Table of Contents
How to Start a Spectacles and Contact Lenses Trading Business with Meydan Free Zone
Introduction
The global eyewear market is one of the most resilient retail sectors worldwide, combining a medical necessity with a fashion and lifestyle dimension that sustains high consumer engagement and recurring purchase cycles. According to Grand View Research¹, the global eyewear market was valued at USD 200.46 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 335.90 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 8.6%.
Spectacles represent the dominant product segment, accounting for 66% of the global eyewear market in 2025, underpinned by the high prevalence of refractive errors including myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism worldwide.
A significant and growing driver of demand is screen time. A 2024 meta-analysis published in JAMA Network Open² found a significant dose-response association between digital screen time and the risk of myopia, with risk increasing significantly at one to four hours of daily screen use.
In the UAE, this trend is particularly pronounced: research conducted at UAE universities found myopia prevalence of nearly 50% among students, with 92.8% experiencing at least one digital eye strain symptom. These findings reflect a broader structural shift in demand for corrective eyewear across the UAE’s highly connected, digitally active population.
The UAE eyewear market is responding accordingly. According to Grand View Research³, the UAE eyewear market generated USD 877.8 million in revenue in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 1.40 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 7.7%.
The UAE eye care market overall is valued at USD 1.2 billion, according to Ken Research⁴. Prescription glasses represent the largest segment, while contact lenses are gaining traction among younger consumers who prefer the convenience and aesthetics of lenses.
Research from NCBI noted that the prevalence of dry eyes in Dubai was estimated at 62.6%, a condition closely associated with extended contact lens wear and screen use, underscoring the depth of clinical demand for quality optical products in the UAE.
Beyond clinical need, Dubai’s position as a luxury and fashion retail destination adds a premium dimension to the market. Consumers increasingly treat eyewear as both a vision correction tool and a style statement, driving demand for designer frames, high-performance lens coatings, and innovative products such as blue-light-blocking and photochromic lenses.
MAGRABI, the region’s leading optical retailer, operates its Lens Innovation Centre in the UAE with a capacity to produce two million ophthalmic lens units annually, indicating the depth of the local optical supply chain.
Market at a glance
4773 — Retail sale of other new goods in specialised stores
Activity code 4773.f1 falls within ISIC class 4773, which covers the retail sale of new goods across a range of specialised product categories. This class includes the activities of opticians as well as the retail sale of photographic, optical and precision equipment.
Within this class, sub-code 4773.f1 is specifically designated for Spectacles and Contact Lenses Trading — the retail sale of corrective spectacles, prescription eyewear, contact lenses, spectacle frames, and associated optical accessories. Businesses operating under this code are authorised to source and sell such products to end customers through a specialised commercial channel.
What this activity does not cover
Licensing and compliance
Who is this for?
| Audience Segment | Profile |
|---|---|
| Global eyewear market (2024) | $200.46B Grand View Research estimate |
| Projected market size (2030) | $335.90B CAGR 8.6% (2025–2030) |
| UAE eyewear market (2024) | $877.8M CAGR 7.7% to 2030 |
Activity Details
Optical retailers & dispensers Businesses establishing specialised retail outlets selling prescription spectacles and contact lenses, serving the UAE’s large consumer base across optical stores, shopping centres, and online channels.
Fashion & premium eyewear tradersEntrepreneurs importing and distributing designer and premium eyewear brands to meet Dubai’s strong appetite for luxury and fashion-led spectacle frames and sunglasses combined with corrective lenses.
Optical wholesale & B2B suppliersCompanies supplying spectacles, contact lenses, and optical accessories wholesale to independent opticians, clinics, hospital optical departments, and retail optical chains operating across the UAE and GCC.
| Category | Scope |
|---|---|
| UAE eyewear market projection | $1.40B projected UAE eyewear market by 2030 UAE eye care market value $1.2B Spectacles share of eyewear 66% of market Dry eye prevalence in Dubai 62.6% |
| Key product segments | Prescription spectacles — Dominant segment Contact lenses — Fast growing Spectacle frames — Fastest growing type Lens care products — Recurring demand Smart & blue-light lenses — Emerging |
