An evidence-based guide to coffee trade across the six Gulf Cooperation Council markets. Compare recorded imports, supply partners, re-export activity and commercial routes into Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain.
GCC Coffee Trade: Executive Overview
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) brings together six distinct coffee import markets. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates account for most of the region's recorded inbound volume, while Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain provide additional demand, specialized buyer channels and regional trading relationships.
According to International Coffee Organization (ICO) data for 2025, the six GCC countries imported a combined 4,177,757 bags of coffee in 60kg green bean equivalent, approximately 250,665 metric tonnes. Saudi Arabia represented 57.1% of that volume and the United Arab Emirates another 29.5%.
However, the region should not be interpreted as one homogeneous market. Imports may serve domestic consumption, roasting, manufacturing, distribution or onward international trade. Business requirements also differ between large industrial buyers, specialty roasters, coffee traders, wholesalers and distributors.
Coffee Imports in GCC Countries: Volume Ranking
The following comparison uses ICO calendar-year 2025 import records. Volumes are expressed in 60kg bags of green bean equivalent, allowing different coffee product forms within the dataset to be compared on a common basis.
Source: International Coffee Organization, Coffee Trade Globe. Chart prepared by Cofdar using the 2025 country records.
| GCC Rank | Country | Imports · 60kg bags | Share of GCC | World Import Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Saudi Arabia | 2,385,693 | 57.1% | 19 |
| 02 | United Arab Emirates | 1,233,600 | 29.5% | 33 |
| 03 | Kuwait | 323,654 | 7.7% | 70 |
| 04 | Qatar | 143,587 | 3.4% | 85 |
| 05 | Oman | 55,332 | 1.3% | 110 |
| 06 | Bahrain | 35,891 | 0.9% | 119 |
| GCC Total | 4,177,757 | 100% | — | |
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Percentages are rounded independently. Global import ranks are taken from the same ICO dataset, not calculated from retail coffee sales.
Import Values and Re-Export Activity
Import values provide additional context, but they reflect the mix of coffee forms recorded in customs statistics, including different levels of processing and value addition. They should not be interpreted as comparable quotations for green coffee beans.
| Country | Import Value · US$ | Re-Exports · Bags | Re-Exports / Imports |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saudi Arabia | $910.2M | 220,078 | 9.2% |
| United Arab Emirates | Not reliable | 874,800 | 70.9% |
| Kuwait | $171.9M | 8,057 | 2.5% |
| Qatar | $72.1M | Not reported | — |
| Oman | $25.8M | 660 | 1.2% |
| Bahrain | $26.7M | 5,734 | 16.0% |
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Why Re-Exports Matter
Across the five GCC countries with reported re-export totals, the dataset records approximately 1.11 million 60kg bags. The UAE accounts for most of this reported outward flow, with 874,800 bags. Saudi Arabia follows with 220,078 bags.
The UAE's re-export-to-import ratio of 70.9% is an important indicator of its trading and redistribution role. Saudi Arabia's much lower ratio suggests a different recorded trade profile. These ratios compare two annual flows, however, and do not track the same coffee shipments from entry to exit.
For exporters, a re-export market can provide access to regional distributors and downstream buyers. It may also introduce additional handling, financing, storage and documentation costs that must be evaluated before choosing an indirect route.
How International Coffee Suppliers Should Read the GCC Market
01. Separate Import Volume from Final Demand
Imports may enter roasting, manufacturing, wholesale or redistribution channels. Gross inbound shipments are not equivalent to final retail consumption.
02. Distinguish Origins from Trading Partners
A recorded supplying country can be a processing or re-export location rather than the country where coffee was cultivated. Product origin and shipment origin should be documented separately.
03. Identify the Buyer Segment
Green-coffee importers, commercial roasters, specialty buyers, private-label brands and distributors have different specifications, minimum quantities and procurement cycles.
