Qatar Poultry Meat Market Trends & Summary (2025–2033)
According to Renub Research Qatar poultry meat market is entering a steady but strategically significant growth phase, driven by evolving consumption patterns, government self-sufficiency targets, supply chain modernization, and rising preference for high-protein, accessible, and locally sourced foods. While growth remains moderate compared to high-expansion regional markets, Qatar’s poultry sector is undergoing structural transformation that prioritizes food security, advanced production systems, and sustainability, positioning the market for long-term resilience.
Market Overview
Over the past decade, poultry has become one of the most essential protein sources in Qatar, supported by a growing population, expanding expatriate workforce, and increasing consumer preference for convenient, healthy, and affordable meats. Poultry, especially chicken, consistently outperforms other meat categories due to its versatility, compatibility with local and international cuisines, and favorable nutritional profile.
Qatar’s economic growth and rising disposable incomes have also encouraged consumers to opt for premium poultry varieties, including organic, hormone-free, marinated, and value-added processed options. This shift has encouraged domestic producers to adopt advanced farming methods, including automated feeding systems, controlled-environment housing, improved breeding practices, and stringent safety and hygiene protocols.
Following recent supply chain disruptions in global markets, Qatar has intensified efforts to scale domestic meat production capacity. Investments in modern farms, hatcheries, and feed mills, as well as partnerships with international agricultural experts, have improved production quality and contributed to a more stable supply of poultry meat. The government’s broader food security vision has accelerated the development of local production infrastructure, strengthening Qatar’s resilience against import fluctuations.
Technological Transformation and Digital Integration
A significant development in Qatar’s poultry sector is the rapid integration of digital technologies across retail and distribution. With internet penetration reaching 99% in 2023, consumer behavior has shifted dramatically toward online grocery platforms, digital marketplaces, and app-based meal delivery channels. Between 2020 and 2021, online food delivery revenue expanded by 41%, highlighting a permanent move toward digital consumption patterns. Retailers now provide advanced tracking systems, same-day delivery, and enhanced customer service, improving accessibility and convenience for poultry buyers.
The shift toward e-commerce has also supported improved forecasting, inventory management, and supply chain transparency. Such systems help ensure that consumers receive fresh products while minimizing wastage—an important consideration in a climate where refrigeration and cold-chain reliability are critical.
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Impact of Tourism and Hospitality Growth
Qatar’s tourism surge following major global events, including the FIFA World Cup and the nation’s expanding business-hospitality portfolio, continues to stimulate the poultry market. In just January and February of 2023, the country welcomed over 730,000 tourists, a remarkable 347% increase compared to the previous year. This has boosted demand across foodservice channels—hotels, restaurants, quick-service chains, and catering companies—which rely heavily on poultry meat to meet diverse international tastes.
Foodservice operators have expanded both traditional Middle Eastern poultry dishes and innovative global cuisines, deepening the range of offerings and contributing to higher consumption per capita. Tourism-driven demand will remain an important catalyst for market expansion through 2033.
Key Domestic Producers and Manufacturing Landscape
As of 2022, Qatar’s leading poultry and meat producers included:
- Qatar Meat Production Co. – 6,000 metric tons
- Freshmeat Factory – 4,000 metric tons
- Al Quisaimi Meat Co. – 3,000 metric tons
These players—and newer entrants—benefit from state support through incentives, land allocation, research partnerships, and funding for technology upgrades. Qatar continues to invest in R&D programs focused on improving animal health, enhancing productivity, and minimizing disease risks. Partnerships with international academic and agricultural institutions aim to transfer knowledge and introduce best practices to local farms.
Market Growth Drivers
1. Rising Population and Urbanization
Qatar’s population remains on a growth trajectory due to a combination of natural expansion and steady inflow of expatriate labor. As lifestyles become more urban and busy, consumers increasingly seek protein sources that are easy to prepare, adaptable to various cuisines, and affordable. Poultry meat fulfills all these criteria, making it a staple in both Qatari and expatriate households.
