GCC Poultry Meat Market Size and Share

GCC Poultry Meat Market Summary
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GCC Poultry Meat Market Analysis by Mordor Intelligence

The GCC poultry meat market size reached USD 7.73 billion in 2025 and is projected to expand to USD 8.39 billion by 2030, reflecting a 1.65% CAGR. This growth trajectory is bolstered by Saudi Arabia's ambition for 80% self-sufficiency, an uptick in per-capita protein consumption, and targeted investments in state-of-the-art production facilities. As health consciousness rises in the GCC, consumers are increasingly leaning towards protein-rich diets and healthier meat choices. This includes a preference for halal, organic, and lean poultry products. While frozen poultry dominates in volume, the swiftest growth is seen in processed formats, catering to time-sensitive consumers seeking convenience. Demand for standardized cuts is surging, fueled by quick-service restaurants (QSRs) and app-based delivery platforms. Enhanced biosecurity measures, coupled with advancements in automation, breeding technologies, and processing, are yielding benefits: reduced mortality rates, decreased production costs, and heightened output efficiency. In a bid to bolster food security, GCC governments, with Saudi Arabia at the forefront, are championing domestic poultry production. They're doing this through a mix of subsidies, land acquisition facilitation, equipment loans, and overhauling feed and livestock subsidy frameworks. While challenges like feed-grain price fluctuations and rising refrigeration energy costs pose profitability hurdles, the landscape is brightened by vertical integration and tech adoption, which are refining scale economics in the GCC poultry arena. 

Key Report Takeaways

  • By form, frozen poultry held 41.27% of the GCC poultry meat market share in 2024, while processed products are forecast to rise at a 1.88% CAGR through 2030. 
  • By distribution channel, on-trade captured 59.84% of the GCC poultry meat market size in 2024, whereas off-trade is set to grow at a 1.74% CAGR to 2030. 
  • By geography, Saudi Arabia accounted for 61.49% GCC poultry meat market share in 2024 and is advancing at a 1.71% CAGR through 2030. 

Segment Analysis

By Form: Processed Segments Drive Innovation

Frozen products held the largest market share at 41.27% in 2024. Frozen poultry, known for its extended shelf life, enables consumers and businesses to store products longer without the risk of spoilage. This feature is especially critical in the GCC, where challenging climate conditions and logistical issues make frozen products a practical option for both retail and foodservice sectors. The processed poultry segment is on a growth path, recording a 1.88% CAGR through 2030. Reflecting the industry's focus on value-added processing, JBS launched a USD 50 million chicken nugget facility in Jeddah in November 2024.

Fresh and chilled segments appeal to consumers in premium retail channels and traditional wet markets due to their perceived quality and nutritional value. Canned poultry primarily serves institutional clients and emergency food supplies, remaining a niche category. Processed subcategories exhibit varied growth trends, with nuggets and tenders gaining popularity due to demand from quick-service restaurants (QSRs), while deli meats and sausages address evolving breakfast and snacking preferences. Halal certification under GSO 993:2015 standards supports the segment's growth by creating barriers for non-compliant processors and enabling premium pricing for certified products. Additionally, meatballs and marinated products are becoming popular among home cooks seeking convenience without compromising traditional flavors.

GCC Poultry Meat Market: Market Share by Form
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By Distribution Channel: Off-Trade Acceleration

On-trade channels hold a 59.84% market share in 2024, highlighting the GCC's flourishing restaurant and hospitality sectors. The foodservice sector is expanding, driven by increasing tourism, particularly in urban centers where restaurant dining and event catering, both significant consumers of poultry meat, are gaining momentum. In contrast, off-trade channels are growing at a faster rate, with a projected CAGR of 1.74% through 2030. This growth is primarily fueled by the development of modern retail formats and improvements in e-commerce cold-chain infrastructure. Supermarkets and hypermarkets are dedicating more freezer space to poultry products, while convenience stores are incorporating refrigerated sections to attract impulse buyers. Online channels are rapidly expanding, supported by investments in last-mile cold-chain logistics and shifting consumer shopping preferences.

