Revenues for paper products in MEA expected to reach $16.4bn by 2030

Doha, Qatar: The expansion of the office and education sectors in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) is driving significant growth in the paper products...

Doha, Qatar: The expansion of the office and education sectors in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) is driving significant growth in the paper products sector, according to findings from 6W research. They estimate that market revenues for paper and paper products will reach US$16.4 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 3.4%.

The office sector in the UAE employs 64% of the country’s workforce and contributes to over half of the nation’s GDP. In 2024, Dubai is expected to expand its office space by an additional 44,000 square meters, while Abu Dhabi plans to add 112,000 square meters. In Qatar, an additional 350,000 square meters of additional office space is planned this year.

A growing number of multinational corporations are choosing Riyadh as the location for their regional headquarters, where office occupancy levels are currently around 98%. Over the next three years, it is predicted that 676,000 square metres of office space will be added in Saudi Arabia’s capital, while demand for office space in Jeddah is also growing.

“The increased demand for office space in the Middle East region will directly boost the office supplies industry, with paper, paper products and stationery being important components of this segment. As a result, we expect an uptick in sales of products such as writing printing paper, writing utensils and other office supplies equipment”, said Syed Ali Akbar, Show Director for Paperworld Middle East and Gifts and Lifestyle Middle East. 

The Middle East and Africa schools supply market is expected to rise from US$7 billion this year to $8.9bn in 2030. According to UNESCO, Africa needs at least nine million new classrooms and 9.5 million additional teachers by 2050, with new schools and classrooms already under construction.