Urbanization has also changed dietary habits, increasing demand for fresh, chilled, and ready-to-cook poultry products. This has prompted supermarkets and hypermarkets to expand dedicated poultry sections, while also encouraging producers to introduce new product formats such as marinated cuts, tenders, and instant-cook options.
2. Government Support and Food Security Initiatives
The Qatari government plays a central role in shaping the poultry industry. Through national food security strategies, Qatar is actively reducing its reliance on imported meat. Key initiatives include:
- Modernization of local poultry farms
- Incentives for private sector investment
- Funding for advanced breeding technologies
- Support for climate-controlled poultry housing
- Infrastructure development for cold chains and logistics
These measures have enhanced local production capacity while improving overall product quality.
3. Shifting Consumer Preferences
Consumer choices in Qatar are increasingly aligned with global wellness and health trends. Poultry is seen as a leaner, more nutritious alternative to red meat, driving higher adoption among fitness-focused and health-conscious consumers. Additionally, the versatility of poultry across global cuisines—from Middle Eastern dishes to Asian and Western preparations—supports rising demand in both retail and foodservice channels.
Market Challenges
1. Dependence on Feed Imports
Despite progress in domestic production, Qatar relies heavily on imported feed ingredients such as soy and corn. This dependence exposes producers to fluctuations in global commodity prices, shipping costs, and international trade policies. Variability in feed costs directly impacts profitability and limits the ability of local producers to compete with imported poultry meat.
While Qatar is evaluating strategies to localize feed production, the scale remains insufficient to meet the sector’s growing needs.
2. High Production Costs
Poultry farming in Qatar faces operational challenges due to the country’s extreme climate, which requires sophisticated cooling and ventilation systems to maintain healthy poultry environments. These systems significantly increase energy consumption and overall production expenses. Additionally, modern farming technologies—though essential for efficiency—require substantial upfront investment.
Combined, these factors raise the cost of locally produced poultry relative to cheaper imports from countries like Brazil and the U.S., creating pricing pressures in the domestic market.
Trade Trends
Exports
In 2023, Qatar ranked 96th globally in poultry meat exports, with a modest export value of $292,000.
Top destinations included:
- Oman – $233k
- Angola – $58k
- Maldives – $921
Export volumes remain small, as domestic production is primarily geared toward internal consumption and food security goals.
Imports
Qatar was the 35th largest importer of poultry meat in 2023, bringing in $244 million worth of products. Poultry ranked as Qatar’s 27th most imported commodity. Key suppliers included:
- Brazil – $153M
- United States – $18.8M
- UAE – $15M
- Poland – $13.8M
- Oman – $11.8M
These import relationships will remain essential even as Qatar ramps up domestic capacity.
Market Segmentation
By Type
- Chicken (dominant)
- Turkey
- Duck
- Others
By Form
- Canned
- Fresh / Chilled
- Frozen
- Processed Products
- Deli meats
- Marinated/Tenders
- Meatballs
- Nuggets
- Sausages
- Others
By Distribution Channel
Off-Trade:
- Convenience Stores
- Online Channels
- Supermarkets/Hypermarkets
- Others
On-Trade:
- Hotels, Restaurants, Catering (HORECA)
Key Players (Overview, Key Persons, Recent Developments, Revenues)
- A’Saffa Food S.A.O.G
- Americana Group
- BRF S.A.
- Hassad Food Company
- JBS S.A.
- Lulu International Group
- Mazzraty
- Sunbulah Group
These players collectively shape the competitive landscape through diversified product portfolios, strong regional distribution networks, and continuous investment in production efficiency.
Conclusion
The Qatar poultry meat market, projected to grow from US$ 408.53 million in 2024 to US$ 448.27 million by 2033 at a CAGR of 1.04%, is steadily transitioning into a more technologically advanced, self-reliant, and consumer-centric sector. While challenges persist—especially related to production costs and feed import dependence—ongoing government support, digital retail transformation, and rising consumer demand for high-quality poultry will sustain the market’s upward trajectory through 2033.
