BUSINESS RESEARCH
We offer expertise in the design and execution of market surveys and custom market research to meet the specific needs of our individual clients.
ADVISORY SERVICES
Delivering comprehensive and accurate information through proven research approach which constitutes the basis of our advisory work.
MYSTERY SHOPPING
Our mystery shopping team in the Middle East and Africa will help you to better understand the experience of your customers.
TRADE DEVELOPMENT
There is a rising trend of foreign companies and MNCs looking to consolidate their foothold in Middle East and Africa.
Who We Are
Founded in 2010, Glasgow Research & Consulting is a leading full-service business research and advisory services firm, with core expertise in market intelligence, market entry and trade development.
With offices and affiliates in Dubai, Riyadh, Harare and Auckland, we deliver customized research-led solutions across key industries in Middle East & Africa region and global emerging markets. Glasgow Research & Consulting has successfully delivered over 750+ projects across industries helping customers develop actionable insights, establish feasibility and successfully enter new markets.
Glasgow Research & Consulting clients are Global Fortune 500 companies, regional conglomerates and entrepreneurial ventures.
The ability to anticipate competitors’ moves and analyze markets is key to winning in the Middle East & Africa region. Our biggest pride comes from helping international companies to be successful in emerging markets.
We bring following benefits to the table:
Solid interactionProvide near real-time intelligence and strategic consultancyHands onCustomized actionable insightsUnlocking capabilitiesWe are on the ground
Our Clients
Trusted by some of the biggest brands…
















And What They Say
Some kind words from our respected clients
“Fantastic!”
Enterprise Mauritius
“Helpful!”
Business & Investment between the Arab Countries and Brazil
“Experts!”
Business Finland Middle East
Our Success Stories
Some of the recent case studies across multiple industries

Business Plan Revalidation for an Automotive Ecommerce Aftermarket Services Venture in Saudi Arabia
- The Client is a leading automotive player in Saudi Arabia. The client was keen to evaluate the potential of an Automotive E-commerce led venture in the Kingdom
- The key stakeholders believed it would make a business case for them only if the size of aftermarket business is significant and offers sustainable and profitable growth
- Glasgow Research & Consulting helped the client in mapping aftermarket demand, identify the high potential services
- Deep-dive for selected products. Estimation of passenger car select component market size, forecasts and relevant breakdown / usage characteristics. Map distribution channels, estimated respective share & customer service behaviour. Supply side market shares. Changing Consumer habits assessment of the workshops and B2C buyers
- Glasgow Research & Consulting market intelligence was based on a mix of primary and secondary information. In particular, the consulting team conducted interviews and discussions with leading and relevant market players and industry experts.
- Automotive Aftermarket Services including roadside assistance market in KSA (Oil and filter change, Fuel, Tire services, Battery, Carwash)
- Current and future trends - but not limited to Service Centers vs. Mobile Van Services; roadside assistance market; Car TCO (Cost to Own) in KSA
- The approach to work leveraged strong Glasgow Research & Consulting understanding of the market dynamics driving country aftermarket demand, coupled with the internal knowledge and expertise on aftermarket distribution channels, to build a set of assumptions and scenarios which were validated by interviews and discussions with industry experts
- Glasgow Research & Consulting was key to help the client in sizing the market opportunity (for select products) and find the Saudi customers appetite to download the app and potentially book the services
- We helped the client to take a differentiated route and modify the offering at market entry stage

Concept viability and market entry study for a Road Side Assistance Venture in Qatar
- The Client is a market leader in road side car battery change services. The client was keen to evaluate the potential of entering the Qatar market
- Glasgow Research & Consulting helped the client in understanding the market landscape, market sizing and consumer characteristics. Map distribution channels, estimated respective share & customer service behaviour.
- Glasgow Research & Consulting’s market intelligence was based on a mix of primary and secondary information. In particular, the consulting team spent a lot of time on the ground in Doha
- We estimated the size of the passenger car market – new and old vehicles leading to the market sizing of car batteries. We further studied the roadside assistance market in detail and undertook research with the diverse demographic set that will be potential for the said service
- Glasgow Research & Consulting was key to help the client with a Go-To-Market recommendations
- We helped the client to identify its main target market segment