04. Compare Direct and Regional Distribution
Direct shipment can suit larger contracted buyers. Regional warehousing or distribution may suit repeat smaller orders, provided the additional costs and legal requirements are justified.
Before approaching a buyer in the Gulf, a coffee exporter should prepare a clear offer covering origin, grade, product form, quantity, packaging, quality documentation, delivery terms, payment arrangements and realistic lead times.
Saudi Arabia Coffee Market
Saudi Arabia is the largest recorded coffee import market in the GCC, accounting for 57.1% of total regional import volume. Its 2025 imports reached 2,385,693 bags, with a reported customs value of US$910.2 million.
That scale makes Saudi Arabia an important market for international suppliers, but the buyer landscape needs to be segmented. Importers and traders may source bulk green coffee, commercial roasters may seek repeatable blending specifications, while specialty roasters can prioritize differentiated lots and traceable origins.
Ethiopia is particularly prominent in Saudi Arabia's recorded sourcing pattern, supplying approximately 1.17 million bags in the dataset. Brazil and Colombia are also major partners. Together, these relationships illustrate a market spanning different product and commercial requirements.
Commercial Opportunities
International exporters can examine direct relationships with Saudi importers, roasting companies, distributors and branded coffee businesses. Suppliers with reliable volumes, documented quality and clear delivery terms may be better positioned to approach repeat-contract buyers.
Market Entry Considerations
Before shipment, identify the Saudi importer of record, applicable food-product requirements, labeling rules where relevant, customs procedures and the contractual responsibility for clearance and domestic distribution. Product form matters when determining the correct route.
Saudi Arabia combines the region's largest recorded import base with measurable outward trade. The commercial opportunity extends beyond domestic sales to potential procurement, warehousing and regional distribution models. Such models require verified buyer demand and suitable operating arrangements rather than import statistics alone.
United Arab Emirates Coffee Market
The United Arab Emirates is the GCC's second-largest importing country in the dataset, recording 1,233,600 bags in 2025. It represents approximately 29.5% of combined GCC imports.
The most distinctive trade indicator is its reported re-export volume of 874,800 bags. This suggests a substantial role in regional and international coffee trading, beyond the needs of its own consumer market.
However, re-export statistics alone do not identify the final customers, shipment margins, product grades or contractual structures behind these flows.
Commercial Opportunities
Suppliers may assess UAE-based traders, distributors, roasting businesses and companies serving multiple destination markets. Commercial value may come from consolidated orders, inventory availability and regional customer access, depending on the counterparties involved.
Market Entry Considerations
Exporters should determine whether a prospective UAE buyer is purchasing for local consumption, processing or onward sale. This distinction affects documentation, logistics, pricing, payment exposure and contractual responsibilities.
Among the six GCC markets, the UAE has the strongest reported re-export orientation in the dataset. Exporters should evaluate it as both a destination and a potential distribution route, while avoiding the assumption that re-export volumes represent domestic consumption.
Kuwait Coffee Market
Kuwait imported 323,654 bags in 2025, representing approximately 7.7% of GCC import volume. Its recorded customs import value was US$171.9 million.
Compared with the UAE, Kuwait's reported re-export activity is relatively limited. The available figures suggest a market more closely associated with domestic commercial channels, although import and consumption indicators cannot be matched shipment by shipment.
India is Kuwait's largest recorded supplying partner, accounting for roughly one-third of the country's total imported volume. Ethiopia and Brazil follow, while the UAE also appears among Kuwait's trading partners. These figures describe recorded trade relationships, not a complete breakdown of coffee varieties or retail preferences.
Commercial Opportunities
For coffee exporters, a practical approach is to identify established importers and distributors with clearly defined product needs. Suppliers should distinguish potential green-bean customers from businesses purchasing roasted, packaged or other processed coffee products.
Market Entry Considerations
Potential suppliers should clarify import licensing and food-compliance responsibilities with their local counterparties. Smaller market size can make customer concentration and payment terms particularly important in evaluating a proposed contract.
