Rules by country / Middle East and Africa / Gulf sugar tax 2026
Gulf sugar tax 2026: every GCC country compared
Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar now tax sweetened drinks per litre by sugar content. Oman and Bahrain still charge 50% of the price, and Kuwait has no sugar tax. We help brands price for each market.
At the rates in force in October 2026. Oman and Bahrain tax sweetened drinks as a share of the price; check whether your drink is in scope.
A sugar tax review for the Gulf
What the tax costs each product in each Gulf market, and the most profitable price, market by market.
- The tax on every product in every Gulf market you sell in
- Pass on, keep the margin or cut sugar: the best choice by product and market
- How shoppers switch between your products as price gaps move
- A price plan for each market and retailer, and an Excel model
How your results look
| Market | Cola, 330ml can at 10.6g | Our advice |
|---|---|---|
| Saudi Arabia | SAR 0.36 a can | Keep the price |
| UAE | AED 0.36 a can | Pass the saving on |
| Oman | 50% of the price | Hold, plan for bands |
Fictional products. Every real result comes with the expected sales and profit, and a likely range.
Your options
Every option has a fixed price, agreed before we start.
Sugar tax review
- The tax and best choice for each product
- Price plan for each retailer
- Scenario model and a walk-through
Pricing review with the tax
- Everything in the tax review
- Prices and promotions for the whole range
- How your products take sales from each other
Portfolio review
- Everything in the pricing review
- More retailers and data sources
- A plan for each channel
After the project: a refresh before each pricing round, from £2,000 (about $2,700). Prices are fixed in pounds sterling; amounts in US dollars are a guide at October 2026 exchange rates. We're based in the UK and work remotely, in English, under NDA.
How it works
From the first call to your plan in about three weeks.
A free 15-minute call
Tell us about your range. We say whether a review would pay for itself, and quote a fixed price.
Your data
Sales by product and retailer, recipes and costs. We sign an NDA before anything moves.
Your plan
The tax in every market, the best move and a price plan, walked through with your team.
Gulf sugar taxes: the detail
Open only what you need.
- Saudi Arabia
- Since 1 January 2026: SAR 0.79 a litre from 5g to under 8g of sugar per 100ml, SAR 1.09 at 8g or more; sweetener-only drinks pay nothing
- UAE
- Since 1 January 2026: AED 0.79 and AED 1.09 a litre on the same bands; a lab report for each product; 75% milk drinks exempt
- Qatar
- Since 6 July 2026: QAR 0.77 and QAR 1.06 a litre; natural sugar counts; electronic certification from 1 November 2026
- Oman
- 50% of the retail price on sweetened drinks and 100% on energy drinks; 100% juices and drinks with 75% or more milk exempt
- Bahrain
- 50% on aerated drinks and 100% on energy drinks; parliament is debating a per-litre model (reported rates BD 0.079 and BD 0.109 a litre)
- Kuwait
- No sugar tax; energy drinks only for over-18s since 24 December 2025
- The framework
- An amendment to the GCC Unified Excise Tax Agreement lets each country tax per litre by sugar instead of 50% of the price
Pass the saving on
Cut the price to win volume. Works when your shoppers react strongly to price.
Keep the margin
Hold the price and keep the difference. Works for products whose sales hold up.
Cut sugar
Reformulate below 5g to pay nothing, or below 8g for the lower rate.
Which Gulf countries have a sugar tax?
Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain tax sweetened drinks. Kuwait does not.
Is the sugar tax the same in Saudi Arabia and the UAE?
The bands are the same: 0.79 and 1.09 a litre, in riyals in Saudi Arabia and in dirhams in the UAE, both since 1 January 2026. Some details differ; in the UAE, for example, each product needs an accredited lab report.
What is the sugar tax in Oman?
50% of the retail price of sweetened drinks, and 100% for energy drinks. 100% juices and drinks with 75% or more milk are exempt. Oman had not adopted the per-litre sugar bands when we checked.
What is the sugar tax in Bahrain?
50% on aerated drinks and 100% on energy drinks. Parliament is debating a move to tax per litre by sugar content.
How much does a sugar tax review cost?
A review of up to 10 products has a fixed price from £7,500 (about $10,000) and takes about three weeks. For 11 to 50 products, a full pricing review with the sugar tax built in costs around £17,500 (about $23,000). It starts with a free 15-minute call.
Do you work with brands in the Gulf?
Yes. We work remotely and in English, under NDA, in every Gulf market. Prices are fixed in pounds sterling before we start, and the first step is a free 15-minute call.
- KPMG Saudi Arabia, excise tax amendments for sweetened beverages
- PwC Middle East, UAE tiered-volumetric excise on sweetened drinks
- US International Trade Administration, Qatar: sweetened beverages tiered excise tax
- Global Food Research Program (UNC), sugary drink tax maps, March 2026 (Oman)
- LexisNexis Middle East, Bahrain parliament debate on the GCC excise amendment
- Gulf News, Kuwait restricts energy drinks
Checked on 20 October 2026. Rules and rates change, so check the official source before making decisions. This page is not tax advice.
Each country in detail
Rates, a free check and our service for each market.