Al Kabeer Group exemplifies the infrastructure requirements for off-trade penetration, operating a distribution network that serves over 11,000 retail outlets with 300+ temperature-controlled vehicles and 9 cold storage centers. To enhance retail supply chain efficiency, the UAE's Food Tech Valley has collaborated with Spinneys to establish a 500,000 square foot processing facility. Traditional wet markets continue to play a vital role for certain demographics, particularly for whole-bird purchases and culturally specific cuts. The diversification of channels is creating opportunities for customized packaging and portion sizing designed for various retail formats.

GCC Poultry Meat Market: Market Share by Distribution Channel
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Geography Analysis

Saudi Arabia's market leadership is attributed to its large population, high per capita consumption, and strategic investments in food security. In 2024, the Kingdom holds a 61.49% market share, driven by an annual domestic consumption of 43.40 kg per capita and its position as a regional production hub. Key expansions include Balady Poultry's SAR 1.14 billion initiative, supported by the Agricultural Development Fund and commercial financing, to increase production by 200 million birds annually over five years. Additionally, Tanmiah Food's partnership with China's Chengdu Design and Research Institute aims to establish 100 modern broiler houses, representing a SAR 165 million investment. The Kingdom's projected 1.71% CAGR through 2030 is underpinned by Vision 2030's focus on local production and food security. Regulatory compliance remains critical, with the Saudi Food and Drug Authority enforcing standards for contamination prevention and processing facility approvals.

The United Arab Emirates is a key import hub and innovation leader in the region. Dubai's strategic location ensures efficient distribution across the GCC. The country's Food Tech Valley initiative features the world's largest vertical farm, covering 30,658 square meters and producing over 1 million kg of leafy greens annually, highlighting advanced agricultural technologies. Bustanica's closed-loop hydroponic system conserves over 250 million liters of water annually while enabling continuous cultivation of over 1 million plants. These developments align with the UAE's National Food Security Strategy 2051, which provides a policy framework for such investments.

Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, and Bahrain offer distinct market opportunities and growth drivers. Qatar's Widam Food Company is expanding through strategic partnerships and an increased retail presence. Oman's A'Saffa Foods, which operates the largest integrated poultry facility in the country, has secured export agreements with Saudi Arabia. These smaller markets often serve as entry points for international suppliers and testing grounds for new product categories. Regional supply chains are becoming more efficient due to GCC customs union agreements and standardized halal certification under GSO 993:2015. The demographic profiles of these countries, characterized by high expatriate populations and urban concentration, drive demand for diverse protein products and opportunities for premium market positioning.

Competitive Landscape

The GCC poultry meat market is moderately concentrated, with the top two fresh poultry producers holding a significant share. In contrast, the frozen segment is more concentrated, with Brazil's BRF leading through its Sadia and Doux brands. This dominance highlights the advantages of established cold-chain logistics and halal certification. A key strategic trend is the focus on vertical integration, where leading players manage feed mills, hatcheries, processing facilities, and distribution networks to optimize value capture across the supply chain.

Major players in the market include Al-Watania Poultry, Almarai Company, BRF SA, Tanmiah Food Company, and The Savola Group. These leading companies in the GCC poultry meat market are actively driving growth through various strategic initiatives. Product innovation is a central focus, with companies introducing new processed and value-added poultry products to address the growing consumer demand for convenience and health-focused options. Companies are showcasing operational agility by investing in advanced production facilities and cold chain infrastructure to maintain product quality and availability. Expansion efforts include both organic growth and strategic partnerships, particularly in establishing new production facilities and distribution networks across the GCC. The industry's commitment to quality and regulatory compliance is evident in its focus on halal certification, food safety standards, and vertically integrated operations.

