IMARC Group, a leading global market research and management consulting firm, has published its latest market intelligence report on the Saudi Arabia seafood market. The Saudi Arabia seafood market increased from USD 3.41 Billion in 2025 to USD 3.50 Billion in 2026, and is projected to reach USD 4.28 Billion by 2034, exhibiting a CAGR of 2.54% during 2026-2034, driven by Vision 2030 food security and aquaculture investments, rising health consciousness among the Saudi population, and the rapid growth of tourism and hospitality sectors.
Seafood benefits from deep-rooted cultural consumption traditions and a structural supply-side transformation underway across the Kingdom, with Vision 2030's aquaculture scale-up program set to reshape the origin mix of seafood available in Saudi markets. The market is forecast to add approximately USD 780 Million in incremental value between 2026 and 2034, with three structural forces shaping this trajectory: the largest domestic aquaculture production scale-up in the Kingdom's history, a decisive shift of retail sales toward modern off-trade and e-commerce channels, and rising demand from the tourism and hospitality sectors surrounding Hajj and Umrah.
Saudi Arabia Seafood Market at a Glance:
- Market Size (2025): USD 3.41 Billion
- Market Size (2026): USD 3.50 Billion
- Forecast Market Size (2034): USD 4.28 Billion
- CAGR (2026-2034): 2.54%
- Leading Type (2025): Fish, 48.6% share
- Leading Distribution Channel (2025): Off-Trade, 63.5% share
- Fastest-Growing Type: Shrimp, approximately 3.1% CAGR
How Technology is Reshaping the Future of the Saudi Arabia Seafood Market
- Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS): Closed-loop water management technology is enabling fish farming in the Kingdom's arid climate, allowing Vision 2030's aquaculture expansion to scale domestic production despite limited freshwater availability.
- IoT-Enabled Cold Chain and Freshness Monitoring: Temperature sensors, blockchain-based provenance tracking, and smart refrigeration systems are maintaining 0-2°C throughout the supply chain as domestic aquaculture production scales from 280,000 tons in 2024 toward 530,000 tons by 2030.
- E-Commerce and Last-Mile Delivery Technology: GPS-tracked refrigerated delivery, AI-driven demand forecasting, and customer-facing freshness scoring apps are mainstreaming online and dark-kitchen seafood delivery across the Kingdom's major cities.
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Saudi Arabia Seafood Market Trends and Drivers:
Vision 2030's food security strategy is the foundational driver behind the market's structural transformation, with government aquaculture programs targeting an increase in domestic production from 80,000 tons in 2018 to 600,000 tons by 2030, generating sustained investment across fishing, processing, and cold chain infrastructure. Fish leads the type mix at 48.6% share, reflecting deep cultural preference for hamour and other Red Sea and Arabian Gulf species alongside growing imported salmon consumption, while Shrimp, at 32.4% share and growing at approximately 3.1% CAGR, is expanding on the back of the National Aquaculture Group's Red Sea shrimp farming capacity.
Tourism and hospitality sector expansion is compounding this growth, with Saudi Arabia welcoming 116 million domestic and inbound tourists in 2024, driving commensurate growth in hotel and restaurant seafood procurement, particularly during the annual Hajj and Umrah seasons. Off-trade channels dominate distribution at 63.5% share as modern supermarket and hypermarket penetration deepens across all Saudi cities, positioning Off-Trade as the market's structurally dominant distribution format through 2034.
Regional dynamics reflect the Kingdom's dual coastline advantage. The Western Region's dominant 29.6% share in 2025 reflects Jeddah's status as the Kingdom's primary seafood import gateway, processing the majority of Saudi Arabia's seaborne imports through the Islamic Port, while the Eastern Region, at 26.3% share, is the fastest-growing region at approximately 2.9% CAGR, underpinned by its large expatriate community and industrial workforce demand.
Government Schemes and Vision 2030 Initiatives Driving Demand:
- Vision 2030 Food Security and Aquaculture Strategy: A core Vision 2030 program targeting domestic seafood production growth from 80,000 tons in 2018 to 600,000 tons by 2030, generating sustained capital investment across fishing, aquaculture, and processing infrastructure.
- National Aquaculture Production Scale-Up: Government-backed targets aim to boost domestic aquaculture production from 280,000 tons in 2024 to 530,000 tons annually by 2030, reducing the Kingdom's historical dependence on seafood imports.
- Industrial Aquaculture Licensing: Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources issued 158 industrial licenses in October 2023 covering shrimp, fish, oyster, and pearl oyster aquaculture operations, expanding the Kingdom's production base.
- SFDA Halal Certification and Traceability Framework: Mandatory Halal certification and end-to-end documentation requirements for all processed seafood are driving investment in RFID-tagged crates, electronic catch certificates, and blockchain-based supply chain verification.
- Agricultural Development Fund Investment: MEWA's Agricultural Development Fund (ADF) is channeling growing venture and institutional investment into upstream aquaculture partnerships alongside the Saudi Agricultural and Livestock Investment Company (SALIC).
Saudi Arabia Seafood Industry Segmentation:
The report has segmented the market into the following categories:
Breakup By Type:
- Fish
- Shrimp
- Others
Fish commands a 48.6% majority share in 2025, reflecting the deep-rooted cultural significance of fish in Saudi coastal communities alongside rising availability of premium imported species including Norwegian salmon, Omani hamour, and Indian tilapia. Shrimp holds 32.4% and is the fastest-growing type at approximately 3.1% CAGR, propelled by NAQUA's expanding Red Sea shrimp aquaculture capacity, while Others at 19.0%, comprising crab, squid, octopus, lobster, and shellfish, are predominantly served in premium restaurants and hotels.
