Rising consumption, premium tastes, and global attention place the UAE and Saudi Arabia at the heart of the region’s fast-growing specialty coffee economy.
Coffee culture across the Middle East is entering a powerful new phase, with the UAE and Saudi Arabia emerging as the region’s undisputed growth leaders. From booming market valuations to record-breaking daily consumption, the two countries are reshaping global perceptions of Middle Eastern coffee—transforming it into one of the world’s most dynamic and sophisticated specialty markets.
In the UAE, the coffee sector has reached a landmark valuation of $3.2 billion, reflecting rapid expansion driven by premium cafés, specialty roasters, international brands, and an increasingly discerning consumer base. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s daily coffee consumption has surged past 36 million cups, underscoring how deeply coffee is embedded in everyday life, hospitality, and social culture across the Kingdom.
Together, these figures highlight a broader regional shift: coffee is no longer just a beverage, but a lifestyle, business, and cultural movement.
This momentum is set to take centre stage at World of Coffee Dubai 2026, which will return to the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) amid continued market growth. The event is expected to attract international exhibitors, global brands, and industry leaders eager to tap into the Middle East’s expanding demand for high-quality beans, advanced brewing technologies, and café innovation.
The Middle East’s coffee boom is being fuelled by several converging trends. Younger, urban consumers are gravitating toward specialty and artisanal offerings, while established traditions of coffee hospitality—particularly in Saudi Arabia—continue to evolve with modern formats. From independent cafés and luxury hotel lounges to large-scale retail chains, the market is diversifying at speed.
Saudi Arabia’s consumption levels reflect both cultural heritage and modernisation. Coffee has long played a central role in Saudi social life, and today that tradition is being amplified by rapid urban development, tourism growth, and a thriving café scene aligned with Vision 2030’s lifestyle and hospitality ambitions.
In the UAE, Dubai has become a regional hub for coffee entrepreneurship, hosting roasters, barista academies, global competitions, and international trade events. The city’s position as a global crossroads has helped connect producers, innovators, and consumers—strengthening its role in shaping global coffee trends.
As demand continues to rise, the Middle East is no longer viewed merely as a consumption market, but as a strategic centre for coffee innovation, trade, and culture. With the UAE and Saudi Arabia leading the charge, the region’s influence on the global coffee industry is set to grow—one cup at a time.
