China was the largest supplier to the main importing countries.
What this market covers
Robots that use machine learning to sense, plan and act with little fixed programming. They are bought for factories, warehouses, hospitals and service work.
Typical segments
- Industrial AI robots
- Service robots
- Warehouse and logistics robots
- Collaborative robots
Top importing countries
Customs import value under HS 842870 in each country's latest reported year (in brackets), USD million.
GCC and Africa
Import value by country group, latest reported year per country, USD million.
Why this market is moving now
- EU exports of the matching CN code to the region rose 74% from 2022 to 2025.
- Demand is concentrated: one country took a large share of the region's reported imports.
About the data
Figures are customs import values (CIF, US dollars) that 17 countries reported to UN Comtrade for HS code 842870 (Industrial robots). Each country's latest reported year is used: Bahrain 2024, Cote d'Ivoire 2025, Egypt 2025, Ghana 2025, Israel 2025, Jordan 2024, Kenya 2025, Kuwait 2025, Morocco 2025, Nigeria 2025, Oman 2025, Qatar 2024, Saudi Arabia 2025, South Africa 2025, Tanzania 2025, Tunisia 2024, United Arab Emirates 2023.
No import data for this code was available from Algeria, Ethiopia.
South Africa reports import values FOB (free on board) rather than CIF.
Supplier figures add up the partner breakdown that the largest importing countries reported for their latest year. Partner areas that the reporters did not specify are left out of the list.
EU export figures are Eurostat Comext values in euros for CN code 84287000 (Industrial robots), the code used on the EU page for this market. Shares, changes and per-kilogram values are calculated from these figures. No figure on this page is a forecast.
Key figures
Each figure names the source it came from. Open the source list below to read the quoted line.
| Figure | Value | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Customs data from 17 Middle East and Africa countries shows imports of $26.6 million under HS code 842870 (Industrial robots) in their latest year with data (2025 for 12 countries, 2024 for 4 and 2023 for 1). | 26.6 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Israel was the largest importer among the countries covered, with $8.6 million in 2025, or 32% of the total. | 8.6 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| Saudi Arabia followed with $8.5 million in 2025. | 8.5 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The six GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries accounted for $10.8 million, or 41% of the total, in their latest reported years. | 10.8 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The 9 African countries with data accounted for $7.2 million, or 27% of the total. | 7.2 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| China was the largest supplier to the 3 largest importing countries in the region, which took 82% of its reported imports, with $7.7 million, or 35% of their imports under HS 842870 (partner data for each country's latest year). | 7.7 USD million | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| The average import value under HS 842870 was $31.66 per kilogram across the 16 countries that reported net weight, calculated from UN Comtrade value and weight. | 31.66 USD per kg | 2025 | UN Comtrade |
| EU exports of CN 84287000 (Industrial robots) to the 13 Middle East and Africa countries covered were worth €6.8 million in 2025. | 6.8 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 84287000 to these countries were up 74% in 2025 compared with 2022 (the first year with data for this code), when they were €3.9 million, calculated from Eurostat values. | +74 % since 2022 | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Israel was the largest of these destinations for EU exports of CN 84287000 in 2025, at €1.7 million. | 1.7 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
Sources and method
The figures on this page come from the public sources listed below. Read how we work.
