The Importance of Water in the Affluent Arab Markets
Did you know that more bottled water is sold and used in the Arabian Gulf countries than in any other country in the world per capita! Even the relatively low income person buys or insists on having bottled water. The cost ranges from 2 cents per glass for the budget supermarket water to $2.5 per glass in a bar.
There are more water producers than other beverage producers. The majors such as Coke, Pepsi and Nestle all have their own brands.
Water is imported from several European and CIS countries.
There are people who wash their bodies with Evian water.
When going to a restaurant you are asked Evian or house water? House meaning a cheaper brand.
Almost NOBODY drinks tap water. It is not advised due to the fact that the water tanks are many times teaming with aquatic life. The water is warm or hot which is ideal for bacterial growth.
The larger supermarkets have complete isles for just water products.
You can find chilled water dispensing coin operated machines around the town.
The average person consumes 2.5 litres of bottled water per day.
Do the math. In the UAE this translates to 4million x 2.5 litres 10 million litres per day. Or 3.65 million cubic meters of water per year.
You can imagine how much plastic is consumed just for water bottles. It is one of the most ubiquitous forms of waste in dumps in the Gulf Countries.
Water is sometimes more expensive than gasoline and tastes better.