Breakup By Form:
- Fresh / Chilled
- Frozen / Canned
- Processed
Breakup By Distribution Channel:
- Off-Trade (Convenience Stores, Online Channel, Supermarkets and Hypermarkets, Others)
- On-Trade
Off-trade channels dominate with 63.5% share in 2025, encompassing supermarkets, hypermarkets, traditional fish souks, and online delivery, with retailers such as Panda Retail investing heavily in fresh seafood counter expansion and premium frozen seafood aisles. On-trade channels, at 36.5% share and growing at approximately 2.3% CAGR, are underpinned by large-scale catering for NEOM and giga-project construction camps alongside restaurant and hotel foodservice demand.
Breakup By Region:
- Western Region
- Eastern Region
- Northern and Central Region
- Southern Region
The Western Region commands 29.6% share in 2025, structurally supported by Jeddah's Islamic Port and the region's status as the Kingdom's primary seafood import gateway, alongside demand spikes driven by Hajj and Umrah pilgrimage traffic. The Eastern Region follows at 26.3%, sustained by Dammam's petrochemical industry workforce and a large expatriate community with strong seafood consumption traditions, while the Northern and Central Region holds 24.1% on Riyadh's inland metropolitan population, and the Southern Region's 20.0% share reflects Asir and Jizan's coastal fishing communities and emerging agri-food investment.
Competitive Landscape:
The Saudi Arabia seafood market is moderately fragmented, with integrated food importers competing alongside domestic aquaculture producers and specialty seafood distributors. The report provides detailed profiles of all major companies, including:
- Almunajem Foods
- National Aquaculture Group (NAQUA)
- Arab Fisheries Co.
- IZAFCO LLC
- Shell Fisheries
Almunajem Foods and National Aquaculture Group (NAQUA) lead the market as its two largest players, the former through integrated import and distribution scale and the latter through domestic aquaculture production leadership, while Arab Fisheries Co. and IZAFCO LLC maintain strong positions in commercial fishing and frozen seafood distribution respectively. No single company commands more than approximately 20% of total market revenue, and competitive differentiation is increasingly driven by cold chain infrastructure ownership and government panel contracts.
Market Concentration Analysis:
- Fragmentation: The market is moderately fragmented at the distribution level; the top five companies collectively account for an estimated 38-42% of total revenue
- Segment Leadership: Almunajem Foods and NAQUA lead the market through integrated import scale and domestic aquaculture production respectively
- Consolidation Trend: A next tier of 10-15 mid-size importers and distributors captures approximately 25-30% of revenue, while the traditional fish souk sector remains a highly fragmented, largely informal network
What Does The Full Report Cover?
If you are tracking the Saudi Arabia seafood market for investment decisions, market entry planning, competitive benchmarking, or strategic advisory, IMARC Group's report gives you everything in one place:
- Complete market sizing in value terms with forecasts covering the full 2026-2034 projection period
- Quantified growth driver analysis with impact scoring across type, form, distribution channel, and regional markets
- Sub-segment breakdowns for three types, three forms, two distribution channels, and four regions, each with individual share and CAGR data
- Competitive profiles of Almunajem Foods, National Aquaculture Group, Arab Fisheries Co., IZAFCO LLC, and Shell Fisheries with strategic positioning analysis
- Value chain analysis, market concentration assessment, and technology landscape coverage across aquaculture and cold chain innovation
- Latest trends covering premium and sustainable seafood, online and dark-kitchen delivery, processed and ready-to-cook products, and NEOM giga-project hospitality demand shaping market competition across the Kingdom
Recent News and Developments in Saudi Arabia Seafood Market
- May 2025: Almunajem Foods Co. received the necessary approvals from relevant authorities to commence operations of its subsidiary, Optimal Solution for Logistics Services Co. (Loadly), strengthening its cold chain logistics capabilities.
- November 2023: National Aquaculture Group (NAQUA) announced plans to increase its seafood output by more than 400% over the following seven years, reinforcing its position as the Kingdom's leading domestic aquaculture producer.
- October 2023: Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources issued 158 industrial licenses covering shrimp, fish, oyster, and pearl oyster aquaculture operations, expanding the Kingdom's domestic production base.
Note: If you require specific details, data, or insights that are not currently included in the scope of this report, we are happy to accommodate your request. As part of our customization service, we will gather and provide the additional information you need, tailored to your specific requirements. Please let us know your exact needs, and we will ensure the report is updated accordingly to meet your expectations.
Key Questions This Report Answers
- What is the current Saudi Arabia seafood market size and what is its projected value?
- Which type and distribution channel hold the largest share in the Saudi Arabia seafood market?
- What are the key drivers of Saudi Arabia seafood market growth?
- Which region dominates the Saudi Arabia seafood market and which is growing fastest?
- How is Vision 2030's aquaculture strategy reshaping the Saudi Arabia seafood industry?
- Who are the top companies in the Saudi Arabia seafood market and what are their competitive strategies?
- What are the investment and market entry opportunities across domestic aquaculture, e-commerce channels, and processed seafood in Saudi Arabia?
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