Middle East

In 2024, travellers from China have fully resumed their activities due to the easing of restrictions in the country, including a return to the United Arab Emirates. This is helping to boost demand for luxury sunglasses in the United Arab Emirates, as…

Within spectacles in the United Arab Emirates, spectacle lenses remains the strongest performer. Progressive lenses are increasingly sought after for their smooth transition between vision zones, addressing diverse visual needs. Single vision lenses…

In 2024, eyewear in the United Arab Emirates is experiencing marginal volume growth but solid value growth. This indicates a further rise in average unit prices across the industry and an increase in premiumisation. The surge in spending in premium…

New launches of contact lenses in the United Arab Emirates are starting to emerge, although they are premium versions of leading brands from the likes of Johnson & Johnson’s 1-Day Acuvue and Acuvue Oasys, and Alcon’s Air Optix and Dailies (locally…

2023 saw demand for tobacco continue to rise, despite the impact of Lebanon’s ongoing socioeconomic crisis. Cigarettes are seen as an affordable luxury, with the low prices charged for local brand Cedars a crucial factor in the category’s enduring…

In 2023, tobacco in Jordan has seen growth in current value sales, largely due to consumers shifting from cigarettes to more expensive alternatives. Although cigarette volumes experienced a slight decline as consumers moved towards reduced-risk…

The tobacco market saw growth in Israel in 2023. The Israel-Hamas War caused a lot of stress, fear and uncertainty amongst locals, with many existing smokers smoking more frequently, and some former smokers returning to the habit. The outbreak of the…

With the entry of the new government in January 2023, the new Minister of Treasury decreased the taxes on single use e-cigs and refillable liquid from 270% to 145% with an additional ILS4.64/ml. However, overall tax cannot be lower than ILS8.9/ml.…

Cigars and cigarillos saw volume sales rise in Israel in 2023, while smoking tobacco also saw volumes increase. Smoking tobacco dominates category retail volume sales in Israel, with fine cut tobacco remaining a popular, more affordable alternative…

Cigarettes saw a significant increase in volume sales in Israel in 2023. The outbreak of the Israel-Hamas War in October 2023 led to an increase in smoking, with more than one survey seeing a notable increase in the frequency of smoking amongst…

Surging demand for e-vapour products was the main trend in tobacco in Iraq during 2023, as demand for cigarettes and smoking tobacco falls. Notably, new consumers, including women and young adults, tend to find vaping preferable to smoking.…

Tobacco in Saudia Arabia saw marginal volume growth overall in 2023. Cigarettes remained the largest category in tobacco despite the growing trend towards heated tobacco. Health and wellness trends as well as high taxation and increasing prices…

Overall smokeless tobacco, e-vapour products and heated tobacco saw triple-digit rises in both volume and current value sales In Saudi Arabia in 2023. The popularity of heated tobacco products continued to expand, led by Phillip Morris as the main…

In Saudi Arabia in 2023, volume sales in cigars, cigarillos and smoking tobacco declined while current value sales saw an only marginal rise. Consumers continued to shift from cigars and cigarillos towards vapes and heated tobacco products. Such…

Consumption and sales of cigarettes in Saudia Arabia in 2023 remained severely impacted by the growing consumer shift from cigarettes to e-vapour products and heated tobacco. The number of consumers quitting smoking cigarettes has been increasing,…

In 2023, video games in the United Arab Emirates recorded further dynamic growth, with winners and losers emerging in various categories. Among the fastest performers were AR/VR headsets and hand-held consoles, driven by the release of upgraded…

In 2023, traditional toys and games in the United Arab Emirates recorded significant value growth, driven by several key factors. Products incorporating advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and catering for the rising demand for…

In 2023, toys and games in the United Arab Emirates continued to experience a significant transformation, shaped by evolving consumer preferences, technological innovations, and socioeconomic factors. Prior to the review period, the share of…

In 2023, sustainability became a paramount focus across various categories, including homewares in the United Arab Emirates, as brands aligned themselves with the nation's eco-friendly objectives. Notably, even smaller startups are contributing to…

In the United Arab Emirates, residents are increasingly drawn to purchasing older properties, typically at least 10 years old, with the intention of renovating and personalising them at a lower cost. This strategy has proven successful, resulting in…