Kuwait has a distinct sourcing profile in which India holds a large recorded share. New exporters should not assume that popularity in other GCC countries automatically translates into demand in Kuwait. Buyer qualification and product fit are more useful starting points.
Qatar Coffee Market
Qatar recorded imports of 143,587 bags in 2025, accounting for approximately 3.4% of the GCC total. Its reported import value reached US$72.1 million.
Qatar's position in the regional ranking is smaller by volume than Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Kuwait. Nevertheless, the import-partner mix indicates relationships with both coffee-producing countries and established international trading or processing locations.
Brazil and Ethiopia are Qatar's two largest recorded partners. Spain, Italy and the UAE also feature among the leading sources of imported coffee. The presence of these intermediary trading markets means that a partner-country ranking should not be read as a ranking of cultivation origins.
Commercial Opportunities
Exporters can evaluate partnerships with importers, wholesalers and coffee businesses with established distribution channels. The commercial offering should be matched to the buyer's required form, packaging, consistency and purchasing scale.
Market Entry Considerations
Buyers and suppliers should confirm the relevant importer obligations, food-product documentation, labeling rules and clearance arrangements. The available dataset does not provide a Qatar re-export total, so its redistribution role cannot be quantified here.
Qatar is a smaller but distinct importing market with diversified trading relationships. Suppliers should approach it through specific buyer requirements rather than extrapolating demand from regional averages or consumer-culture assumptions.
Oman Coffee Market
Oman recorded 55,332 bags of coffee imports in 2025. This represents approximately 1.3% of the six-country GCC total, with a reported customs value of US$25.8 million.
The structure of its recorded supplying partners is particularly relevant to understanding regional trade relationships. The UAE appears as Oman's largest trade partner by import volume, followed by Brazil and Viet Nam.
Saudi Arabia also appears among Oman's recorded import partners, with approximately 7.7% of its inbound volume. These relationships highlight the importance of distinguishing direct producer-to-buyer shipments from coffee that moves through regional trading companies.
Commercial Opportunities
For exporters, Oman may be approached directly through local importers or indirectly through trading partners serving the country. The preferred model should depend on actual buyer volume, distribution costs and product availability, rather than the assumption that one route is always more efficient.
Market Entry Considerations
Oman's consumption indicator is higher than its calendar-year import figure. Because the indicators have different statistical bases, this difference should not be interpreted as proof of undocumented shipments, specific inventory movements or a supply deficit.
Oman's reported partner structure suggests meaningful connections with Gulf trading markets. A well-designed regional distribution arrangement may be commercially relevant, but suppliers must compare it with direct import alternatives using real shipment and customer economics.
Bahrain Coffee Market
Bahrain imported 35,891 bags of coffee in 2025, approximately 0.9% of total GCC import volume. Its reported customs value was US$26.7 million.
Its recorded re-export volume of 5,734 bags represents 16.0% of import volume. The figures point to outward coffee trade activity, although the ratio is not a measure of individual shipments subsequently resold.
Bahrain's leading partner list combines producing countries with established coffee trading and processing markets. Ethiopia, Spain and India also feature among its recorded supplying partners.
Commercial Opportunities
A supplier evaluating Bahrain should focus on matching its product and minimum order quantities to a defined importer or distributor. Smaller absolute market size can favor a disciplined, relationship-based sales process rather than broad untargeted outreach.
Market Entry Considerations
Importers and exporters should confirm product documentation, labeling, delivery responsibilities and payment terms. A regional distribution partner may be useful where it provides measurable service or cost advantages.
Bahrain is the smallest of the six GCC import markets in the supplied dataset, but it should not be overlooked by exporters offering suitable products and service levels. Actual customer concentration, order frequency and profitability matter more than national rank alone.
Reported Coffee Consumption Across the GCC
Trade data and consumption indicators answer different questions. Imports record goods entering customs territory during a calendar year. The ICO consumption series uses a separate statistical framework. Its figures should therefore be read as a directional market indicator, not as a reconciliation of imports and retail sales.
