Eyewear in 2025: The big picture
Eyewear in the UAE is experiencing steady growth in 2025, driven by rising screen time, increasing rates of myopia, and a more health-conscious local population. Socio-demographic shifts in this expat-dominated country, an increasing number of high-net-worth individuals, and a surge in high-spending tourists are boosting demand for both corrective and fashion eyewear.
2025 key trends
Eyewear in the UAE continues to shift toward premiumisation, with growing demand for luxury and limited-edition eyewear. This trend is underpinned by a combination of factors: a year-round sunny climate that sustains consistent demand for high-end sunglasses and a highly professional, image-conscious corporate culture that encourages investment in premium optical lenses.
Competitive landscape
Despite an influx of niche and emerging eyewear brands intensifying competition, brand hierarchy in eyewear remains stable. Established global players such as EssilorLuxottica and Kering continue to lead sales, leveraging their expansive portfolios and strong retail presence.
Retail developments
The distribution landscape in 2025 remains relatively stable, with optical goods stores dominating sales. Retailers continue to invest in omnichannel strategies to deliver a more integrated and convenient shopping experience.
What next for eyewear?
Eyewear in the UAE is expected to continue growing steadily in both volume and current value terms, driven by macroeconomic factors such as population expansion, particularly among high-income residents, and a steady increase in inbound tourism. Additionally, local consumers will continue to show a strong appetite for luxury and technologically advanced eyewear, including products with smart features, reinforcing demand across both fashion and functional segments.
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Overview:
Understand the latest market trends and future growth opportunities for the Eyewear industry in United Arab Emirates with research from Euromonitor International's team of in-country analysts – experts by industry and geographic specialisation.
Key trends are clearly and succinctly summarised alongside the most current research data available. Understand and assess competitive threats and plan corporate strategy with our qualitative analysis, insight and confident growth projections.
Data and analysis in this report provides further detailed coverage dedicated to the following key categories:
- Contact Lenses
- Spectacles
- Sunglasses
If you're in the Eyewear industry in United Arab Emirates, our research will help you to make informed, intelligent decisions; to recognise and profit from opportunity, or to offer resilience amidst market uncertainty.
The Eyewear in United Arab Emirates report includes:
- Analysis of key supply-side and demand trends
- Detailed segmentation of international and local products
- Historic volume and value sizes, company and brand market shares
- Five year forecasts of market trends and market growth
- Robust and transparent research methodology, conducted in-country
This report answers:
- What is the market size of Eyewear in United Arab Emirates?
- How are sales of contact lenses performing compared to spectacles?
- Which are the leading brands in Eyewear in United Arab Emirates?
- How are products distributed in Eyewear in United Arab Emirates?
- How are demographic changes impacting demand?
- To what extent are fashion and consumer affluence growth determinants?
- Where is future growth expected to be most dynamic?
Eyewear in the United Arab Emirates
Eyewear in 2025: The big picture
2025 key trends
Competitive landscape
Retail developments
What next for eyewear?
DISCLAIMER
Contact Lenses and Solutions in the United Arab Emirates
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Growth in 2025 driven by ubiquity of screen use in the UAE
Johnson & Johnson loses share to an expanding Alcon
Myopia control contact lenses enjoys highest category growth rates in 2025
Sunny outlook for contact lenses in the years ahead
E-commerce will continue evolving, but physical retailers will remain dominant
Sustainability unlikely to drive innovation over the forecast period
Spectacles in the United Arab Emirates
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Growth for spectacles reflects rising usage in 2025
Global players continue to hold sway in a relatively consolidated arena
Rise in myopia benefits specialist spectacle lenses
Health and wellness and functionality will drive innovation in the years ahead
Current value sales set to benefit from increasingly specialist offerings
March glasses may resonate well with a tech-positive population
Sunglasses in the United Arab Emirates
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Affluence and sunny climate consistent growth in sunglasses
EssilorLuxottica retains the lead but loses share to second-ranking Kering
Penetration of sunglasses across the country continues apace
Positive outlook for sunglasses over the forecast period
Increased uptake of sporting activity set to benefit sales
Sustainability trend predicted to gather pace in the years ahead
The following categories and subcategories are included:
Eyewear
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- Daily Disposable Lenses (DD)
- Frequent Replacement Lenses (FRP)
- Conventional Lenses
- Myopia Control Contact Lenses
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- Contact Lens Solutions
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- Readymade Reading Glasses
- Spectacle Frames
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- Standard Spectacle Lenses
- Myopia Control Spectacle Lenses
- Sunglasses
Eyewear
Eyewear is the aggregate of contact lenses, spectacles and sunglasses.
See all of our definitionsWhy buy this report?
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This report originates from Passport, our Eyewear research and analysis database.
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