Bottle packaging holds the largest share of the GCC Non-alcoholic Beer Market owing to its easy availability & lower production cost. Moreover, the excessive presence of local manufacturers like Middle East Glass, Saudi Arabia Glass Co. Ltd., etc., in countries like the UAE, Saudi Arabia, etc., which provide glass bottles at low costs & facilitate the production of craft beers across the region, is another reason behind the burgeoning sales of non-alcoholic beer in glass bottles.

Further, consumers prefer glass bottles for storage purposes as well due to their ability to retain flavor & freshness for a prolonged time. Moreover, the recyclability of glass bottles offers added advantage of reduced production costs. Hence, these aspects indicate the wider acceptance of glass bottles over another packaging for non-alcoholic beers.

GCC Non-Alcoholic Beer Market Regional Projection

Geographically, the GCC Non-alcoholic Beer Market expands across:

• The UAE
• Saudi Arabia
• Oman
• Kuwait
• Bahrain
• Qatar

Of all the countries across the GCC, Saudi Arabia & the UAE accounted for the majority share of non-alcoholic beer consumption over the last few years due to the rising population of expatriates & tourists coupled with growing distribution channels in these regions. Additionally, the soaring trend of consuming craft non-alcoholic beers like Moussy, Barbican, etc., in microbreweries due to their soothing taste has been resulting in the growing sales of craft non-alcoholic beers in the nations like Saudi Arabia & the UAE.

Further, the strict regulations on the consumption & production of alcoholic beer across the UAE & Saudi Arabia support the shift in consumer preference towards non-alcoholic beer from alcoholic ones, as they provide a similar essence of taste as alcoholic beer. Consequently, with the uprising availability of flavored non-alcoholic beverages, coupled with strict regulations for alcoholic drinks, their demand is anticipated to grow significantly during the forecast years, therefore influencing the growth of the overall GCC Non-alcoholic Beer Market.

GCC Non-Alcoholic Beer Industry Recent Developments 

• 2022: Anheuser-Busch InBev’s Budweiser was one of the major sponsors of the Qatar World Cup, and its non-alcoholic beer, i.e., Bud Zero, was the only beer choice available at the stadiums hosting the World Cup in Qatar, as other alcoholic beers were completely banned at the tournament.

Gain a Competitive Edge with Our GCC Non-Alcoholic Beer Market Report

1. GCC Non-Alcoholic Beer Market Report by Markntel Advisors provides a detailed & thorough analysis of market size, growth rate, competitive landscape, and key players. This comprehensive analysis helps business organizations to gain a holistic understanding of market dynamics & make informed decisions.
2. This report also highlights current market trends & future projections, allowing business organizations to identify emerging opportunities & potential challenges. By understanding market forecasts, companies can align their strategies & stay ahead of the competition.
3. GCC Non-Alcoholic Beer Market Report aids in assessing & mitigating risks associated with entering or operating in the market. By understanding market dynamics, regulatory frameworks, and potential challenges, business organizations can develop strategies to minimize risks & optimize their operations.