The growth of the Gulf’s optical market is leaving Europe in the shade, as the number of outlets across the Middle East continues to rise on-the-back of global optical brands prioritising regional expansion as key revenue drivers in the increasingly competitive international industry.

With a three-tier structure present in the Mena region, global market and retail intelligence specialist, GfK – Retail Intelligence Partner of next week’s Vision-X, the Middle East’s largest optical trade show - has revealed the location of larger outlets, specifically in shopping malls and on main roads, are driving surging sales in the Gulf’s optical sector.  

These findings are revealed as Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) prepares to host the 15th edition of Vision-X in a significantly expanded exhibition arena from November 25 to 27.

It will host more than 250 brands from 26 countries – a 44 per cent increase on country representation from the 2013 show.

Insights from the GfK Universe Study show that approximately 800 optician outlets have opened across the UAE and Saudi Arabia in the last five years alone, with sales of sunglasses, frames, spectacle lenses, contact lenses and contact lens care products showing no signs of slowing.

With a GDP growth rate of 4.3 per cent in Saudi and 5.2 per cent in Dubai last year, the GfK study reveals a different picture in Europe, where an overall growth rate of less than 1 per cent limited stability in the optical sector.

With 42 per cent of the UAE’s larger regional outlets found in shopping malls, David Lewis, the head of digital, for Mena region within GfK believes the retail structure of individual countries determines the positioning of outlets.  

"While both the UAE and Saudi Arabia offer strong regional opportunities for the optics industry, the structure within which we make our products and services available to consumers is highly varied," said Lewis.

"The UAE malls prove to be key locations due to the high levels of footfall from visitors and account for over 40 per cent of all the opticians outlets in the UAE and 60 per cent within Dubai specifically. In comparison, the retail structure of opticians within Saudi places much more weight on central locations, with 75 per cent of stores found on main roads," he noted.

"Similar comparisons can be made with the Northern Emirates of the UAE, as Sharjah shows 79 per cent of stores are also based on main or secondary roads. These variances in locations require adaptation in approach to ensure potential customers are encouraged to enter the outlet and can be serviced by the product offering," he added.

Trixie LohMirmand, the senior vice president, Exhibitions and Events Management, DWTC, said: "We’ve refreshed Vision-X 2014 to celebrate this year’s crystal anniversary and the feedback from exhibitors has been universally positive."

"The new formatted show will offer a much more expansive and comprehensive platform for the international optical industry to explore and monetise immense revenue-generating opportunities across the Mena region and beyond," he noted.

"For the first time in its history, Vision-X will offer regional opticians and optometrists with fully-accredited education sessions to update their professional skills," explained LohMirmand.

Offering the essential continued professional development required by the optical healthcare industry, the Continuing Medical Education (CME) accredited programme is one of the most anticipated features of this year’s Opticare Conference, which this year is sponsored by Essilor.-TradeArabia News Service