Dubai's trade in perfumes, cosmetics hits Dh20.5b

Dubai - Perfumes topped the list of beauty products traded through Dubai

Dubai's foreign trade of perfumes and cosmetics was worth Dh20.5 billion in 2015. France was Dubai's top trading partner in perfumes and cosmetics, valued at Dh3 billion, followed by the US with Dh1.8 billion, Saudi Arabia at Dh1.6 billion and the UK and Italy with Dh1.1 billion and Dh1 billion respectively.

These figures were revealed at a workshop facilitated by Nassim Al Maheiri, manager of statistics and studies at Dubai Customs, at Beautyworld Middle East, the largest international trade fair for beauty products, hair, fragrances and well being in the Middle East.

Perfumes topped the list of beauty products traded through Dubai, accounting for Dh5.9 billion, while toiletries contributed Dh3.2 billion, followed by deodorants at Dh1.2 billion and creams at Dh1 billion, according to Al Maheiri.

Ahmed Abdul Salam Kazim, director of strategy and corporate excellence at Dubai Customs, said: "We at Dubai Customs follow a transparent approach when dealing with businesses, by sharing foreign trade figures and statistics, so they can plan the size of their investments ahead and make well-informed decisions."

Perfumes and cosmetics, perhaps more than any other luxury goods, have long been a major target for counterfeiting. Due to this and considering the serious risk counterfeit toiletries pose to people's health, Dubai Customs takes exceptional care to pin down counterfeiters selling bogus perfumes and cosmetics.

Beautyworld Middle East is the wider region's premier trade and networking event for beauty, hair, fragrance, machinery, packaging, raw materials and well being.

The 21st edition of the three-day event is taking place from May 15 to 17 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, featuring more than 1,500 exhibitors from 60 countries.

- business@khaleejtimes.com