Düsseldorf/Dubai – With global demand for packaged food expected to grow by 11 percent from 2024 to 2029, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is rapidly positioning itself as a key driver in the packaging transformation. According to the VDMA Food Processing and Packaging Machinery Association, MENA’s packaged food consumption is forecast to rise nearly 21 percent to 97 million tons by 2029.
The UAE, in particular, is emerging as both a high-growth market and an innovation hub. Sales of packaged food in the country reached 2.5 million tons in 2024 and are projected to climb to 3.1 million tons by 2029 – a 23 percent increase.
This upward trend is mirrored in demand for machinery. In 2024, exports of food processing and packaging machinery to the UAE rose by over 20 percent to €604 million. Overall, global exports to the wider MENA region hit €2.7 billion – up 14.2 percent from the previous year.
“The UAE and the wider Gulf region have become important growth markets,” said Richard Clemens, Managing Director at VDMA. “International manufacturers are playing a key role in this development.”
Interpack 2026, to be held in Düsseldorf from 7 to 13 May, is expected to see strong participation from MENA companies. The event will spotlight innovation, sustainability, and smart manufacturing.
“At interpack, regional potential is connected directly with the world’s best minds and technologies,” said Thomas Dohse, Director of interpack.
As demand grows and sustainability pressures intensify, MENA’s strategic role in the packaging industry is expected to expand further—bridging global partnerships from Dubai to Düsseldorf.