Focus on Dubai and Lebanon

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Anne-Laure Druguet

Beirut and Dubai, strong economic growth transmitters for the entire Middle East, are passionate about fashion and prefer international brands. Now they are both locations for a certain number of French brands and department stores: American Vintage, VFB, Okaïdi, Galeries Lafayette, and BHV (with two locations in Beirut and one in Dubai in 2017).

 

The Lebanese population, which is very young (50%) and urban (80%), likes European and especially French brands for women’s ready-to-wear. French labels account for 70% of the women’s market, compared to 20% for men and 10% for children. Retail in Lebanon happens for the most part in malls. Concept stores are also retail channels and help introduce new brands.

 

Dubai, the United Arab Emirates’ leading city, represented a €10.8 billion market for apparel and shoes in 2016. Despite a difficult context, armed conflicts in neighbouring countries, low petroleum prices, a strengthening dollar, and the creation of a sales tax*, the UAE are 12th in the list of clients for French women’s ready-to-wear with exports up 1.8% in 2017. Retail activity, still primarily in specialist stores and malls, seems to be experiencing strong growth thanks to clients’ new interest in quality shopping experiences and to the growth of e-commerce. It’s interesting to note that, according to the ONU Electronic Commerce Index, the UAE was already at 23rd place in 2017 (France is number 20)!

 

All these figures make it important for French brands to think about and find their place in these two markets.

 

The Fédération invites you to a day dedicated to these markets. The 29 June event will host industry experts and present a complete overview of distribution in Dubai and Lebanon.

 

For more information: Anne-Laure Druguet – 01 44 94 70 86 or focuspays@pretaporter.com 
Focus Pays Russia – Kazakhstan – Ukraine on 1 June 2018, registrations here

 

* A 5% VAT has been implemented in certain Gulf Cooperation Council states.

 

 

Sources:

http://unctad.org/en/PublicationsLibrary/tn_unctad_ict4d09_en.pdf; Business France; Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Fashion Network, April 2017 and Jan. 2018; MarketLine, Feb. 2018; Euromonitor; Arabian Business, Jan. 2018.