UAE Doughnuts Market Research Report, 2030

In the shimmering malls of Dubai where kunafa and baklava shine under golden lights, doughnuts have made their mark colorful, glossy, and loaded with international flair. The doughnut market in the UAE has seen rapid growth over the last decade, evolving into a vibrant fusion of Western indulgence and Middle Eastern tastes, and becoming a regional hub for doughnut innovation in the broader global market. Doughnuts were introduced through American fast-food chains and international café brands during the early 2000s as the UAE opened up to global food culture. The initial challenge was standing out in a market already rich with traditional sweets. Brands responded by localizing doughnuts introducing fillings like date caramel, pistachio cream, saffron glaze, and even rose water icing. Today, doughnuts are enjoyed across high-end cafés, drive-through outlets, airport lounges, food trucks, and supermarket chains, often as a luxurious snack or stylish dessert. Technically, a doughnut is a leavened or cake-based deep-fried pastry, round or ring-shaped, glazed or filled. In the UAE, they solve the craving for sweet indulgence that aligns with both modern and traditional tastes ideal for gifting during Ramadan, as a dessert after a family meal, or paired with karak chai or iced coffee during shopping breaks. The benefits are wide customizability, premium presentation, and adaptability to diverse cultural preferences. UAE-based brands have invested heavily in R&D to create vegan, gluten-free, and low-sugar doughnuts, along with innovations like gold-leaf toppings, stuffed mini-doughnuts, and freeze-thaw technology to preserve freshness in extreme temperatures. Technological advancements include smart kitchen systems, centralized cloud production units, and Instagram-friendly packaging design. Yet challenges persist rising health awareness is pushing brands to reduce sugar and artificial flavors. Competition is intense from both global chains and regional dessert brands. According to the research report, "UAE Doughnuts Market Research Report, 2030," published by Actual Market Research, the UAE Doughnuts Market is anticipated to add to more than USD 80 Million by 2025–30. The market is driven by the UAE’s love for luxury dining experiences, a booming café culture, and a population that blends locals, expats, and tourists all of whom seek global tastes with a regional twist. Another key driver is digital-first food discovery social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok heavily influence food choices, with doughnuts often featured as eye-catching, limited-edition drops. Convenience is also a driver, with delivery platforms like Talabat, Deliveroo, and Careem Now making it easy to order fresh doughnuts anytime. Recent developments include the launch of gourmet doughnut boutiques in Dubai Marina and Abu Dhabi’s Yas Mall, drive-through-only doughnut shops, and collaborations between dessert brands and fashion or luxury lifestyle labels. Major players include Dunkin’ UAE with widespread access and customization, Pick a Pita’s Donut Bar offering Middle Eastern-inspired toppings, DOH! Donuts a homegrown boutique brand focusing on freshness and premium flavors, and Krispy Kreme Gulf, known for innovation and retail tie-ins. These brands cater to a mix of gifting, snacking, and celebratory consumption. Opportunities exist in developing halal-certified protein doughnuts, limited-edition boxes for Eid or National Day, and expansion into office catering and airport formats. Required compliances include Dubai Municipality Food Safety Certification, Halal Certification, ESMA product registration, and UAE nutrition labelling standards these ensure hygiene, religious compatibility, and transparency for health-conscious customers. Latest trends in the UAE include luxury doughnuts with edible gold or pearls, Arabic dessert-inspired fillings like luqaimat or basbousa cream, and mini doughnuts served on skewers at events these trends succeed because they blend opulence, cultural flavor, and photo-ready presentation, perfectly aligned with the UAE’s high-standard, experience-driven food culture.

