GoingToMeet

Saudi Arabia is the single largest consumer market in the Middle East, this is particularly true within the general clothing and footwear market; however, high fashion, leather goods, accessories, cosmetics and perfumes are showing particularly strong growth.



With a rapidly increasing population the Saudi market presents excellent opportunities for existing and new-to-market apparel manufacturers and suppliers. With a negligible domestic manufacturing base Saudi Arabia imports account for 94% of the total market value of US$ 4 billion.



The perfumes and cosmetics sector is also experiencing strong demand and, according to a report by the Saudi-American Business Council, will rise by 7% in 2006 to a total market value of $1.4bn.

Shopping is the main national pastime and social activity for the whole family. To cater for this phenomenon the wide array of existing shopping malls are constantly being added to with many new ones either under construction or in the planning stage. This requirement for diversity in products has also been recognised by the super and hypermarkets, with the introduction of non-food lines and own-label products that encompass the entire fashion sector.