Drench, dollop or dunk

“We need to be ready to accommodate requests,” he says.

Rio also suggests however, that some customers are actually quite interested in thier sauces and dressings, and do want to try new creations.

“Customers here are very knowledgeable about global cuisine; they appreciate their cuisine so it is important to cater to their needs and exceed their expectations,” he asserts.

However Coral’s Miraton maintains that there are no major customer trends to accommodate when it comes to creating sauces and dressings.

“There are not too many trends in sauces really,” he says. “The sauce or dressing adds extra flavour and complements the dish; it is not always an essential component though.”

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So where does this put the suppliers and what do they see as the main driving factors behind trends related to these meal-tiome staples?

According to Unilever’s Camcigil, consumers in the region are “far more interested in taste over health aspects, compared to other regions”.

“They have a strong tendency to indulge in great-tasting food, meaning heavier sauces and dressings with more salt are quite popular, especially in Saudi Arabia,” he reveals.

“However the UAE is slightly more health conscious when it comes to food choices and consumers have more sophisticated requirements when they look at dining out, so something original that perhaps involves fusion of different cuisines can also prove quite popular.”