Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Friday, Aug 22, 2025

More than 30% of UAE residents now source their food needs locally, says Kearney study

More than 30% of UAE residents now source their food needs locally, says Kearney study

Pandemic has changed consumer habits and supporting local businesses is high priority
Buying local is the in thing to do.


More than 30 per cent of residents in the UAE have shifted their buying preference to locally sourced food produce. Of course, the weeks where they were stuck to their homes had influence on these decisions, but the momentum for fresh and organic from local outlets was building up.

UAE nationals (at 37 per cent) are more likely to source local, followed by Asians (33 per cent), Arab expats (31 per cent) and those from the West (23 per cent), according to findings from a survey commissioned by Kearney, the consultancy.

Not just on the sourcing


Changes in consumer behavior were not confined to sourcing preferences. Nearly half of those surveyed – by YouGov – say they have reduced food wastage. (It’s also an age thing, with more than half of those over 45 years are now throwing away less food compared to 38 per cent who did among the young.)

Cutting down on all fronts


Saving on utility costs too is high priority these days, even when confronted with the realities of a harsh summer. A quarter of those polled had reduced their electricity and water consumption, with those over 45 years (at 32 per cent) saving more compared to those between 18 and 24 (22 per cent). And 14 per cent made more of an effort to shop from brands with a robust environmental agenda.

A cost to it


Not a surprise, but those with higher income were more supportive of eco-friendly brands, which more often than not carry higher prices. Those earning between Dh20,000-Dh40,000 supported such brands twice as more (27 per cent) as those with incomes of up to Dh5,000 (12 per cent).

Less inclined


Changes are showing up even in vehicle usage, and often with surprising results. While 28 per cent in the survey reduced the use of personal cars in recent months, those with an income over Dh40,000 were more likely to do so (at 44 per cent) as compared to those with an income of up to Dh5,000 (16 per cent).

In a statement, Andreea Zugravu, Principal at Government and Economic Development at Kearney Middle East, said: “The sanitization drive and social distancing measures have allowed people to break away from the ‘norm’ and connect more with their families, friends and communities. These positive family, societal and sustainable behaviors have the potential to shape the right community values for the next 50 years - if maintained - post-pandemic.”

Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Dogfights in the Skies: Airbus on Track to Overtake Boeing and Claim Aviation Supremacy
Tim Cook Promises an AI Revolution at Apple: "One of the Most Significant Technologies of Our Generation"
Are AI Data Centres the Infrastructure of the Future or the Next Crisis?
Miles Worth Billions: How Airlines Generate Huge Profits
Zelenskyy Returns to White House Flanked by European Allies as Trump Pressures Land-Swap Deal with Putin
Beijing is moving into gold and other assets, diversifying away from the dollar
Cristiano Ronaldo Makes Surprise Stop at New Hong Kong Museum
Zelenskyy to Visit Washington after Trump–Putin Summit Yields No Agreement
High-Stakes Trump-Putin Summit on Ukraine Underway in Alaska
Iranian Protection Offers Chinese Vehicle Shipments a Cost Advantage over Japanese and Korean Makers
Saudi Arabia accelerates renewables to curb domestic oil use
Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodríguez announce engagement
Asia-Pacific dominates world’s busiest flight routes, with South Korea’s Jeju–Seoul corridor leading global rankings
Private Welsh island with 19th-century fort listed for sale at over £3 million
Sam Altman challenges Elon Musk with plans for Neuralink rival
Australia to Recognize the State of Palestine at UN Assembly
The Collapse of the Programmer Dream: AI Experts Now the Real High-Earners
Armenia and Azerbaijan to Sign US-Brokered Framework Agreement for Nakhchivan Corridor
British Labour Government Utilizes Counter-Terrorism Tools for Social Media Monitoring Against Legitimate Critics
WhatsApp Deletes 6.8 Million Scam Accounts Amid Rising Global Fraud
Nine people have been hospitalized and dozens of salmonella cases have been reported after an outbreak of infections linked to certain brands of pistachios and pistachio-containing products, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada
Texas Residents Face Water Restrictions While AI Data Centers Consume Millions of Gallons
Tariffs, AI, and the Shifting U.S. Macro Landscape: Navigating a New Economic Regime
India Rejects U.S. Tariff Threat, Defends Russian Oil Purchases
United States Establishes Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and Digital Asset Stockpile
Thousands of Private ChatGPT Conversations Accidentally Indexed by Google
China Tightens Mineral Controls, Curtailing Critical Inputs for Western Defence Contractors
OpenAI’s Bold Bet: Teaching AI to Think, Not Just Chat
BP’s Largest Oil and Gas Find in 25 Years Uncovered Offshore Brazil
JPMorgan and Coinbase Unveil Partnership to Let Chase Cardholders Buy Crypto Directly
British Tourist Dies Following Hair Transplant in Turkey, Police Investigate
WhatsApp Users Targeted in New Scam Involving Account Takeovers
Trump Deploys Nuclear Submarines After Threats from Former Russian President Medvedev
Germany’s Economic Breakdown and the Return of Militarization: From Industrial Collapse to a New Offensive Strategy
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
President Trump Diagnosed with Chronic Venous Insufficiency After Leg Swelling
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
"Can You Hit Moscow?" Trump Asked Zelensky To Make Putin "Feel The Pain"
Nvidia Becomes World’s First Four‑Trillion‑Dollar Company Amid AI Boom
Iranian President Reportedly Injured During Israeli Strike on Secret Facility
Kurdistan Workers Party Takes Symbolic Step Towards Peace in Northern Iraq
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Russia Formally Recognizes Taliban Government in Afghanistan
×