UAE Toy Market Overview, 2027

Toys and games are found throughout the world and date back to early times. Playing with toys can be an enjoyable means of training young children for life's experiences. The UAE has a large expatriate community, with many families residing in the country for work purposes. These families often have a higher disposable income and may have a propensity to purchase toys for their children due to their limited support network and the desire to provide entertainment and education for their kids. International toy brands dominate the UAE market, including LEGO, Hasbro, Mattel, Barbie, Fisher-Price, and Play Mobil. These brands have a strong presence in major retail stores, online platforms, and dedicated toy stores. According to the research report "United Arab Emirates Toy Market Overview, 2027," published by Bonafide Research, the United Arab Emirates Toy Market was valued at above USD 2.05 billion in 2027. Toy manufacturers are introducing technologically advanced toys, such as interactive toys, robotic toys, and augmented reality (AR) toys, to cater to the tech-savvy population. Toys are sold through various retail channels in the UAE, including brick-and-mortar stores, online platforms, and specialised toy stores. Major retailer’s players such as Toys "R" Us, Hamleys, Carrefour, and Lulu Hypermarket are there in the UAE toy market. The UAE follows strict regulations and safety standards for toys, ensuring that imported and locally produced toys meet the necessary safety requirements. The Emirates Authority for Standardisation and Metrology (ESMA) regulates the safety and quality standards for toys sold in the country. This dependency on specific periods can create challenges for toy retailers and manufacturers in terms of inventory management, logistics, and meeting the surge in demand during these times.

The UAE has a strong tradition of gift-giving, especially during special occasions and festivals such as Eid Al-Fitr, Eid Al-Adha, Ramadan, Christmas, and birthdays. Toys are popular gifts for children, and parents often exchange toys to celebrate these occasions. Licenced toys, featuring popular characters from movies, TV shows, cartoons, and video games, have a strong presence in the UAE toy market. Children are often drawn to toys that depict their favourite characters, and licenced merchandise is highly sought-after. Characters from franchises like Disney, Marvel, DC Comics, and popular animated series are particularly popular. Building sets and toys have gained significant popularity in the UAE, catering to children's creativity, problem-solving skills, and cognitive development. LEGO offers a wide range of building sets catering to different age groups, themes, and complexity levels. Various other building set brands are available in the UAE. Brands like Mega Construx, K'NEX, Playmobil, and Meccano offer diverse building sets with different themes, including vehicles, structures, robots, and fantasy worlds. There is a growing demand for educational building sets that promote STEM learning (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) in the UAE. Brands like K'NEX Education, Engino, and Thames & Kosmos offer STEM-focused building sets that incorporate principles of engineering, physics, and coding. The UAE has witnessed various innovations in the field of vehicle toys, catering to the interests of children and collectors alike. Augmented reality technology has made its way into vehicle toys, offering an interactive and immersive experience. AR vehicle toys utilise smartphone or tablet apps to overlay digital elements onto the real-world environment, enhancing playability and allowing children to interact with virtual vehicles. The rise of the Internet of Things (IoT) has influenced the development of smart, connected vehicles. These toys can be controlled and monitored using smartphones or other smart devices. They often come with features like voice commands, app-based control, sensors, and interactive capabilities. The UAE has stringent regulations and safety standards for toys, including labelling requirements, safety testing, and compliance with international standards. Toy manufacturers and retailers need to ensure their products meet these standards, which can involve additional costs and complexities. Considered in this report • Geography: United Arab Emirates • Historic year: 2016 • Base year: 2021 • Estimated year: 2022 • Forecast year: 2027

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Manmayi Raval

Research Consultant

Aspects covered in this report • United Arab Emirates toy market with its value and forecast along with its segments • Various divers and challenges • Ongoing trends and developments • Five force models • Top profiled companies • Strategic recommendation Segment covered in the report By Product • Action Figures & ACC •Arts & Crafts •Building Sets •Dolls •Games/Puzzles •Infant/Toddler/Preschool •Youth Electronics •Outdoor & Sports Toys •Plush •Vehicles •Explorative & Other Toys By Age Group •0-8 years •9-15 years •15 years and above

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By Distribution Channel •Online •Offline The approach of the report: This report consists of a combined approach of primary as well as secondary research. Initially, secondary research was used to get an understanding of the market and listing out the companies that are present in the market. The secondary research consists of third party sources such as press releases, annual report of companies, analyzing the government generated reports and databases. After gathering, the data from secondary sources primary research was conducted by making telephonic interviews with the leading players about how the market is functioning and then conducted trade calls with dealers and distributors of the market. Post this we have started doing primary calls to consumers by equally segmenting consumers in regional aspects, tier aspects, age group, and gender. Once we have primary data with us we have started, verifying the details obtained from secondary sources. Intended audience This report can be useful to Industry consultants, manufacturers, suppliers, associations & organizations related to pet care products industry, government bodies, and other stakeholders to align their market-centric strategies. In addition to marketing & presentations, it will also increase competitive knowledge about the industry.