A growing young population in the GCC countries presents unlocked business opportunities to the baby product retailers and distributors, making the UAE market lucrative.

Recent statistics indicate that the birth rates for Saudi Arabia and the UAE are growing annually at a rate of 2.8 per cent and 1.61 per cent respectively; compared to 1.1 per cent in the UK and 1.4 per cent in the US.

The favourable facts and figures ensure that the demand will continue to be healthy for toys, baby products, stationery and back to school items in this part of the world.

“The market here is still optimistic despite the current economic downturn,” said Elisabeth Brehl, managing director of Epoc Messe Frankfurt, the organizers of The Middle East Toy Fair.

The toy fair is the region's largest trade exhibition for the child and baby market - from toys and kindergarten supplies to baby products, games, party products, school stationery and many more.

The event will be held from March 23 to 25 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Center.

"The regional young population continues to grow, and the companies continue to come up with appealing products for babies and infants, thus ensuring that the show will continue to be relevant and have a good potential," she explained.

"People will sacrifice buying other things for their family before they will sacrifice buying toys for their children," she pointed out.

Ms. Brehl said an opportunity exists for big brands in this market. “Research has shown that Arab mothers are willing to pay a premium for big brands when it comes to baby products.”

According to the latest research, as reported by Epoc Messe Frankfurt, in 2007 the USA and Europe represented 10 per cent of the kids’ population for 63 per cent of the worldwide consumption in toys.

While the Asia and Africa accounted for 81 per cent of the kids’ population for only 26 per cent of the worldwide consumption in toys.

With shrinking demand and weak economy in the US and other Western countries brought about by the recession, The US and Europe toys market are close to reaching a saturation point, conferring prospects to the Middle East and Africa, which offer lucrative options for international toy companies seeking untapped markets.

The countries in the Arabian Peninsula have experienced a rapid population growth, which included almost 59 million people in 2007, with 80 per cent living in Saudi Arabia and Yemen.

The most awaited feature of the Middle East Toy Fair is the Toy Fair Awards, which recognizes the latest path-breaking products from eight broad categories.

The products awarded and short-listed will be on an exclusive display at the exhibition to the market, and will be commercially launched in the Middle East for the very first time few weeks after the close of the exhibition.

The awards ceremony will be held on the evening of March 23, at the Sheraton Jumeirah Beach Resort.

The Fair will also feature seminars, with main focus on the African continent. Navad Hassan will speak about "The African market and the UAE's rising re-export trade with emerging markets in Africa", and  Baba Yunus Muhammad will give a presentation on "The need for culturally and socially adaptable toys for the early childhood education system in Africa."-TradeArabia News Service