Optics & Eyewear Business Group

The Optics & Eyewear Business Group is a specialized sector initiative launched by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce in January 2023 to strengthen Dubai's optical and eyewear industry. This business group serves as a collaborative platform for retailers, manufacturers, distributors, and other stakeholders within the UAE's eyewear sector, bringing together industry members to drive competitiveness and navigate the evolving business landscape.

The eyewear industry in the UAE has demonstrated strong resilience, rebounding in retail volume and value sales following the pandemic-driven challenges of 2020. As the sector continues to adapt to transformative trends such as digitalization, remote work, and the shift toward e-commerce, the business group plays a crucial role in positioning its members ahead of the market curve. While store-based retailing remains the dominant channel, accounting for over 90% of sales, the industry is witnessing accelerated innovation in areas including digital eye health solutions, virtual try-on technologies, and e-commerce infrastructure.

Through this initiative, the Optics & Eyewear Business Group enables transparent conversations among industry players, supports advocacy for beneficial policy changes, and facilitates knowledge-sharing on emerging opportunities such as tele-optometry and smart glasses. The business group serves as a strategic partner to Dubai's private sector, contributing to the emirate's broader economic development goals while enhancing the sector's competitiveness in the regional and global marketplace.

Mission & Mandate

The Optics & Eyewear Business Group is dedicated to shaping the future of the optical and eyewear sector in Dubai through strategic collaboration and industry advancement. The group provides a platform for constructive dialogue among sector stakeholders to enhance competitiveness and drive sustainable growth.

Key Objectives:

• Drive Sector Competitiveness: Support the optical and eyewear industry in maintaining relevance and competitiveness within Dubai's economic landscape through collaborative initiatives and strategic partnerships

• Navigate Digital Transformation: Assist members in adapting to evolving consumer trends, including e-commerce development, digital eye health solutions, and virtual try-on technologies

• Foster Innovation & Emerging Trends: Position members ahead of the market curve in rapidly developing areas such as tele-optometry, smart glasses, and other innovative optical technologies

• Facilitate Business Development: Create opportunities for networking, knowledge-sharing, and business activity enhancement among retailers, manufacturers, and distributors in the eyewear sector

• Support Policy Advocacy: Engage in transparent conversations with stakeholders to advocate for beneficial policy changes that strengthen the sector's operational environment

• Contribute to Economic Goals: Align with Dubai's strategic plans for economic development by enhancing the private sector's contribution to sustainable growth and diversification