A recent report identified the education sector that leads the revival in the Middle Eastern stationery, office supplies market, with UAE and Saudi encompassing nearly 50% market share.
The Middle East education sector is leading a region-wide revival in demand for stationery and office supplies, with the UAE and Saudi Arabia comprising nearly 50% of an estimated US$6.05 billion (€5.39 billion) market in 2021, according to new research.
A November 2021 whitepaper by analysts 6Wresearch indicates a thriving education sector along with increasing disposable income, growing youth population, and improving economic conditions, has driven demand for stationery and office supplies in the Middle East.
While the market predictably dipped in 2020 due to covid-19 induced lockdowns, it quickly bounced back this year, and further growth of 4.2% annually is predicted between 2021 and 2027, when revenues will reach US$7.76 billion (€6.91 billion).
The UAE, which has 639 public schools and 580 private schools with a combined 1.08 million enrolled students, is the biggest contributor to regional stationery and office supplies demand, with a 27% share in 2021 (US$1.63 billion/ €1.45 billion) followed by Saudi Arabia, which has a 20% slice (US$1.21 billion/ €1.07 billion).
The 6Wresearch report was produced exclusively ahead of Paperworld Middle East, the region’s largest international trade exhibition for stationery, paper, gifts, office supplies, and children’s toys and games, which will mark its 10th anniversary at the Dubai World Trade Centre from 14-16 December 2021.
More than 150 exhibitors from 37 countries will be eager to tap into the pent-up demand in the Middle East education and commercial offices sectors alike, which comprise 61% (US$3.7 billion/ €3.3 billion) and 34% (US$2.05 billion/ €1.83 billion) of the stationery and office supplies market respectively.
Organised by Messe Frankfurt Middle East, Paperworld Middle East 2021 returns with regular long-time exhibitors including Pedro Schöller PRINTSERVICE GmbH, Polyton Toner, Calidad, the UAE’s Capital Envelopes, The Navigator Company from Portugal, Beaumont Group from France, WZ Eurocopert from Poland, and Japan’s Zebra.
Syed Ali Akbar, Show Director for both exhibitions, said: “The Middle East and Africa remains a major market for paper, stationery, and office supplies, with manufacturers viewing the region as a key customer base with high demand for printed media products.
“While the market continues to be driven by leading international brands, there’s a growing niche for local and regional players with specialised products catering to regional preferences.
“At Paperworld Middle East 2021, we’re welcoming a significant number of key global players and start-ups alike, but all have common objectives; to showcase their latest innovations to thousands of regional trade buyers, strengthen distribution networks, source new clients, and network within the industry.”