Market Assessment for a Rent-A-Car Business in UAE, with a focus on Abu Dhabi
- The Client is a leading rent a car player in the Abu Dhabi market
- The client was keen to evaluate the potential to enter the luxury segment of the market
- Glasgow Research & Consulting helped the client in mapping the value chain, market segmentation, pricing analysis, etc.
- Glasgow Research & Consulting’s market intelligence was based on a mix of primary and secondary information. In particular, the consulting team conducted interviews and discussions with leading and relevant market players and industry experts.
- Glasgow Research & Consulting was key to help the client in sizing the market opportunity and an in-depth study of the aspirational competitors
- We helped the client to take a differentiated route to market strategy

Market study on automotive spare parts in GCC
- A large conglomerate in Saudi Arabia was evaluating auto spare parts as a potential diversification opportunity and commissioned Glasgow Research & Consulting to conduct a market study and recommend specific project ideas.
- Desk research combined with 100 face-to-face and phone interviews with industry participants.
Module 1
- Analysis of automobile market in GCC countries (sales, vehicle parc, key OEMs, future growth trends)
- High level analysis of market and competition dynamics for after-market auto components in GCC countries
Module 2
- Detailed market study on ten short-listed products covering market size, key players, imports, growth outlook, distribution value chain, barriers to entry; opportunities for acquisition
Module 3
- Identification of five attractive products. Project profiles covering technology requirements, typical project size and cost, financials and investment metrics

Market study for air cargo hub and logistics park in Dubai
- A local business house intended to launch an air cargo hub and logistics park in Dubai, a trading and logistics hub for the Middle East. The objective of the air cargo study was to develop a strategic business proposal by understanding air cargo volume trends in the region, customer decision dynamics, competitor value proposition and operations and potential customers (air cargo carriers), to facilitate a successful implementation of the plan.
- Glasgow Research & Consulting undertook secondary research to identify general market trends in air logistics. Our consultants then held in-depth, face-to-face interviews with air cargo carriers, shipping lines, end-customers of air and/or sea cargo, logistics/industrial park developers, tenants of other logistics/industrial parks and executives of Dubai ports and airports.
- Glasgow Research & Consulting recommended market entry strategy for the air cargo hub enabled the client to develop a business plan that succeeded in gaining management approval for investment. Project deliverables included a holistic market environment report series on the demand outlook for air cargo in the region, qualified lead generation of air cargo carriers, suggested value proposition to air cargo customers (pricing, CSFs) and the recommended approach to developing linked infrastructure such as logistics and industrial parks.

Market study of the grocery retailing sector in North Western Saudi Arabia
- A large Saudi conglomerate wanted to get an in-depth understanding of the grocery retailing, wholesale market and bakery market sector in North Western Saudi Arabia.
- Glasgow Research & Consulting as part of the market study undertook extensive field based primary research across North Western Saudi Arabia in order to understand the grocery retailing, wholesale market and bakery market. A cross section of big and small retailers were interviewed, baggala owners met and an understanding of consumer needs was developed.
The client used Glasgow Research & Consulting’s recommendations to review its:
- Current product offering. Comprehend its market position
- Develop an understanding of the competitor set and understand the fast-changing consumer trends in the marketplace
Three options recommended at the end of the market study were:
- ‘Exit’ the business
- ‘Defend’ its position
- ‘Expand’ aggressively

Opportunity assessment for a single brand grocery store in Saudi Arabia
- A renowned Middle Eastern conglomerate, a vertically integrated supply chain involved in growing, processing, transporting, trading and retailing food products in Saudi Arabia wanted to examine an additional business opportunity of a single brand grocery store stocking both its own products and other products produced exclusively for the company under a single brand.
- As part of the opportunity assessment study, field based primary research was undertaken in Saudi Arabia combined with extensive desk research (both regionally and globally) in order to understand the single brand grocery retailing market.
The study identified four ‘value propositions’ that are being used by existing single brand retailers in different countries:
- Geographic origin – an appeal based on a specific (usually local) source for the products
- Health/organic – selling only products implied to confer a health benefit as compared to products sold elsewhere
- Price – simply cheaper overall and on a product-by-product basis than multi-brand stores, as characterized by so-called ‘hard discounters’ in Europe and the US
- Brand extension – extending the established appeal of an existing brand (food or non-food) into the grocery retailing arena
A hybrid concept combining brand extension with geographic origin was recommend as part of the market study.

