In 2018 the value of apparel sales in the UAE grew 4.8 per cent. The UAE has positioned itself as a world-class retail hub, which continues to attract retailers and consumers from around the world.

Men’s wear is the top-performing category with the segment accounting for 53 per cent of the market value last year , followed by women’s wear with 34 per cent and children’s apparel with seven per cent.

The outlook for UAE apparel sales is expected to improve over the next five years as economic conditions become more favorable and consumer confidence strengthens. Despite the dominance of store-based retail sales, online retail sales are witnessing strong growth as many well-established brands explore omni-channel retail, either through third parties, their own digital storefronts, or both. This trend is expected to put pressure on prices as the industry becomes more competitive with traditional retailers expected to offer more deals to capitalise on consumer demand. Menswear is expected to register a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 3.8 per cent between 2019 and 2023. Women’s wear is expected to see a CAGR of 4.9 per cent in sales over the same period. The children’s apparel segment is expected to register a CAGR of 3.7 per cent.