Is Non-Basmati Rice Demand Increasing in the Middle East?

[amoliinternational]

Direct Answer: Yes, demand for non-basmati rice in the Middle East is steadily increasing, driven by a growing expatriate population, rising food costs, and increased preference for affordable everyday rice varieties.

Key demand drivers in the Middle East:

Large South Asian & African diaspora in UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Qatar prefer non-basmati rice for daily meals
Price sensitivity — Non-basmati is significantly more affordable than Basmati for large families
Food service sector growth — Restaurants, labor camps, and catering businesses prefer bulk non-basmati rice
Government food security programs — Several Gulf nations stockpile non-basmati rice as a strategic food reserve
IR64 parboiled rice is increasingly preferred for its nutritional value and cooking ease

India remains the dominant supplier of non basmati rice to the Middle East. As food inflation rises globally, the shift toward value-for-money grains like IR64 is accelerating.

Amoli International actively supplies premium non-basmati rice to Middle Eastern buyers with Halal-certified, export-ready consignments.