GCC Tuna Market

Market Overview:

The GCC tuna market size reached USD 862.6 Million in 2024. Looking forward, IMARC Group expects the market to reach USD 947.2 Million by 2033. The growing awareness of the nutritional benefits associated with tuna consumption, the rise in disposable incomes and busier schedules, and the increase in the demand for tuna represent some of the key factors driving the market.

Tuna is a remarkable species that inhabits the world's oceans, spanning both warm and temperate waters. There are several different species of tuna, each with its unique characteristics and habitat preferences. Some of the most well-known species include Bluefin tuna, Yellowfin tuna, Skipjack tuna, and Albacore tuna. These fish are known for their incredible swimming speeds, aided by their sleek bodies and powerful muscles, which enable them to cover long distances in search of food. Tuna are carnivorous predators, preying on smaller fish, squid, and crustaceans. Their predatory nature and high energy requirements contribute to their strong muscles and agile movements. Tuna is often found in large schools, a behavior that can be advantageous for both feeding and protection from predators. These schools can be massive and attract not only commercial fisheries but also predators, including sharks, dolphins, and seabirds. The popularity of tuna in the cuisine has led to significant commercial fishing operations targeting these fish.

GCC Tuna Market Trends:

Increased Health Awareness Among Consumers

Consumers in the GCC are increasingly health-conscious and actively demanding low-fat, protein-rich foods, thus driving the demand for tuna. As a concentrated source of lean protein, omega-3 fatty acids, and important nutrients such as selenium and vitamin D, tuna is being highly integrated into regular food consumption. This change in eating habits is coinciding with lifestyle diseases like obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease that are on the rise in cities. There are 589 million individuals with diabetes globally and 85 million in the MENA Region; this number is expected to increase to 163 million by 2050. Healthcare providers and nutrition experts are also touting tuna as a heart-healthy and weight-manageable food, further driving demand. The trend of clean eating, ketogenic diets, and fitness-oriented nutrition regimens is also driving consumers to opt for tuna as a substitute for red meats. As consumers continue to prioritize well-being, retailers and food manufacturers in the GCC are expanding their tuna-based product lines to cater to this rising demand, thereby supporting the market’s ongoing growth trajectory.

Expanding Retail and E-commerce Infrastructure

Retail and e-commerce platforms are playing a vital role in driving tuna sales across the GCC. Supermarkets, hypermarkets, and online grocery platforms are stocking a large range of canned, fresh, and frozen tuna products, making them readily available to consumers. Convenience, home delivery services, and online payment options are driving online shopping behavior at a fast rate. The trend is particularly robust in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, where smartphone usage and internet penetration are among the highest in the world. Merchants are actively supporting tuna merchandise using discounts, bundled purchases, and health-promotion marketing initiatives. Online giants and local platforms are aligning with brands of tuna to promote next-day delivery and subscription models, simplifying customers' inclusion of tuna in their weekly grocery lists. With ongoing digitalization, the smooth availability of tuna merchandise across different mediums is gradually driving the market. IMARC Group predicts that the GCC e-commerce market is predicted to attain USD 2,020.6 Billion by 2033.

Government Support for Food Security and Fisheries Development

GCC governments are investing in programs that ensure food security, domestic seafood production, and sustainable fisheries, which is supporting the market growth. The UAE, Oman, and Saudi Arabia are actively funding aquaculture and the development of marine resources to enable the reduction of reliance on food imports. These policies are spurring the development of domestic tuna fishing and processing industries, which guarantees improved supply chain stability and competitive pricing. Governments are also introducing regulatory systems to track and ensure seafood quality, encouraging safe and hygienic handling practices, thus enhancing consumer confidence in domestically available tuna products. Subsidies, grants, and collaboration with private sector stakeholders are also being introduced to improve fisheries and seafood logistics infrastructure. With increased regional food security through self-reliance, availability and promotion of tuna are growing in magnitude, hence driving the market's long-term growth throughout the GCC. In 2025, Saudi Aramco revealed the opening of the regional center for sustainable fishery development, Arabian Gulf branch, in collaboration with the Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture.

GCC Tuna Market Growth Drivers:

Increasing Expatriate Population and Varied Food Habits

The increasing population of expatriates in the GCC countries is playing a major role in driving the demand for tuna since most of the expatriates are from nations where tuna is a staple food. Individuals from various middle east and African counties, which constitute a high percentage of the workforce in the GCC, are taking their food habits along with them and are making repeated purchases of tuna as an integral part of their day-to-day meals and traditional meals. This multicultural purchasing is making supermarkets and restaurants offer diversification in the form of different tuna-based food items and products such as sushi, sandwiches, curries, and pasta. Food service operators are modifying their menus to accommodate this global palate, frequently incorporating tuna as a low-cost, highly adaptable ingredient. The steady flow of expatriates is maintaining this demand, and with the region becoming more globalized, the impact of world cuisines is increasing, thus guaranteeing that tuna becomes a major product in both domestic and business food consumption.

Increased Demand for Convenient and Ready-to-Eat Foods

GCC consumers are increasingly embracing hectic urban lifestyles, resulting in increased demand for convenient, ready-to-eat, and shelf-stable foods. Tuna is a perfect fit into this trend since tuna comes in convenient-to-eat forms like canned, vacuum-sealed, or pre-seasoned forms. Working individuals, students, and households are counting on tuna for quick meals such as salads, sandwiches, and wraps that don't need much preparation. Tuna companies are experimenting by presenting tuna in flavors, oil infusions, and travel-friendly packaging, so it is more appealing to contemporary consumers. The convenience trend of snacking on the move and healthy convenience is compelling food companies to launch tuna-based meal kits and lunch packs. Besides, retail outlets are promoting tuna as part of meal-prep solutions for busy consumers.

