Saudi Arabia Aquaculture Market Size, Share, Opportunities, And Trends By Type (Shrimp , Tilapia (Sabaki Tilapia, Other), Other), By Production System (Aquaponics (Tilapia, Others) , Hydroponics, Aeroponics), By End-User (Residential, Commercial) And By Province - Forecasts From 2025 To 2030

Saudi Arabia aquaculture market to surpass US$238.999 million by 2030, at a 5.30% CAGR from US$184.609 million in 2025.

The expanse of the aquaculture market in Saudi Arabia has grown owing to the increased consumption of seafood with an increasing population and disposable income levels. The government is supporting the sector with financial assistance as well as creating structures for the efficient growth of aquaculture. 

Aquaculture is viewed as the most important solution to meet this demand and improve food security as it reduces dependence on imports and has the potential to save the country’s foreign exchange. This becomes imperative that Saudi Arabia increases its domestic seafood production to meet the growing demand leading to growth in the market. 

In June 2024, KAUST and MEWA signed a partnership to transform Saudi Arabia's aquaculture, which should bring about a striding capacity to address domestic seafood demands and revitalize the economy. The program is expected to ramp up domestic production from 280,000 tons in 2024 to 530,000 tons annually by 2030. Sustainable growth in the Saudi Arabia Aquaculture Market will be promoted through this partnership which will address challenges such as production costs, scarcity of water, and environmental issues.  

What are the drivers of the Saudi Arabia Aquaculture Market?

• Increasing demand for seafood products is expected to accelerate the requirement of the aquaculture market in Saudi Arabia

There is an increase in demand for seafood products in Saudi Arabia because of a growing population, increasing per capita income, health awareness, and a healthy tourism environment. This increase requires a proportional boost in domestic aquaculture production to meet this demand and food security in the region.

The population of Saudi Arabia is expected to rise by 43% from 33,264,292 in 2023 to 47,693,910 in 2050 as per World Health Organization (WHO) predictions, thereby creating an increased demand for seafood. Moreover, this will lead to more emphasis on the health benefits of consuming seafood, and its rich nutritional value, and also drive an increasing proportion of demand for domestic seafood production.

• The rising shrimp demand is anticipated to boost the Saudi Arabia aquaculture market expansion 

The Shrimp are small, aquatic crustaceans found in salt and freshwater. They are widely consumed in Saudia Arabia and are a popular seafood across the country. It is widely used for dishes such as Shrimp Kabsa, Shrimp Jasreesh, Shrimp Mandi, Shrimp Harees, Shrip Shawarma, Soup, Shrimp Kebab and many other dishes.  Shrimp is in high demand in Saudi Arabia’s region, driven by the cultural preference for shrimp. It is used in dishes such as Kebab and Jasreesh, among many others. The market for shrimp is also driven by its health benefits and affordability. Moreover, the growing preference for seafood, driven by other factors like shifts in demand, government support, and ease of availability, is driving the market for shrimp. 

The growing promotion and investment by the Saudi Arabian government in the aquaculture industry is significantly boosting shrimp production and is driving its market demand. For instance, the Saudi government started its first pilot production of shrimp in inland waters in the Tabuk region in 2020 in collaboration with an international company. As part of the Vision 2030 Plan by the Saudi Arabian government, the strategic investment to develop the aquaculture sector five-fold by 20230 will be the major factor driving the market growth of Shrimp. 

Shrimp production in Saudi Arabia constitutes the largest share among other types of aquacultures. As per the data by the Saudi Statistical Authority, the total output of aquaculture in 2030 is approximately 139,900 tons of which 66,400 tons is only Shrimp, highlighting the share constituted by the Shrimp. Shrimp will hold the largest market segment in the aquaculture market by type. The government's significant investment in the aquaculture market will drive the growth of the shrimp market, and when coupled with the growing demand for shrimp in the region, it will propel the market in the forecast period. 

What are the key geographical trends shaping the Saudi Arabia aquaculture market?

The aquaculture market in Riyadh is growing fast due to support from the government, which considers it a component of Saudi Vision 2030. This project seeks to develop other sectors such as aquaculture, since it will allow the country to shift away from relying on oil for its economic needs. In an effort to enhance local production of seafood, MEWA offered subsidies, financing, and other infrastructural investments to help put Saudi Arabia in the forefront in sustainable aquaculture practices.

