Hala! // HalaPop Launches as the Middle East's First Prebiotic Soda

HalaPop, the region's first prebiotic soda, has officially launched in the UAE, carving out an entirely new category in the soft drinks market. Founded in Dubai by young entrepreneurs Karim Jalloul and Walid Antabli, the homegrown brand set out to prove that soda could taste as good as the drinks people grew up with, while genuinely supporting gut health.

The range spans five flavours - Pomegranate Hibiscus, Strawberry Vanilla, Tangerine, Ginger Lemon, and Cherry Cola, each made with 15% real fruit juice and 6g of prebiotic fibre. Every can has no added sugar, just 29 calories, and none of the preservatives, artificial colours, flavours, or sweeteners found in conventional sodas.

"We were tired of putting down a soda and feeling like we'd done something wrong," says Jalloul. "So we asked a pretty simple question: why can't a soda just be good for you?"

The response has been immediate. HalaPop sold through its entire opening stock, exceeded launch forecasts, and now ranks as the number one bestseller in the soda category on Amazon UAE, with Noon calling it one of its strongest CPG launches to date. The brand has since signed Emirates Snack Foods as its official UAE distributor and raised over $1 million from a strategic anchor investor.

Priced under 10 AED a can, HalaPop is currently available on Amazon UAE, Noon, Careem, Talabat, Calo, Joga, and Fit Republik, with Spinneys, Carrefour, and all q-commerce platforms joining next week. A full UAE rollout and expansion into Saudi Arabia and the wider GCC are planned over the next six months.

The brand has also launched playful collaborations with Benefit Cosmetics and Pret a Manger, with further beauty and F&B partnerships to follow. As co-founder Walid Antabli puts it: "We didn't set out to launch a product. We set out to start a category - and prove it could be built from this region instead of imported into it."

HalaPop is available now at drinkhalapop.com. Follow @drinkhalapop on Instagram for new flavours and drops.