Growing Tourism and Hospitality Industry Demand

The high growth of the tourism and hospitality sector of the GCC is generating huge demand for high-quality seafood, specifically tuna. High-end hotels, resorts, and upscale restaurants are adding tuna-based products like tuna tartare, sushi, and seared steaks to their menus to attract international visitors and upscale residents. Tuna is also being added to events, catering operations, and buffet items as a high-end protein source. With destinations such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Doha hosting large events, expos, and festivals, gourmet and healthy food options are in greater demand. The boom is inducing bulk buying of tuna by restaurants and hotels, forcing suppliers and distributors to maintain regular and high-quality supplies. In addition, food innovation with tuna is being promoted by international chefs operating in the region, popularizing tuna among domestic consumers as well.

GCC Tuna Market Segmentation:

IMARC Group provides an analysis of the key trends in each segment of the GCC tuna market report, along with forecasts at the regional and country levels for 2025-2033. Our report has categorized the market based on species and type.

Species Insights:

• Skipjack
• Yellowfin
• Albacore
• Bigeye
• Bluefin

The report has provided a detailed breakup and analysis of the GCC tuna market based on the species. This includes skipjack, yellowfin, albacore, bigeye, and bluefin.

Type Insights:

• Canned
• Frozen
• Fresh

A detailed breakup and analysis of the GCC tuna market based on the type has also been provided in the report. This includes canned, frozen, and fresh.

Country Insights:

• Saudi Arabia
• UAE
• Qatar
• Bahrain
• Kuwait
• Oman

The report has also provided a comprehensive analysis of all the major regional markets, which include Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman.

Competitive Landscape:

The report has also provided a comprehensive analysis of the competitive landscape in the market. Competitive analysis such as market structure, key player positioning, top winning strategies, competitive dashboard, and company evaluation quadrant has been covered in the report. Also, detailed profiles of all major companies have been provided.

GCC Tuna Market News:

• July 2025: John Dory Seafood Market has launched at The Market Island in Dubai Festival City Mall, featuring the area's inaugural sustainable head-to-tail seafood ecosystem. This idea includes all phases of the seafood journey, from direct sourcing and importing to in-house processing, open-fire cooking, and retail, offering diners an unparalleled experience in freshness, quality, and value. The official happened on July 25, 2025. Fish is handpicked from reliable fisheries and farms, and brought in directly without intermediaries. John Dory strategically imports seafood to Dubai, holding contracts with suppliers from France, the Netherlands, the Seychelles, and additional locations. From Norwegian salmon to Seychellois tuna, the brand is dedicated to transforming the market with both excellence and reasonable pricing.
• May 2025: Somtuna, the biggest tuna processing plant in the Horn of Africa located in Berbera, Somaliland, and primarily funded by Dahabshiil, is generating excitement at the Saudi Food Show in Riyadh. The event began on May 12 and continues until May 14, 2025, at the Riyadh Convention Exhibition & Conference Center, offering Somtuna a chance to display its premium, halal-certified seafood products, garnering excellent feedback and encouraging prospects for growth in the Gulf market.
• January 2025: The combined Duqm Fishery Port and industrial complex, recognized as one of the largest facilities of its type in the area, is expected to open for commercial operations early next year. A key project official stated that the new fishery harbour, along with a similarly ambitious industrial-scale processing cluster being developed nearby, has the potential to greatly enhance the fisheries and related food processing sector's contribution to the national GDP.
• November 2024: The Special Economic Zone at Duqm (SEZAD) marked the opening of the Fish Canning and Value-Added Products Complex yesterday, overseen by the International Seafood Company (SIMAK), a branch of Fisheries Development Oman (FDO). The Fish Canning Complex utilizes the resources offered by the Fish and Food Industries Zone and the Multipurpose Fishing Port located within SEZAD. The facility began commercial production last March, with an annual capacity of 100 million fish cans. After the introduction of canned tuna in local markets recently, the company intends to roll out additional products, including canned sardines and mackerel, in the next few months.
• October 2024: Country Hill International collaborated with Mizuho to introduce the fish offering to the UAE market. Fishmonger’s Head Chef Elia Piazza is guiding the store with his skills, which he developed during training in Japan. He also mentioned that his firm is importing fish from Japan, especially tuna.

GCC Tuna Market Report Coverage:

Key Questions Answered in This Report:

• How has the GCC tuna market performed so far and how will it perform in the coming years?
• What is the breakup of the GCC tuna market on the basis of species?
• What is the breakup of the GCC tuna market on the basis of type?
• What are the various stages in the value chain of the GCC tuna market?
• What are the key driving factors and challenges in the GCC tuna market?
• What is the structure of the GCC tuna market and who are the key players?
• What is the degree of competition in the GCC tuna market?

Key Benefits for Stakeholders:

• IMARC’s report offers a comprehensive quantitative analysis of various market segments, historical and current market trends, market forecasts, and dynamics of the GCC tuna market from 2019-2033.
• The research study provides the latest information on the market drivers, challenges, and opportunities in the GCC tuna market.
• Porter's five forces analysis assist stakeholders in assessing the impact of new entrants, competitive rivalry, supplier power, buyer power, and the threat of substitution. It helps stakeholders to analyze the level of competition within the GCC tuna industry and its attractiveness.
• Competitive landscape allows stakeholders to understand their competitive environment and provides an insight into the current positions of key players in the market.