An insight into the UAE’s best loved beers
The year’s beer report is shattering conventions.
On a global scale, Germans are not consuming as much beer as people in the Czech Republic, but they’re buying more in the UAE. Although men traditionally buy more of the world’s third favourite beverage (after tea and water), they’re not buying that much to widen the gap from women who love beer as well.
Not surprising, beer drinkers across the UAE are sticking to their national breweries, with people from India choosing Bangalore’s Kingfisher, South Africans picking Savanna Dry and Filipinos still knocking back San Miguel beers.
Who’s drinking which beer in the UAE?
Our Top 10 Best-selling Beers
High alcohol beer rises as the Philippines’ Red Horse Extra Strong trots off to a strong finish, leaving international brands Corona and Heineken in second and third place, respectively. A lager brew of San Miguel Brewery, Red Horse contains 8% ABV, which is 3% more than the average beer.
Lager dominates this year’s list of best-selling beers. Mexico’s Corona, the Netherlands’ Heineken, India’s Kingfisher and Germany’s Becks are all classified as lagers. Denmark’s Carlsberg and Belgium’s Stella Artois are pilsners, although some would still consider Stella Artois a lager.
Who Are the Biggest Beer Lovers?
As one of the most popular and oldest beverages in the world, beer crosses borders and generations. In 2023, people across the world drank 16 billion litres of beer and, in 2024, that figure is expected to rise to 170 billion litres.
But which countries and which generations drink the most?
Men vs. Women
Although beer has normally been a man’s drink with the male-centric industry targeting them as consumers, women have been unwinding with a six pack. Men still do buy more beer, but it’s a slim margin. In the younger alcohol drinking range, women are set to outnumber men.
Age Range of Beer Buyers
Aside from women closing in on a traditionally masculine market, the generation of beer drinkers is more mature, with the 46-55-year-old group buying more beer. It appears that beer is no longer a young person’s favoured tipple, with the 26-30-year-olds buying less. The 61-and-up set are also purchasing less of the hoppy beverage.
With Abu Dhabi being home to a large international community and 100 foreign embassies, which nationalities do you think are the biggest beer buyers?
The largest foreign community is Indians, followed by Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, Europeans and Africans. Of these communities, Germans hold the title of biggest beer buyers, Nepali, Irish and French follow suit.
Who Buys the Most Beer?
Most Loved Beer Brands by Different Nationalities
The consumption of beer has always been a part of any feast, and for expats, it becomes a connection back to their homeland. When we look at what each nationality is adding to their carts, we see a validation of this connection.
From the biggest expat community, India, people are choosing Kingfisher from United Breweries in Bangalore. They also grab Red Horse Extra Strong and Carlsberg, indicating a preference for stronger beer. Expats from the Philippines are likely the most homesick, preferring two brands from their homeland: Red Horse Extra Strong and San Miguel. Heineken also makes their list for a beer run.
Heineken also makes it on the list for expats from South Africa, but what tops their purchase is a pioneering cider from their homeland: Savanna Dry Premium Cider. In addition, South Africans have developed a taste for San Miguel.
As one of the more popular brands in the world, Heineken is the choice in the UAE and Australians.
Here’s the beer shopping list from different nationalities at a glance:
How Do the Tastes of the UAE Compare with the World?
Although much of the expat communities in the UAE choose brands from their countries, there is curiosity over other beer brands. Most notably, America’s Budweiser tops the list of beer brand searches in the region, followed closely by the Netherlands’ Heineken.
The search data further reveals a preference for pale lager and pilsner, but traditional Irish stout appears to be getting some interest as well. Ireland’s Guinness makes it in the top 5 of most searched beer brands.
Most Searched Beer Brands in the UAE
Most Searched Beer Brands Globally
We find that search data in the UAE mirrors global data to a degree. Heineken, once again, tops the list followed by Budweiser, Bud Light, Guinness and Stella Artois. What’s new on this list is Brazil’s Brahma and Colombia’s Aguila.
Trending Beer Brands
In the last few months, however, lesser known beer brands have been getting discovered. The increase in searches for the following brands may indicate a desire to broaden a taste for other flavours. Data may also point to other countries potentially widening their market share.
Spain’s draught beer, Cruzcampo, is getting some attention, along with the Philippines’ San Miguel, China’s Harbin, Chile’s Cristal and Mexico’s Modelo Especial.
Who Loves Beer the Most?
With expats from Germany buying the most beer in the UAE, does it follow that they hold the title of best beer lovers?
In comparison to the UAE, Germany’s beer consumption per capita is much greater. But Germany’s consumption pales in comparison to the Czech Republic, which tops the list of beer consumption in the world. Ireland, Austria, Botswana and Croatia follow suit.
Beer Consumption Per Capita
An International Community of Beer Drinkers
Beer may be one of the oldest beverages in the world, but it continues to be celebrated and enjoyed in celebrations. By all indications from the 2024 Beer Report, beer consumption will steadily grow, with expats in the UAE choosing tipple from their homelands and broadening their taste with other beer brands.
Methodology
CityDrinks collected internal data, covering demographics and buying behaviour. We combined this information along with external data from search trends and social data, giving us well-rounded insights into what people are drinking now and which brands they prefer.
