Market Trends of Middle East and Africa Athletic Footwear Industry
This section covers the major market trends shaping the MEA Athletic Footwear Market according to our research experts:
Rising Participation in Sports and Fitness
Growing gym and sports club memberships with the increased public awareness about the advantages of physical exercise, the demand for athleisure products such as footwear is anticipated to rise in the Middle East and Africa during the projected period. For instance, according to the General Authority for Statistics (GaStat), in 2021, 48.2% of the population in Saudi Arabia engaged in at least 30 minutes of physical and sports activity every week. Also, the data revealed that 29.7% of the resident population in Saudi Arabia practiced physical activity for at least 150 minutes per week in 2021, compared to 20% in 2019. As a result, multinational corporations are expanding their retail presence in the country to gain and maintain market dominance. For instance, in September 2020, HRX, India's first domestic fitness brand, started its online retail operations in the United Arab Emirates. Noon.com and Namshi.com, two of the leading fashion and leisure e-commerce websites in the region, have partnered with HRX to sell its athleisure range including athletic footwear. Thus, expanding the distribution networks of key brands and increasing the adoption of active lifestyles by the region's population is augmenting athletic footwear sales in the Middle East and Africa.
United Arab Emirates is one of the Fastest Growing Market
Some of the factors which make the United Arab Emirates a favorable market for athletic footwear manufacturers are tourism in the country, Government initiatives and policies in the sports sector, huge investments in retail space, and the expansion of fashion e-commerce. The country's e-commerce is developing, and it is projected that the athletic footwear industry will witness a considerable increase in sales through online channels over the forecast period. According to an International Trade Administration report issued in July 2022, the UAE is the eCommerce leader among Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, with the market increasing by 53% in 2020 to USD 3.9 billion in eCommerce sales, accounting for 10% of overall retail sales.
The United Arab Emirates attracts tourists from all over the world, and each year there is an increase in the number of tourists in the country. This, in turn, is anticipated to accelerate the market growth as most tourists prefer the purchase of fashion and lifestyle accessories in the country due to the wide access to global brands through retail chains and shopping malls. According to the most current statistics from the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, 7.12 million international tourists visited Dubai in the first six months of 2022. This marks a more than 182 percent growth over the same time in 2021.
