Luxury Eyewear in the United Arab Emirates

2021 DEVELOPMENTS

Openings following lockdown lead to tentative recovery

As stores reopen their doors in the United Arab Emirates in line with an easing of restrictions, many optical shops have introduced discounts and promotions on their luxury eyewear pieces to reduce accumulated stock levels. In 2021, while offers continued to take place, consumers, especially residents, are shopping more frequently due to pend-up demand.

Consumers focus on maintaining eye health

Increased work from home measures are leading to greater incidence of eye strain, encouraging consumers to pay attention to their eye health. Buying luxury eyewear such as spectacles and sunglasses with blue light filters and polarised lenses to reduce eye strain and negate the impact of staring at digital screens is gaining momentum.

Competition from laser eye surgery as prices become competitive

Consumers are also showing a greater interest in laser eye surgery, which in recent years has become competitively priced due to technological advancements. Purchasing luxury eyewear and paying for laser eye surgery are similar in cost in the United Arab Emirates, in the region of AED3,000.

PROSPECTS AND OPPORTUNITIES

Trend of eye health maintenance to remain paramount

The pandemic has accelerated health trends in the United Arab Emirates, and how taking care of oneself remains important to consumers over the long-term. Increased use of digital screens throughout the day such as laptops and smartphones, leads to heightened awareness of the need to take care of eye health.

High vaccination rates to foster pre-pandemic recovery

With falling cases of COVID-19 in the United Arab Emirates over 2021, and a further easing of restrictions, enabling stores to reopen, consumers are gradually returning to traditional routines, although a hybrid of spending time at home whilst not being entirely secluded is likely to remain in the short-term. As residents reach immunity, this would make domestic and international travel much safer.

Brands to appeal to younger consumers through digitalisation

Luxury eyewear brands are likely to be even more receptive to catering to millennials and Generation Z consumers over the forecast period. Social media is to remain an integral part of communicating with this target segment on a regular basis.