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GCC Retail Industry in GCC returns to steady growth after a period of disruption, say experts

Wed 16 Nov 2022    
EcoBalance
| 4 min read

Dubai: Alpen Capital’s latest retail sector report for the GCC projects the industry to surpass pre-pandemic levels in 2022, registering a 15.7% year-on-year growth and reaching a revenue of US$ 296.8 billion. It adds the industry is expected to further grow with a Compounded Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 5.7% by 2026.

UAE-based investment banking advisory firm, Alpen Capital, launched its latest GCC Retail Industry report on Tuesday, November 15th featuring forecasts on the sector, analyzing recent trends, growth drivers, and challenges facing this dynamic segment. It also profiles some of the renowned retail companies in the region.

“The GCC retail industry is poised to grow at a healthy pace due to favorable demographics, improving macroeconomic factors, and revival of the tourism industry. The sector is also expected to benefit from the government’s push toward economic diversification and the growing prominence of omnichannel business models. The industry was severely hit by the restrictions imposed during the pandemic; however, retailers were responsive to the changing demands and innovated to sail through difficult times. As the retail industry continues to recover, there is an urgent need for retailers to upscale their digital presence to stay relevant as well as compete with regional and international players.”, says Sameena Ahmad, Managing Director, Alpen Capital (ME) Limited.

“The GCC retail industry is in a transformation phase with the pandemic impacting the consumer behavior and buying patterns while putting e-commerce at the forefront of retail. Operators have shifted their focus on brand acquisition to strengthen their geographical presence as well as expand and diversify their product offerings. Larger e-commerce players are likely to acquire niche operators offering customized products and services. Going forward, we expect consolidation in the industry to intensify in order to drive earnings, gain market share and improve operational efficiency.”, says Krishna Dhanak, Managing Director, Alpen Capital (ME) Limited.

According to Alpen Capital, the GCC retail industry sales are forecasted to grow at a pace of 5.7% CAGR between 2022 and 2026 to reach US$ 370.0 billion.

Non-food retail sales are forecasted to grow at a CAGR of 6.2% between 2022 and 2026 while food retail sales are anticipated to increase at an annualized rate of 4.9% during the period.

Qatar, on the other hand, is expected to record the highest growth in the region during 2022 with retail sales estimated to rise by 36.0% y-o-y to reach US$ 18.5 billion owing to the influx of tourists for the FIFA World Cup 2022. However, growth is expected to normalize at a CAGR of 3.5% post-completion of the World Cup.

Bahrain, Oman, and Kuwait are expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.3%, 6.1%, and 3.5%, respectively during the forecast period.

The report estimates that duty-free sales at the airports in the GCC (Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Qatar, and Bahrain) are expected to grow by 65.5% y-o-y to reach US$ 2.2 billion in 2022 and are further projected to reach US$ 3.0 billion by 2026, implying a CAGR of 8.4%.

At 80% completion of projected additions to the retail space, 4.5 million sq m. of retail space is likely to come up in the GCC between 20221 and 2026, taking the total organized retail GLA in the region to 23.0 million sq m. This is a modest growth scenario, wherein organized retail GLA is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 4.5% during the period.

The report highlights that business confidence in the region is bouncing back with the reopening of borders, easing of travel restrictions, and rise in hydrocarbon revenues. GCC is fast becoming a global center for business, entertainment, and sporting events with a slew of events slated to take place to boost tourist arrivals. Moreover, the rising population, with a high concentration of expatriates and HNWIs, remains one of the primary factors for driving the growth of the GCC retail industry. Additionally, the recently signed FTAs with India and Israel will not only increase the range of foreign food and non-food products within the domestic retail outlets but also expand the establishment of international brands in the region.

However, the report also notes that lower revenues due to sharp correction in oil prices coupled with global inflation have put the industry under increased pressure. It has pressed retailers to adopt aggressive promotional campaigns by offering discounts to further drive revenues. Furthermore, the rising number of international brands operating in the region has intensified competition within the retail market.

The COVID-19 health crisis has ushered in a new trend in the digital retail space with consumers shifting to online channels while regional players swiftly responding to the surge in demand. Digitization is likely to help operators streamline procedures, reduce costs, lower staff workloads, increase revenue generation potential, and improve the overall level of customer experience. Considering the market has become more mature and competitive, players are looking for scale and focusing on developing new business models while also re-conceptualizing their pricing strategies.

This article is contributed by Krishna Dhanak – Managing Director Alpen Capital(ME)


Disclaimer: All views and opinions expressed in The Brew Opinion – our opinion section – are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of TheBrew.ae, the company, or any of its members.


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