Technology adoption is becoming a critical differentiator, with companies investing in controlled-environment agriculture and AI-powered farm management systems. For instance, Qatar University's development of sustainable cooling systems for poultry houses highlights innovations in climate control and energy efficiency. Opportunities in plant-based alternatives are emerging, signaling potential disruptions for traditional protein suppliers. While vertical farming companies and alternative protein startups are gaining traction, their current market impact remains limited. Halal certification under GSO 993:2015 standards serves as both a regulatory requirement and a competitive advantage for established players with certified facilities and supply chains.

GCC Poultry Meat Industry Leaders

  1. Al-Watania Poultry

  2. BRF S.A.

  3. Tanmiah Food Company

  4. The Savola Group

  5. Almarai Company

  6. *Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order
GCC Poultry Meat Market
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Recent Industry Developments

  • September 2025: Tanmiah has inaugurated a new poultry plant and feed mill in Saudi Arabia. The company claims that this poultry plant is the nation's first, equipped with processing lines specifically designed for large birds.
  • July 2025: BRF, a prominent Brazilian meat processor, has introduced its first line of chilled chicken products in Saudi Arabia. This initiative highlights BRF's strategic effort to strengthen its presence in Saudi Arabia by reducing reliance on exports to the kingdom and increasing domestic supplies in this critical market.
  • December 2024: A’Saffa Foods SAOG revamped its broiler chicken production, targeting an annual output increase from 48 million to a notable 60 million birds
  • July 2024: JBS, the Brazilian multinational, inaugurated a new plant in Jeddah. JBS's newly opened chicken nugget facility in Jeddah has boosted the company's production capacity in Saudi Arabia fourfold. The company already operates a processing plant and several distribution centers in the region.

Table of Contents for GCC Poultry Meat Industry Report

1. INTRODUCTION

  • 1.1 Study Assumptions and Market Definition
  • 1.2 Scope of the Study

2. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

4. MARKET LANDSCAPE

  • 4.1 Market Overview
  • 4.2 Market Drivers
    • 4.2.1 Rapid growth in per-capita poultry consumption
    • 4.2.2 Growing popularity of processed, value-added, and convenience products
    • 4.2.3 Rapid growth of QSR and food-delivery platforms driving value-added poultry demand
    • 4.2.4 Expansion of modern retail and e-commerce cold-chains
    • 4.2.5 Introduction of controlled-environment vertical broiler farms
    • 4.2.6 Mandatory halal traceability standards boosting premium brand penetration
  • 4.3 Market Restraints
    • 4.3.1 Volatile global feed commodity prices compressing producer margins
    • 4.3.2 High energy costs for refrigeration inflating frozen poultry landed prices
    • 4.3.3 Rising consumer experimentation with plant-based chicken analogues
    • 4.3.4 Tightening ESG-linked lender covenants limiting leverage for smaller farms
  • 4.4 Consumer Behaviour Analysis
  • 4.5 Regulatory Landscape
  • 4.6 Technological Outlook
  • 4.7 Porter's Five Forces
    • 4.7.1 Threat of New Entrants
    • 4.7.2 Bargaining Power of Buyers
    • 4.7.3 Bargaining Power of Suppliers
    • 4.7.4 Threat of Substitutes
    • 4.7.5 Competitive Rivalry

5. MARKET SIZE AND GROWTH FORECASTS (VALUE AND VOLUME)

  • 5.1 By Form
    • 5.1.1 Fresh / Chilled
    • 5.1.2 Frozen
    • 5.1.3 Canned
    • 5.1.4 Processed
    • 5.1.4.1 Nuggets
    • 5.1.4.2 Deli Meats
    • 5.1.4.3 Sausages
    • 5.1.4.4 Tenders/marinated
    • 5.1.4.5 Meatballs
    • 5.1.4.6 Others
  • 5.2 By Distribution Channel
    • 5.2.1 On-Trade
    • 5.2.2 Off-Trade
    • 5.2.2.1 Supermarkets and Hypermarkets
    • 5.2.2.2 Convenience Stores
    • 5.2.2.3 Online Channel
    • 5.2.2.4 Others
  • 5.3 By Country
    • 5.3.1 Bahrain
    • 5.3.2 Kuwait
    • 5.3.3 Oman
    • 5.3.4 Qatar
    • 5.3.5 Saudi Arabia
    • 5.3.6 United Arab Emirates

6. COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

  • 6.1 Market Concentration
  • 6.2 Strategic Moves
  • 6.3 Market Share Analysis
  • 6.4 Company Profiles (includes Global level Overview, Market level overview, Core Segments, Financials as available, Strategic Information, Market Rank/Share for key companies, Products and Services, and Recent Developments)
    • 6.4.1 Al-Watania Poultry
    • 6.4.2 Almarai Food Company
    • 6.4.3 BRF S.A.
    • 6.4.4 Emirates National Food LLC
    • 6.4.5 JBS S.A.
    • 6.4.6 Tanmiah Food Company
    • 6.4.7 The Savola Group
    • 6.4.8 Al Munajem Foods
    • 6.4.9 Fakieh Poultry Farms
    • 6.4.10 Sunbulah Group
    • 6.4.11 Radwa Food Production Co.
    • 6.4.12 Entaj Poultry
    • 6.4.13 Golden Chicken Farm Factory Co.
    • 6.4.14 Qatar Meat Production Co.
    • 6.4.15 A Saffa Foods
    • 6.4.16 Al Kabeer Group
    • 6.4.17 Widam Food Company
    • 6.4.18 Americana Group
    • 6.4.19 Osool Poultry Company
    • 6.4.20 Al Rawdah (Emirates Modern Poultry)
    • 6.4.21 Al Ain Farms
    • 6.4.22 Al-Ghurair Foods
    • 6.4.23 Addoha Poultry

7. MARKET OPPORTUNITIES AND FUTURE OUTLOOK

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GCC Poultry Meat Market Report Scope

Canned, Fresh / Chilled, Frozen, Processed are covered as segments by Form. Off-Trade, On-Trade are covered as segments by Distribution Channel. Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates are covered as segments by Country.
By Form
Fresh / Chilled
Frozen
Canned
Processed Nuggets
Deli Meats
Sausages
Tenders/marinated
Meatballs
Others
By Distribution Channel
On-Trade
Off-Trade Supermarkets and Hypermarkets
Convenience Stores
Online Channel
Others
By Country
Bahrain
Kuwait
Oman
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
United Arab Emirates
By Form Fresh / Chilled
Frozen
Canned
Processed Nuggets
Deli Meats
Sausages
Tenders/marinated
Meatballs
Others
By Distribution Channel On-Trade
Off-Trade Supermarkets and Hypermarkets
Convenience Stores
Online Channel
Others
By Country Bahrain
Kuwait
Oman
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
United Arab Emirates
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Market Definition

