Trade buyers from Saudi Arabia, the biggest retail market in the Middle East to visit MOTEXHA Autumn 2004

Leading business groups such as the Landmark Group, are also looking at sourcing trends for their new fashion brand MAX; which has retail presence in KSA, at the Autumn show. MOTEXHA is being held between September 7 and 10, 2004 at Dubai International Exhibition Centre (DIEC).

Being the largest retail market in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia has emerged as a lucrative growth market for MOTEXHA exhibitors looking to enter or expand their regional presence. The size of the population, combined with the high proportion of young people - over 80 percent of the population is under 40 - and the high levels of disposable income make Saudi Arabia the fastest growing market for consumer products in the Middle East.

"Over the years, we have seen a increase in the number of trade visitors from Saudi Arabia looking to source quality merchandise to support increasing consumer demand. With a booming economy, Saudi has witnessed phenomenal growth in retail sales in the recent past. According to a recent report in the Economist, retail sales increased by 15 percent between 1998 and 2002, and reached an estimated US$ 43.5 billion in 2002 (22 percent of GDP), while the increase in retail spending from 2003 to 2007 is forecast at 18 percent, representing an annual average of 3.6 percent. Thus, a larger number of buyers from Saudi spells good news and big business for our exhibitors," stated Ferry Lee, Marketing Manager, IIR Exhibitions, the organizers of the show.

The Kingdom's population is over 22 million, which includes a large expatriate community. Fashion is among the fastest growing consumer segments in the country. Moreover, the continuing population boom in the Kingdom, over 5 percent growth rate per annum on average, combined with a growing taste for Western-style products have driven healthy growth in retail sales. This situation is further helped by the over 5 million people who visit the country each year for religious festivals and spend a large amount of money on clothing, electronics and jewellery.

"MOTEXHA's range of specialised offerings from textiles, leather, low, mid-range and premium brands as well as kids' wear offers Saudi trade buyers a wide choice to meet all their sourcing needs. We have received positive feedback, especially from leather and intimate wear exhibitors at the Spring show who signed large deals with Saudi buyers. Karen Merkel, a high-fashion designer who exhibited at PURE branded wear also received franchising enquiries from a Saudi Arabian buyer," continued Lee.

Commenting on his reasons for visiting MOTEXHA, leading retailer from Saudi Arabia and longtime MOTEXHA visitor, Fuad Adel Yassin Al-Hawaj of Yassin Al-Hawaj Est. said, "I have been returning to MOTEXHA for the past eight years as the show is the best way to meet quality leather and garment manufacturers from across Europe, Brazil and Asia at a single platform."

Saudi Arabia has seen an increase in the number of large, more sophisticated stores, prompting high and medium-range brands to explore franchising opportunities in the market. Changing government policy towards foreign investment has also encouraged foreign retailers to enter the Saudi market.