Kuwait: a melting pot of international coffee culture

With one of the most developed branded café markets in the Middle East, high consumer demand in Kuwait is creating opportunities for boutique brands to differentiate in an increasingly competitive marketplace

Kuwait’s strong oil and financial sectors mean that expats comprise nearly 70% of the country’s 4.3 million inhabitants. This dynamic attracted international coffee chains from the late-1990s onwards, meaning Kuwait’s small branded café market is one of the Middle East’s most developed, growing 11.8% in the last 12 months to reach 655 outlets.