Browse Data and Analysis

With a gross domestic product of $548.6 billion and projected growth of 3.7 percent in 2025, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) ranks as the second-largest economy in the Arab world, with substantial consumer spending driven by high per capita income.

The Saudi Arabian General Authority of Ports (Mawani), in coordination with the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority, announced its intention to require the use of pallets for all containerized cargo shipments to the Kingdom's ports.

In a budget bill passed on June 13, 2025, the semi-autonomous Zanzibar government raised the excise duty on imported frozen chicken from approximately USD $0.12 per kilogram to approximately USD $0.39 per kilogram, with a double aim to protect the domestic poultry industry and generate USD $2.75 million in revenue.

Zanzibar presents strong potential for U.S. food and beverage exports, driven by tourism, urbanization, and demand for quality products. With over 80 percent of food imported, key opportunities include beverages, wheat, poultry, oil, confectioneries, and rice.

The major export certificates required by Saudi Arabia’s regulatory and import control agencies are included in this Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards (FAIRS) - Certificates Report.

This report is an annual update on the food import standards and enforcement mechanisms in Jordan.

Despite recent economic headwinds, Egypt’s food ingredient market is experiencing modest growth driven by increasing demand for processed and packaged foods.

Morocco’s wheat and barley for MY2025/26 was significantly supported by late rainfall during March-April, alleviating the adverse effects of earlier drought conditions.

This report is an annual update on the food imports certificates in Jordan. For assistance on trade policy and port issues in Jordan, U.S. exporters are encouraged to contact FAS Amman at AgAmman@usda.gov.

On June 9, 2025, the Israeli Ministry of Environmental Protection published a request for public comments on changes to the Deposit Law on Beverage Containers.

Saudi Arabia is the dominant market in the Middle East region and offers export opportunities for U.S. exporters of bulk commodities and consumer-oriented products.

Tanzania retail food industry is experiencing robust growth, driven by rapid urbanization, an expanding middle class (22 percent of households), rising disposable incomes, and a thriving tourism sector that welcomed 5 million visitors in 2024.