The Arab Investment & Export Credit Guarantee Corporation (Dhaman) reported that the food and beverage sector across the Arab region attracted 516 foreign direct investment projects between January 2003 and December 2024. These investments represented capital expenditure of USD22B and generated approximately 93,000 jobs during the period.
According to Dhaman’s third sectoral report for 2025 on the Arab food and beverage industry, released today at its headquarters in Kuwait, five countries—Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Morocco and Qatar—accounted for the bulk of activity. Together, they secured 421 projects, representing 82 percent of the total, with capital expenditure exceeding USD17B, or 79 percent of overall investment. These projects created around 71,000 jobs, equal to 76 percent of total employment generated.
The report is structured around four key areas: projected sales through 2029, Arab foreign trade in 2024, FDI projects spanning 2003 to 2024, and an evaluation of investment and business risks within the sector in 2024. Findings indicate that the United States has been the largest foreign investor in the region’s food and beverage sector over the past 22 years, accounting for 74 projects, or 14 percent of the total, with capital expenditure of nearly USD4B, equivalent to 18 percent, and creating more than 14,000 jobs.
Data from the report also shows that the top ten foreign investors collectively contributed around 15 percent of total projects, while accounting for 32 percent of capital expenditure and 29 percent of newly created jobs. Switzerland-based Nestlé led in terms of project count with 14 investments, while Ukraine’s NIBULON ranked highest by capital expenditure and employment, investing USD2B and generating around 6,000 jobs.
In terms of inter-Arab investment, 12 Arab countries undertook 108 cross-border projects within the sector over the 22-year period. These projects represented approximately 21 percent of total FDI activity and were implemented by 65 companies, with combined capital expenditure of USD6.5B, equivalent to 30 percent of total sector investment, and nearly 28,000 jobs created. The UAE emerged as the leading contributor, accounting for 45 percent of inter-Arab projects and 58 percent of total capital expenditure.
Assessing investment risks and returns across 14 Arab countries using Fitch Ratings’ risk and reward indicators, the report identified the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Qatar as the most attractive destinations for food and beverage investment in 2024. Oman, Bahrain, Algeria, Morocco and Kuwait followed in the regional ranking.
