The UAE was ranked the 11th biggest clothing importer in 2012, according to the ‘International Trade Statistics 2013’ report by the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

Its imports totalled to $4 billion, constituting 0.8 per cent of the world’s total, up 13 per cent as compared to 2011, said the report.

The European Union topped the list with an import value of $170 billion, followed by the US ($88 billion) and Japan ($34 billion), while Saudi Arabia was ranked 12th.
 
According to WTO secretariat estimates, 15 countries exported $370 billion worth of clothes, holding 87.5 per cent share of the world’s exports in 2012.

The list includes China, European Union, Hong Kong, Bangladesh, Vietnam, India, Indonesia, US, Malaysia, Mexico, Cambodia, Thailand, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Releasing these figures, Midhat M Abu Ghazaleh, CEO of Abughazaleh Trading Company (ABCO), said: "Most of the clothes brands in the UAE work under a franchise structure or joint venture with a local partner, however, the trend is changing slowly as home-grown fashion brands are emerging to compete with international peers."

“Consumer spending is higher in the Gulf than in other parts of the world which is hotting up competition in the clothes industry and leave room for home grown brands,” he stated.

ABCO, he said, competes with international brands through the quality of its products and its price effectiveness, compared to similar products in the market. We know our customers very well and offer them products that match the diversity of cultures and lifestyles in the UAE and wider Gulf,” he added.

Abu Ghazaleh pointed out that there was a substantial growth in designer apparel in the UAE in 2013.

“This growth was mainly driven by the huge increase in inbound tourists coming into Dubai on luxury shopping trips,” he noted.

Abu Ghazaleh said that Dubai Design District, which will be set up in the emirate as a full service commercial hub for design industry-related organisations, brands and supporting enterprises, will further fuel up the apparel clothing sector.

ABCO is a wholesale distributor and manufacturer of apparel, footwear, luggage, hand bags and house hold products, also covering services in real estate, logistics and franchising. It operates in the GCC, Mena, South Africa, South East Asia, East Europe and Russia. - TradeArabia News Service