The UAE’s foodservice sector continued to grow in 2025 and is expected to expand further through 2030, even as the global market moves into a phase of more stable and moderate growth, according to an exclusive preview of Deloitte’s Foodservice Market Monitor 2026 shared with TUTTOFOOD.
The report said the global foodservice market is projected to reach €2.98 trillion in 2025, marking growth of 2.2% compared with 2024. Europe led expansion at 6.0%, followed by Asia-Pacific at 3.8%.
The UAE foodservice market, valued at €16 billion in 2025, grew by 1.6% compared with 2024 and is forecast to rise by a further 4.2% through 2030, outperforming the relatively stable global outlook.
“Foodservice is entering a new phase shaped by evolving consumption models and supply chain complexity,” said Antonio Cellie, CEO of Fiere di Parma. “In this context, TUTTOFOOD, Southern Europe’s leading food business platform, helps turn market insights into concrete business opportunities by connecting international suppliers with over 4,000 top buyers, supported by a Buyers Program organized in cooperation with ITA – Italian Trade Agency”.
The report said growth in the UAE is being driven largely by the expansion of Quick Service Restaurants (QSR), a segment expected to increase by 5.3% over the next five years.
Street food and QSR are expected to be among the fastest-growing categories globally, with North America and Asia-Pacific leading demand.
“In recent years, foodservice growth has been shaped by two main dynamics: the expansion of formats, with QSR playing a pivotal role, and the increasing penetration of chain operators, which are proving particularly effective in combining service, quality and customer experience,” said Tommaso Nastasi, Deloitte partner and Value creation service leader.
“As a result, the channel is becoming progressively more attractive for the entire value chain. Partnerships with structured chains are enabling suppliers not only to streamline commercial efforts and optimize cost-to-serve, but also to engage in co-development initiatives, delivering more tailored offerings and ultimately generating greater value across the ecosystem”.
The report said changing consumer behaviour is also influencing the sector. Around 90% of consumers said they would order a wider variety of dishes if premium packaging was available, while 53% said they were willing to pay extra for it.
At the same time, nearly 80% of consumers are demanding greater digitalization across the customer journey.
Among operators, 41% plan to create more dedicated spaces for delivery and takeaway, while 34% of QSR businesses are focusing on takeaway-only outlets.
Automation is also rising, with 74% of operators adopting technologies to improve productivity, although only 28% currently report higher profitability from those investments.