Calculated by Cofdar from the available national consumption series. This is not an import-growth chart and does not represent measured retail revenue.
Adding the six country consumption indicators produces approximately 2.82 million bags for 2025, compared with 3.28 million in 2024. The calculated change is about -13.9%.
Saudi Arabia accounts for much of the movement in this combined series. The reported figures alone do not establish the reasons for the change, and it should not be presented as evidence of a corresponding fall in retail coffee sales or consumer spending.
| Country | 2024 · Bags | 2025 · Bags | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saudi Arabia | 2,270,895 | 1,809,155 | -20.3% |
| United Arab Emirates | 398,732 | 445,187 | +11.7% |
| Kuwait | 298,451 | 272,971 | -8.5% |
| Qatar | 137,098 | 136,804 | -0.2% |
| Oman | 145,838 | 130,060 | -10.8% |
| Bahrain | 29,521 | 29,891 | +1.3% |
| GCC Total | 3,280,535 | 2,824,068 | -13.9% |
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Regional Coffee Distribution: Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Cross-Border Trade
Two observations stand out in the ICO trade records. Saudi Arabia has the largest GCC import volume, while the UAE records substantially greater re-export activity. Together, these characteristics illustrate different potential roles within regional coffee commerce.
Saudi Arabia: Scale and Regional Access
With 2.39 million bags of imports and 220,078 bags of reported re-exports, Saudi Arabia has a substantial coffee trade base. For a commercial operator, this creates a rationale to evaluate local procurement, B2B sales, storage and onward distribution, subject to actual demand and operating economics.
UAE: Established Re-Export Activity in the Data
The UAE's 874,800 recorded re-export bags indicate significant outward trade. Suppliers comparing regional gateways should investigate storage, transport, buyer access and transaction costs rather than assuming that one regional route is universally superior.
What Would a Saudi-Based Coffee Distribution Hub Need?
A Saudi-based commercial hub could potentially combine international sourcing, buyer contracts, inventory management, shipment coordination and distribution to Gulf and wider Arab markets. This is a business-model opportunity, not an outcome proven by trade statistics.
- Defined sourcing: Approved supplier relationships with documented origin, quality, capacity and commercial terms.
- Confirmed sales channels: Importers, roasting companies and distributors with qualified purchasing requirements.
- Flexible logistics: Storage, consolidation and delivery arrangements matched to order volumes and destination markets.
- Working capital discipline: Clear inventory ownership, financing costs, customer credit terms and payment protection.
- Cross-border compliance: The appropriate importer and exporter registrations, food requirements, customs documentation and tax treatment for each transaction.
Opportunities for International Coffee Exporters
For suppliers considering the GCC, the most useful approach is to build a buyer-specific export strategy rather than treating the region as a single sales destination.
01. Green Coffee Supply
Approach importers and roasters with complete lot information, origin details, quantity, sample availability, shipment terms and repeat supply capacity.
02. Roasted Coffee and Private Label
Separate opportunities for packaged finished coffee from those for green beans. Shelf life, packaging, labeling, brand ownership and distribution responsibilities can materially affect the commercial model.
03. Commercial and Specialty Segments
Identify whether the buyer seeks price consistency and volume, differentiated origin and traceability, or a defined product specification. National statistics alone cannot answer that question.
04. Regional Trade Partnerships
Evaluate local distributors and potential regional stocking arrangements where they offer access to multiple verified buyers and improve order fulfillment economics.
Essential Supplier Preparation
- Provide accurate coffee descriptions, producing origin and processing information where applicable.
- State minimum order quantities, available volumes and expected lead times.
- Specify packaging, technical quality parameters and sample procedures.
- Clarify Incoterms, payment conditions, delivery responsibilities and claims procedures.
- Confirm destination-specific product, food-safety and importer documentation requirements before contracting.
- Verify the buyer's business identity, requirements and ability to complete the transaction.
