Saudi Arabia, the largest importer of food and agricultural products in the GCC

Saudi Arabia is the largest importer of food and agricultural products of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, with a total population 150 percent larger than that of the combined population of the five GCC states (UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain). In 2013, Saudi Arabia’s population was estimated at about 30 million, and expected to reach 40 million by 2025. This will help boost demand for food imports, as Saudi Arabia relies mostly on foreign suppliers to satisfy about 80 percent of its food consumption needs. The continued economic growth in the past decades helped in raising Saudi Arabia’s per capita income to $25,400 in 2014. Saudi Arabia’s population is estimated at 30 million, and expected to reach about 40 million by 2025. This will help increase demand for food imports as Saudi Arabia relies on foreign suppliers to satisfy about 80 percent of its food consumption needs. The high per capita income, changing lifestyle and diets in Saudi Arabia are expected to boost the demand for high quality food products.