  • Meat - Meat is defined as the flesh or other edible parts of an animal used for food. The end use of the meat industry consists of only human consumption. Meat is generally purchased from retail outlets for home cooking and consumption. For the market studied, only uncooked meat has been considered. This could be processed in various forms, which have been covered under the “Processed” form. The other purchases of meat happen through the consumption of meat at foodservice outlets (restaurants, hotels, catering, etc.). ​
  • Other Meats - The other meat segment includes the meat of camel, horse, rabbit, etc. These are not so commonly consumed meat types but still, have a presence in distinct parts of the world. Regardless of it being part of red meat, we have considered these meat types separately for a better understanding of the market. ​
  • Poultry Meat - Poultry meat also called white meat, comes from birds raised commercially or domestically for human consumption. This includes chicken, turkey, ducks, and geese.​
  • Red Meat - Red meat typically has a red color when raw and a dark color when cooked. It includes any meat that comes from mammals, such as beef, lamb, pork, goat, veal, and mutton.​
Keyword Definition
A5 It is a Japanese grading system for beef. The 'A' means the carcass yield is the highest possible and the numeric rating relates to beef marbling, color and brightness of the flesh, its texture and color, luster, and fat quality. A5 is the highest mark wagyu beef can score.
Abbatoir It is another name for a slaughterhouse and refers to the premise used for or in connection with the slaughter of animals whose meat is intended for human consumption.
Acute Hepatopancreatic Necrosis Disease (AHPND) It is a disease that affects shrimp and is characterized by high mortalities, in many cases reaching 100% within 30-35 days of stocking grow-out ponds.
African Swine Fever (ASF) It is a highly contagious viral disease of pigs caused by a double-stranded DNA virus in the Asfarviridae family.
Albacore Tuna It is one of the smallest species of tuna found in the six distinct stocks known globally in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans, as well as the Mediterranean Sea.
Angus beef It is beef derived from a specific breed of cattle indigenous to Scotland. It requires certification from the American Angus Association to receive the "Certified Angus Beef" quality mark
Bacon It is salted or smoked meat that comes from the back or sides of a pig
Black Angus It is beef derived from a black-hided breed of cows that don't have horns.
Bologna It is an Italian smoked sausage made of meat, typically large and made from pork, beef or veal.
Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) It is a progressive neurological disorder of cattle that results from infection by an unusual transmissible agent called a prion.
Bratwurst It refers to a type of German sausage made from pork, beef or veal.
BRC British Retail Consortium
Brisket It is a cut of meat from the breast or lower chest of beef or veal. The beef brisket is one of the nine beef primal cuts.
Broiler It refers to any chicken (Gallus domesticus) that is bred and raised specifically for meat production.
Bushel It is a unit of measurement for grains and pulses. 1 bushel = 27.216 kg
Carcass It refers to the dressed body of a meat animal from which butchers trim the meat
CFIA Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Chicken Tender It refers to chicken meat prepared from the pectoralis minor muscles of a chicken bird.
Chuck Steak It refers to a cut of beef that is part of the chuck primal, which is a large section of meat from the shoulder area of a cow
Corned Beef It refers to beef brisket cured in brine and boiled, typically served cold.
CWT Also known as a hundredweight, it is a unit of measurement used to define the quantity of meat. 1 CWT = 50.80 kg
Drumstick It refers to a chicken leg without the thigh.
EFSA European Food Safety Authority
ERS Economic Research Service of the USDA
Ewe It is an adult female sheep.
FDA Food and Drug Administration
Fillet Mignon It is a cut of meat taken from the smaller end of the tenderloin.
Flank Steak It is a cut of beef steak taken from the flank, which lies forward of the rear quarter of a cow.
Foodservice It refers to the part of the food industry which includes businesses, institutions, and companies which prepare meals outside the home. It includes restaurants, school and hospital cafeterias, catering operations, and many other formats.
Forage It refers to animal feed.
Foreshank It is the upper part of the foreleg of cattle
Franks Also known as frankfurter or Würstchen, it is a type of highly seasoned smoked sausage popular in Austria and Germany.
FSANZ Food Standards Australia New Zealand
FSIS Food Safety and Inspection Service
FSSAI Food Safety and Standards Authority of India
Gizzard It refers to an organ found in the digestive tract of birds. It is also called the mechanical stomach of a bird.
Gluten It is a family of proteins found in grains, including wheat, rye, spelt, and barley