- UN Comtrade: UN Comtrade database, annual imports by HS code (public preview API) (2026-11-06)
Quoted lines
- Figure 1
cmdCode=842870 flowCode=M partnerCode=0 primaryValue: ARE2023=2058428; BHR2024=3858; CIV2025=6133; EGY2025=1662847; GHA2025=5252; ISR2025=8560000; JOR2024=69848; KEN2025=1612; KWT2025=3903; MAR2025=599205; NGA2025=8137; OMN2025=93384; QAT2024=85074; SAU2025=8536127; TUN2024=23549; TZA2025=56533; ZAF2025=4820940; sum=26594830 (shown as 26.6 USD million)
- Figure 2
reporterCode 376, period 2025, cmdCode 842870, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 8560000; share of 26594830 = 32% (shown as 8.6 USD million)
- Figure 3
reporterCode 682, period 2025, cmdCode 842870, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, primaryValue 8536127
- Figure 4
cmdCode 842870, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for ARE BHR KWT OMN QAT SAU = 10780773; share 41% (shown as 10.8 USD million)
- Figure 5
cmdCode 842870, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue for CIV EGY GHA KEN MAR NGA TUN TZA ZAF = 7184208; share 27% (shown as 7.2 USD million)
- Figure 7
cmdCode 842870, flowCode M, partnerCode 0, sum of primaryValue 21773889 / sum of netWgt 687669 kg = 31.66 USD per kg
- Figure 1
- UN Comtrade: UN Comtrade database, annual imports by HS code (public preview API) (2026-11-06)
Quoted lines
- Figure 6
cmdCode 842870, flowCode M, partnerCode 156, primaryValue summed over reporters = 7702575; world 21917067; share 35%
- Figure 6
- Eurostat: EU trade since 1988 by HS2-4-6 and CN8 (DS-045409) (2026-11-06)
Quoted lines
- Figure 8
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 84287000, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, 2025: AE=1202796; BH=3825; DZ=1280881; EG=664292; IL=1737036; KW=5538; MA=490481; NG=10687; OM=74818; QA=31168; SA=1016425; TN=185980; ZA=106621; sum 6810548
- Figure 9
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 84287000, flow export, VALUE_IN_EUROS, sum over the same partners: 2022 = 3913352; 2025 = 6810548; change +74%
- Figure 10
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 84287000, partner IL, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 1737036
- Figure 8
Buyers and suppliers
Who buys
- Manufacturers
- Logistics operators
- Hospitals
Large suppliers to the countries covered
EU exports to the largest destinations in the region, 2025
Eurostat Comext, CN 84287000, EUR million.
What the full report covers
- 01Executive summary
The answer in one page: size, direction and what moves it - 02Market definition and scope
What is in and out of the Middle East and Africa market - 03Market size, 2021 to 2025
Historical series and growth rates - 04Outlook to 2031
Base, low and high scenarios with stated assumptions - 05Rules, policy and deadlines
Regulation and programmes that change demand - 06Drivers and barriers
What accelerates or slows adoption, by customer segment - 07Prices, costs and margins
Unit economics where public data allows - 08Competitive landscape
8 to 12 company profiles with recent moves - 09Opportunities and risks
For new entrants, suppliers and investors - 10Method and sources
Every assumption and source, listed
Included with the full report
- PDF report, 40 to 60 pages
- Excel data pack
- Ready-to-use charts
- Method note and assumptions
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Frequently asked questions
How big is the Middle East and Africa artificial intelligence robots market?
There is no single official market total. Customs data reported to UN Comtrade shows imports of $26.6 million under HS code 842870 by 17 countries in the region, using the latest year each one reported.
Which Middle East and Africa countries import the most artificial intelligence robots?
Israel was the largest importer, followed by Saudi Arabia and South Africa.
Where does the Middle East and Africa import artificial intelligence robots from?
China was the largest supplier to the largest importing countries in the region. Other large suppliers included Germany, Switzerland and Poland.
How do GCC and African imports of artificial intelligence robots compare?
The GCC countries with data took $10.8 million, or 41% of the total, and the African countries with data took $7.2 million, or 27%, each in its latest reported year.
How much artificial intelligence robots does the EU export to the Middle East and Africa?
Eurostat shows EU exports of CN 84287000 to the countries covered of €6.8 million in 2025. Israel was the largest destination.
What is the average import price of artificial intelligence robots in the Middle East and Africa?
Dividing UN Comtrade import value by net weight gives about $31.66 per kilogram for HS 842870, across the countries that reported weight.
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