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Yeast doughnuts maintain widespread popularity, particularly in urban hubs like Dubai and Abu Dhabi, where international chains such as Krispy Kreme and Tim Hortons have established strong brand presence. These yeast-based doughnuts, known for their fluffy interiors and sweet glazes, are frequently consumed as part of coffee breaks or as after-dinner desserts. Their variety ranging from ring-shaped classics to center-filled designs is tailored to suit local preferences, often incorporating flavors like pistachio, rosewater, or saffron to appeal to Emirati and Middle Eastern palates. Cake doughnuts, which have a denser texture and are more suitable for packaging and longer shelf life, are commonly sold through supermarkets and cafés, and cater especially to expatriate communities from Western countries. Flavored cake variants, such as chocolate chip or cinnamon spice, are gaining traction in gourmet outlets and are favored for events and gifting purposes. Filled doughnuts are immensely popular, often boasting premium fillings such as lotus biscoff, Nutella, date paste, or vanilla custard. High-end bakeries and dessert bars are introducing artisanal filled doughnuts with luxury ingredients like gold leaf or French cream, appealing to the high-income consumer segment. Frosted and glazed doughnuts remain a staple across both QSRs and specialty cafés, with visually appealing toppings such as crushed Oreos, rainbow sprinkles, and caramel drizzle making them Instagram-friendly and attractive for younger demographics. The others category includes mini doughnuts sold at shopping mall kiosks, powdered versions popular at children’s events, mochi doughnuts that resonate with the rising Asian dessert trend in the UAE, and savory variants filled with cheese or za’atar, catering to regional taste preferences and offering a unique twist in the country’s growing fusion food scene. Quick Service Restaurants (QSRs) are vital in this market, with prominent international franchises occupying prime spots in shopping malls, airports, and office districts. These outlets offer quick-service yeast and filled doughnuts in a variety of international and local flavors, often as combos with coffee or milk-based beverages. Retail chains such as Carrefour, Spinneys, and Lulu Hypermarket also play a significant role in distributing doughnuts, either through in-house bakeries or imported packaged options. Many of these retail chains cater to a multicultural audience, offering American-style frosted varieties, Indian-inspired cardamom-filled doughnuts, and Filipino ube-flavored ones. Convenience stores located at fuel stations like ADNOC and Emarat, as well as in residential complexes, sell single-serve, pre-packed doughnuts that appeal to commuters and transient consumers. Online retail has grown rapidly in the UAE, supported by popular food delivery apps like Talabat, Deliveroo, and Careem. Artisanal bakeries and virtual brands operate through these platforms, offering a wide array of fresh or frozen doughnuts for home delivery. High demand for contactless and on-demand dessert options has led to the proliferation of dark kitchens focused solely on doughnuts. Cafés and coffee shops, especially premium establishments like % Arabica and Angelina Paris, offer doughnuts as an upscale dessert pairing with specialty coffees and teas. These venues often serve designer doughnuts with seasonal and gourmet themes. Bakeries, both standalone and franchise-based, remain a trusted source for daily fresh doughnuts and also cater to events, gifting, and bulk orders. The mobile kiosks and food trucks at tourist attractions, beach promenades, and festivals present innovative doughnut varieties, including churro-style or waffle-doughnut hybrids, contributing to the experiential and novelty-driven doughnut consumption trend in the UAE. Individual consumers are the largest segment, with residents and tourists alike frequently indulging in doughnuts as a sweet snack or celebratory treat. The convenience and variety offered through QSRs, cafés, and retail stores appeal to both the working class seeking a quick sugar fix and families purchasing for children. The availability of doughnuts with unique local flavors such as dates, pistachio, and rose also resonates with traditional tastes while providing an international experience. Catering services represent a strong institutional buyer group, particularly in Dubai’s vibrant event planning and hotel catering sectors. Doughnuts are featured on breakfast buffets, brunch spreads, and corporate high-tea menus, often customized in miniature or gourmet formats to match the event theme. Corporate offices in the UAE, particularly those in tech parks, finance hubs, and government buildings, frequently place bulk orders of assorted doughnuts for employee perks, festive celebrations, and in-house meetings. These are typically procured from nearby bakeries or through monthly contracts with premium doughnut suppliers. Events and occasions including weddings, birthdays, baby showers, and national festivals are increasingly featuring doughnut walls, personalized boxes, and tiered doughnut cakes. These are ordered well in advance, often from boutique bakeries offering themed décor and exotic flavors. The others category encompasses transport hubs such as Dubai International Airport and Abu Dhabi Central Bus Station, where doughnuts are sold through international café chains and vending kiosks. Airlines also occasionally include packaged doughnuts as part of in-flight meals, particularly in economy and business class on regional flights. Educational institutions, including international schools and training centers, include doughnuts in their cafeteria menus or as part of special event catering.

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Nikita Jabrela

Business Development Manager

Considered in this report • Historic Year: 2019 • Base year: 2024 • Estimated year: 2025 • Forecast year: 2030 Aspects covered in this report • Doughnuts Market with its value and forecast along with its segments • Various drivers and challenges • On-going trends and developments • Top profiled companies • Strategic recommendation By Product Type • Yeast Doughnuts • Cake Doughnuts • Filled Doughnuts • Frosted/Glazed Doughnuts • Others (mini, powdered, mochi, savory)

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By Sales Channel • Quick Service Restaurants (QSRs) • Retail Chains • Convenience Stores • Online Retail • Cafés & Coffee Shops • Bakeries • Others (Amusement Parks & Zoos, Mobile Food Trucks & Pop-ups) By End User • Individual Consumers • Catering Services • Corporate Offices • Events & Occasions • Others (Transportation Hubs & Airlines, Educational Institutions) The approach of the report: This report consists of a combined approach of primary as well as secondary research. Initially, secondary research was used to get an understanding of the market and listing out the companies that are present in the market. The secondary research consists of third-party sources such as press releases, annual report of companies, analyzing the government generated reports and databases. After gathering the data from secondary sources primary research was conducted by making telephonic interviews with the leading players about how the market is functioning and then conducted trade calls with dealers and distributors of the market. Post this we have started doing primary calls to consumers by equally segmenting consumers in regional aspects, tier aspects, age group, and gender. Once we have primary data with us we have started verifying the details obtained from secondary sources. Intended audience This report can be useful to industry consultants, manufacturers, suppliers, associations & organizations related to this industry, government bodies and other stakeholders to align their market-centric strategies. In addition to marketing & presentations, it will also increase competitive knowledge about the industry.