UAE, GCC shoppers are asking AI for custom meal plans to save costs
Budget pressure is turning GCC grocery habits smarter, healthier and more tech-driven
Dubai: Feeling the pinch at the checkout counter? So are millions across the GCC. But instead of just cutting back, many UAE and Saudi shoppers are getting smarter—turning to AI and wellness tech to shop and eat more efficiently.
Whether it’s asking ChatGPT for a week’s worth of meals under Dh100, using a fitness app that syncs with your grocery list, or subscribing to a personalised meal kit, technology is reshaping how the region eats, says PwC Middle East’s Voice of the Consumer 2025 report.
Over 40% of regional consumers now use AI to personalise their fitness and meal plans—a trend that’s being driven by cost-consciousness, health goals, and convenience.
And it’s working. Instead of blindly spending on processed or overpriced items, shoppers are now:
Planning meals ahead to avoid waste
Using apps to build low-cost, high-nutrition grocery baskets
Syncing wearable tech with calorie-counting food logs
Skipping impulsive takeout with pre-set home cooking alerts
Not merely digital habits
These are more than just digital habits — they’re part of a wider lifestyle shift.
“Consumers in the Middle East are redefining what they expect from the food industry. Health, convenience and trust now top the menu,” said Norma Taki, Deals Partner and Consumer Markets Leader at PwC Middle East.
“At the same time, rising costs and climate pressures are challenging both consumers and companies to make smarter, more sustainable choices. Companies that thrive will be those that meet people where they are, with affordable, nutritious, tech-savvy and locally rooted solutions that fit modern lifestyles and values. This is the recipe for leadership in a dynamic and fast-evolving market.”
Wellness meets your wallet
According to the latest PwC report, the shift is showing up in multiple ways:
67% of shoppers say they actively avoid ultra-processed food
9% use GLP-1 medications like Ozempic to manage weight—almost twice the global average
28% subscribe to meal kits, often cheaper than restaurant delivery
38% prefer shopping at local stores to stretch their dirham or riyal further
And it’s not just about diet. People are rethinking the entire shopping experience, choosing platforms that offer:
Budget-friendly, auto-generated weekly menus
Discounts for bundled healthy items
Recipe scanning tools that match in-store offers
In-app tips that help reduce food waste and cooking time
Even sustainability is part of the decision. 75% say they care about climate change, and while taste and price still come first, there’s a rising preference for local, seasonal, and responsibly sourced products—especially when paired with value.
What’s next for shoppers?
With food costs climbing and wellness dominating conversations, expect to see more AI-powered shopping apps, home meal kits with nutritionist backing, and even “smart fridges” that connect to your grocery app.
The PwC report projects that by 2035, this evolving food-tech-health ecosystem in the Middle East could unlock $240 billion in market value, powered by smarter agriculture, local innovation, and AI-led efficiencies.
For the everyday UAE shopper, that could mean more control over what you eat, less money wasted, and better ways to stay healthy—without giving up convenience or culture.
Sign up for the Daily Briefing
Get the latest news and updates straight to your inbox