Grain-fed beef It is beef derived from cattle that have been fed a diet supplemented with soy and corn and other additives. Grainfed cows can also be given antibiotics and growth hormones to fatten them up more quickly.
Grass-fed beef It is beef derived from cattle that have only been fed grass as feed.
Ham It refers to the pork meat taken from the leg of a pig.
HoReCa Hotels, Restaurants and Cafes
Jerky It is lean trimmed meat that has been cut into strips and dried (dehydrated) to prevent spoilage.
Kobe Beef It is Wagyu beef specifically from the Kuroge Washu breed of cows in Japan. To be classified as Kobe beef, the cow must have been born, raised, and slaughtered within the Hyōgo prefecture in the city of Kobe in Japan.
Liverwurst It is type of German sausage made from beef or pork liver.
Loin It refers to the sides between the lower ribs and pelvis, and the lower part of the back of a cow.
Mortadella It is a large Italian sausage or luncheon meat made of finely hashed or ground heat-cured pork, which incorporates at least 15% small cubes of pork fat.
Pastrami It refers to a highly seasoned smoked beef, typically served in thin slices.
Pepperoni It is an American variety of spicy salami made from cured meat.
Plate It refers to a forequarter cut from the belly of a cow, just below the rib cut.
Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) It is a disease occurring in swine causing late-term reproductive failure and severe pneumonia in neonatal pigs.
Primal cuts It refers to the major sections of the carcass.
Quorn It is a meat substitute product prepared using mycoprotein as an ingredient, in which the fungus culture is dried and mixed with egg albumen or potato protein, which acts as a binder, and then is adjusted in texture and pressed into various forms.
Ready-to-Cook (RTC) It refers to food products that include all of the ingredients, where some preparation or cooking is required through a process that is given on the package.
Ready-to-Eat (RTE) It refers to a food product prepared or cooked in advance, with no further cooking or preparation required before being eaten
Retort Packaging It is a process of aseptic packaging food in which food is filled into a pouch or metal can, sealed, and then heated to extremely high temperatures, rendering the product commercially sterile.
Round Steak It refers to a beef steak from the the rear leg of the cow.
Rump Steak It refers to a cut of beef derived from the division between the leg and the chine.
Salami It is a cured sausage consisting of fermented and air-dried meat.
Saturated fat It is a type of fat in which the fatty acid chains have all single bonds. It is generally considered unhealthy.
Sausage It is a meat product made of finely chopped and seasoned meat, which may be fresh, smoked, or pickled and which is then usually stuffed into a casing.
Scallop It is an edible shellfish that is a mollusk with a ribbed shell in two parts.
Seitan It is a plant-based meat substitute made out of wheat gluten.
Self-service kios It refers to a self-order point-of-sale (POS) system through which customers place and pay for their own orders at kiosks, enabling totally contactless and frictionless service.
Sirloin It is a cut of beef from the bottom and side parts of a cow's back.
Surimi It is a paste made from deboned fish
Tenderloin It refers to a cut of beef consisting of the entire tenderloin muscle of a cow
Tiger Shrimp It refers to a large shrimp variety from the Indian and Pacific oceans
Trans fat Also called trans-unsaturated fatty acids or trans fatty acids, it is a type of unsaturated fat that naturally occurs in small amounts in meat.
Vannamei shrimp It refers to tropical prawns and shrimp that are farmed in areas near the equator, generally along the coast in artificial ponds.
Wagyu Bee It is beef derived from any of four strains of a breed of black or red Japanese cattle that are valued for their highly marbled meat.
Zoosanitary It refers to the cleanliness of animals or animal product
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Research Methodology

Mordor Intelligence follows a four-step methodology in all our reports.

  • Step-1: Identify Key Variables: In order to build a robust forecasting methodology, the variables and factors identified in Step 1 are tested against available historical market numbers. Through an iterative process, the variables required for market forecast are set, and the model is built on the basis of these variables.​
  • Step-2: Build a Market Model: Market-size estimations for the forecast years are in nominal terms. Inflation is not a part of the pricing, and the average selling price (ASP) is kept constant throughout the forecast period for each country.​
  • Step-3: Validate and Finalize: In this important step, all market numbers, variables, and analyst calls are validated through an extensive network of primary research experts from the market studied. The respondents are selected across levels and functions to generate a holistic picture of the market studied.​
  • Step-4: Research Outputs: Syndicated Reports, Custom Consulting Assignments, Databases & Subscription Platforms.
research-methodology
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