Market and Consumer Assessment Overview Study for a Major Mall in Riyadh
- With the increased competition in the Riyadh mall-based retail landscape and life moving towards North of Riyadh, Kingdom Center felt prudent to understand the market from a demand /supply perspective, understand the fast-changing consumer needs, interview its current retailer set in the mall and user/non user consumers for satisfaction / dis-satisfaction
- Glasgow Research & Consulting as part of the market study undertook extensive primary research interviews with retailers, users and non-users of the mall to arrive at a strategy and tactical marketing strategy
The client used Glasgow Research & Consulting’s recommendations to undertake the following changes:
- Launched a loyalty program
- Improved signage across the mall and in the car parking areas
- Moved some tenants from low to potentially high footfall areas
- Brought new tenants in the food court to offer more food diversity
- Worked in generating more PR for the mall

Market entry and feasibility study for a Dubai based Irish Lounge and Bar’s entry to Bangalore, India
- The Client is a very successful Irish Lounge and Bar brand in UAE and Ireland. The holding company now feels the time is now prudent to grown the brand globally via a franchised model
- Glasgow Research & Consulting as part of the market study undertook extensive primary research to develop an in-depth understanding of the Lounge and Bar market in Bangalore
The client used Glasgow Research & Consulting’s recommendations to:
- Suggest the best suited business model for India. Comprehend what is the best suited ‘JV partner’ for them in India. How does that look
- Developed understanding of the CBD, SBD and PBD (Central, Secondary and Peripheral Business districts). Development understanding on the cosmopolitan Bangalore consumer
- The client met a few prospective JV partners in Bangalore, Mumbai and Pune

Market Study of the Residential, Office, Retail and Hotel Market in Karbala, Iraq
- As part of the study the client wanted to develop an understanding across the 4 asset classes in Karbala, Iraq for a planned new township i.e., on residential, retail, office and hotel sectors
- Glasgow Research & Consulting as part of the market study undertook extensive field based primary research across Karbala across the 4 asset classes retail, office, residential and hotel market – Karbala
The client used Glasgow Research & Consulting’s recommendations to:
- Base the way forward for the project based on the demand and supply mechanics in the market. Arrive at a product offering. Comprehend its market position
- Arrive at a decision to come up with a sizable ‘affordable housing supply’ as part of the overall development
- Base its financial feasibility based on the market findings
Our Blog…
Some of the recent articles about current market

Saudi Arabia Car Leasing and Rental market to reach SAR 10 billion by 2027
In 2022, Saudi Arabia’s ministry of finance approved a budgeted revenue of SAR1,045 billion, an increase of 12.1% over 2021. the growth is backed by improvement in domestic economy, coupled with positive trend in ...
Facility Management Services Market in Saudi Arabia, 2022
Facilities Management (FM) service is a critical function of real estate management. FM comprises the tools and services that support the functionality, safety, and sustainability of infrastructure real estate. FM services can be categorized ...
Facility Management Services Market in Egypt, 2022
FM service market is an attractive market for investment with projected growth rate outpacing the economic growth of Egypt. Facility management market in Egypt was estimated to be about USD2.1 billion in 2021 and ...
Sheep Meat Market in UAE, 2022
When we speak about the United Arab Emirates (UAE), we clearly know that it is one of the most visited countries in the world. Dubai being one of the Emirates has been listed as ...
UAE Vehicle Sales Analysis, 2022
A Monthly, Quarterly, Annual Subscription-based Benchmarking of New Car Sales (including Luxury Cars), Used Car Sales and Commercial Vehicle Sales – by OEM, Model and Variant in UAE
Awards
Consultancy.org: Top Consulting Firms in The Middle East, 2022

MENAA Customer Delight Award 2018