In alignment with Vision 2030, the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture developed a dedicated program that aims at reaching 600,000 tons of fisheries products by 2030. Moreover, increasing seafood demand is primarily driven by the growing population in Riyadh. In this regard, as per the Ministry of Economy and Planning, the total population registered in Al-Riyadh in 2022 was 8,591,748 people, where 37.4% were females and 62.6% were males. 

Increasing urbanization, coupled with more awareness about health benefits, boosts local consumption of seafood. From being import dependent, the market is shifting toward locally farmed seafood. In this manner, it has managed to break dependence on foreign vendors while ensuring freshness and quality meet consumer demand.

In Riyadh, technological development in aquaculture is gradually becoming more efficient and sustainable. New systems of recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) and biofloc technology can optimize the production of a variety of fish species in an arid region. These technological innovations allow farming species such as tilapia, shrimp, and grouper using minimal water inputs while reducing impacts on the environment. This therefore suits global sustainability trends.

In addition to this, the growing tourism industry in Riyadh is creating more demand for fresh and quality seafood in hotels, restaurants, and other hospitality-related businesses. As per the Ministry of Tourism, the City of Riyadh leads the list of 11.9 million destination tourists, which were 14.5% of Domestic tourists in 2023. The second one is Jeddah, with 11.6% of all Domestic tourism trips, followed by Makkah Al-Mukarramah, which took the third place, 8.9%, then came Al-Madinah Al-Munwwarah City with 5.3%, and then Al-Taif City with 4.1%. This factors together are creating a dynamic and expanding aquaculture market in Riyadh that holds great promise for growth and development in the region in the years ahead.

Recent developments in the Saudi Arabia Aquaculture Market:

• December 2024- Saudi Arabia launched a key salmon production center, aiming to produce 10,000 metric tons of salmon annually. The facility includes hatcheries with a 5 million juvenile capacity, a fish farming unit, and an aquaponics system. Production plans include expanding to 30 tons in the second phase.

Saudi Arabia Aquaculture Market Scope:

The Saudi Arabia Aquaculture Market is analyzed into the following segments:

• By Type
  • Shrimp
  • Tilapia
    • Sabaki Tilapia
    • Others
  • Others
• By Production System
  • Aquaponics
    • Tilapia
    • Others
  • Hydroponics
  • Aeroponics
• By End-User
  • Residential
  • Commercial
• By Province
  • Jeddah
  • Riyadh
  • Others

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1. Market Overview

1.2. Market Definition

1.3. Scope of the Study

1.4. Market Segmentation

1.5. Currency

1.6. Assumptions

1.7. Base and Forecast Years Timeline

1.8. Key benefits for the stakeholders

2. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

2.1. Research Design

2.2. Research Process

3. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

3.1. Key Findings

3.2. Analyst View

4. MARKET DYNAMICS

4.1. Market Drivers

4.2. Market Restraints

4.3. Porter’s Five Forces Analysis

4.3.1. Bargaining Power of Suppliers

4.3.2. Bargaining Power of Buyers

4.3.3. Threat of New Entrants

4.3.4. Threat of Substitutes

4.3.5. Competitive Rivalry in the Industry

4.4. Industry Value Chain Analysis

5. SAUDI ARABIA AQUACULTURE MARKET BY TYPE

5.1. Introduction

5.2. Shrimp

5.3. Tilapia

5.3.1. Sabaki Tilapia

5.3.2. Others

5.4. Others

6. SAUDI ARABIA AQUACULTURE MARKET BY PRODUCTION SYSTEM

6.1. Introduction

6.2. Aquaponics

6.2.1. Tilapia

6.2.2. Others

6.3. Hydroponics

6.4. Aeroponics

7. SAUDI ARABIA AQUACULTURE MARKET BY END-USER

7.1. Introduction

7.2. Residential

7.3. Commercial

8. SAUDI ARABIA AQUACULTURE MARKET BY PROVINCE

8.1. Introduction

8.2. Jeddah

8.3. Riyadh

8.4. Others

9. COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT AND ANALYSIS

9.1. Major Players and Strategy Analysis

9.2. Market Share Analysis

9.3. Mergers, Acquisitions, Agreements, and Collaborations

9.4. Competitive Dashboard

10. COMPANY PROFILES

10.1. NAQUA

10.2. Aqua Bridge Farm Co.

10.3. Asmak

10.4. Jazadco Co.

10.5. Izalco LLC

NAQUA

Aqua Bridge Farm Co.

Asmak

Jazadco Co.

Izalco LLC