For suppliers, this is the difference between presenting coffee as a generic commodity and presenting a commercially assessable offer.
Cofdar Market Read: Four Strategic Findings
01. GCC Demand Is Geographically Concentrated
Saudi Arabia and the UAE account for 86.6% of recorded GCC coffee imports. This makes the two markets logical starting points for further commercial investigation, without excluding specialized buyers elsewhere.
02. Re-Exports Change How Market Size Should Be Read
The UAE's high re-export-to-import ratio illustrates why inbound trade should not automatically be treated as final domestic consumption. Distribution markets and consumption markets require different sales approaches.
03. Regional Supply Chains Are Interconnected
The UAE appears as a recorded import partner for Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain. Saudi Arabia also appears in Oman's import-partner list. These patterns are evidence of regional trade links, not proof of shipment profitability or ultimate cultivation origin.
04. Market Data Must Lead to Qualified Transactions
Data identifies trade concentration and sourcing relationships. Commercial success depends on finding legitimate buyers, documenting offers, negotiating terms and executing orders reliably.
Conclusion: Understanding Coffee Trade Across the Gulf
The GCC is an important regional coffee trading area, with more than 4.17 million recorded imported bags in the ICO's 2025 dataset. Saudi Arabia leads by import volume, while the UAE is notable for its reported re-export activity. Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain add different sourcing relationships and potential buyer channels.
For international exporters, the most effective strategy is not to target every Gulf country with the same offer. Instead, suppliers should identify the appropriate buyer segment, evaluate sourcing and distribution structures, and ensure their products can meet the commercial and regulatory requirements of each destination.
For companies building regional coffee operations, Saudi Arabia and the UAE provide different trade profiles worth examining. The decision to establish direct sales, local warehousing or a regional distribution hub should ultimately depend on qualified customer demand and the financial performance of actual transactions.
Data Sources, Methodology and Interpretation
Primary statistical source: International Coffee Organization (ICO), Coffee Trade Globe. Cofdar analyzed the available 2025 dataset retrieved on October 7, 2026. This is an independently prepared Cofdar report, not an official ICO publication.
Geographical coverage: Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain. The GCC aggregate is calculated by adding the six national import records. No separate seventh GCC customs territory is assumed.
Trade reference: Import and re-export data relate to calendar year 2025. Volumes are reported in absolute 60kg bags of green bean equivalent. To convert bags into metric tonnes, Cofdar multiplies by 0.06.
World rankings and regional shares: World import ranks are taken from the dataset's country records. GCC shares are derived from each country's imports divided by the six-country total.
Customs values: Import values are recorded US-dollar customs values across coffee product forms. They are not direct quotations, export contract prices or comparable green-coffee unit prices. The UAE value field contains an evidently non-comparable US$60 figure, so Cofdar excludes it from monetary comparisons and does not publish a combined GCC import-value estimate.
Re-exports: Re-export-to-import ratios are computed by dividing recorded re-export volume by recorded import volume for the same calendar year. They compare two flows, not individually traced shipments. Qatar's re-export field is absent from the available record and is displayed as not reported rather than zero.
Trade partners: Leading partners are selected from each country's available ranked import-partner list. The percentages divide partner volume by national import volume. Recorded partners may be exporting, roasting, processing or trading countries rather than cultivation origins. The UAE record contains no ranked import-partner list suitable for this comparison.
Consumption: The ICO consumption series has a different statistical basis from the calendar-year customs trade data. Combined GCC consumption figures and annual changes are calculated from those six national series. They should not be interpreted as retail sales, physical inventory balances or proof of final consumer demand.
Commercial analysis: Statements about buyer targeting, export preparation, distribution models, market entry and the possible role of a regional hub are Cofdar's editorial and derived observations. They do not represent confirmed purchase orders, regulatory approvals or guaranteed opportunities.
Source attribution: Source: International Coffee Organization (ICO), Coffee Trade Globe. Cofdar provides data presentation, derived indicators and independent market observations.
